From Soft Skill to Superpower: Strengthening Your Storytelling Muscle with Andrew Carothers

In this conversation, Andrew Carothers shares his insights on the art of storytelling, emphasizing its importance in business communication with award-winning host Gary Marra. He discusses the role of storytelling in customer experience (CX) and how it can be used to inform and influence audiences. Andrew outlines a structured approach to storytelling, starting with understanding the purpose of communication, building a compelling argument, and effectively structuring the story to create impact. He also provides practical examples, including how to apply these techniques in job interviews and business presentations. Gary digs a little deeper and we hear about the importance of storytelling in business and personal relationships, emphasizing how emotional appeal and vision can influence people. Andrew shares personal anecdotes and examples from various fields, illustrating how effective storytelling can motivate teams and create lasting connections. The discussion takes a fun, light-hearted turn as the conversation moves to great comedians, sitcoms, and a particularly interesting quote from Game of Thrones in the “Does it Hold Water?” segment.

Takeaways:

Storytelling is a powerful skill across all professions, not just creative fields
Effective communication requires understanding your purpose: informing versus influencing
Building a clear, structured argument forms the foundation of compelling storytelling
Emotional appeal dramatically increases your ability to influence and connect with audiences
Research your audience thoroughly to tailor your message effectively
Visual elements and storyboarding enhance comprehension and impact
Personal stories and experiences create authentic connections with listeners
Digital customer experience relies on narrative elements that resonate emotionally
Great storytellers appear in diverse fields – from comedy and politics to education
Well-crafted stories create lasting impressions that persist after the presentation ends

Chapters

1:23 Introduction

2:15 Andrew’s storytelling background

6:51 Define your purpose

11:00 Next Level of Purpose-Think, Feel, or Do

19:15 Framing the house, storyboard

28:00 Great Storytellers

31:00 Gary talks “Cheers!”

33:52 Does it Hold Water?

36:13 Chip Shots

Book Recommendation:

Digital Hesitation by Thomas Lah and JB Wood