Great Leaders Are Storytellers: How To Craft Great Stories | Jesse Lyn Stoner

Create a dilemma with proper tension or dissonance with which associates can identify, then using one sentence, describe the challenge for each of the key characters.

Questions to help you create dissonance:

- How can I build a sense of concern, conflict, or suspense?

- Will my associates be able to visualize the challenge the same way I do?

- Will the dilemma create enough dissonance associates will desire a resolution?

The climax is a resolution used as a tool for insight and should clearly fit the challenge and carry the associates to new and unexpected directions.

Ask yourself:

- Will the ending surprise, amuse, inspire, challenge, or amaze my associates?
- Will associates view the ending as relevant and important?
- Will associates gain new attitudes, understandings, or skills from the resolution?

• Use a lot of details at the beginning of the story and then faze them out.
• Timing is key to good storytelling.
• Practice by recording your story and listening for places pauses might add punch.
• Use different gestures, varied facial expressions, and dramatic body movements. 
• Stay focused and stick to the storyline.