Kindra Hall is President and Chief Storytelling Officer at Steller Collective, a consulting firm focused on the strategic application of storytelling to today’s communication challenges. Kindra is one of the most sought after keynote speakers trusted by global brands to deliver presentations that inspire teams and individuals to better communicate the value of their company, their products and their individuality through strategic storytelling.  Kindra is a former Director of Marketing and VP of Sales. Today, Kindra’s work can be seen at Inc.com, Entrepreneur.com and as a contributing editor for SUCCESS Magazine. Kindra’s message spans all industries and her clients include Facebook, Hilton Hotels, Tyson Foods, Target, Berkshire Hathaway and the Harvard Medical School. Her much anticipated book, Stories That Stick, will be published on September 24, 2019.

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The Learning Leader Show

“What do I want my audience to think, feel, know, and do at the end of this story?”

Show Notes:

  • Why is storytelling so important?
    • It’s how we learn, how we connect
    • Your team needs to know you, and like you (stories do that when you tell them well)
    • You can learn breadth/depth of a person through a story
  • A story is NOT:
    • A bullet point resume
    • A list of information
    • Stating the mission statement
    • The objective
  • A story = The small moments when mission is in a specific place and time… When something happens.
  • The four components of a story:
    • Place and time: “a moment”
    • Identifiable characters – must see people
    • Authentic emotion – Relatable to audience
    • Specific details – Draw audience in to the co-creative process
  • Opening story of her book: In Slovenia at Thanksgiving:
    • The power of the sales clerk’s ability to tell a story compelled Kindra and her husband to buy
  • Why did the story work?
    • It drew you in with powerful moments and emotion
    • It had suspense – “I want to know what’s going to happen…”
    • People will give you their attention when you’re telling a compelling story
    • It brought them to places through vivid descriptions
  • How to better start a meet at work:
    • First, realize it’s a skill you can develop
    • Take a step back, think of the higher level message — “What’s the overall theme?”
      • “When have I seen this in action?”  Why was it compelling?
  • Make a list of nouns: People in life you’ve had to communicate with (bosses, friends, colleagues)
    • Find moments and stories from those people… Understand the characters of the story
  • Think: “What do I want my audience to think, feel, know, and do at the end of this story?”
  • Use the “bystander story” – Stories of others that you make yours
    • Remember the goal is to create connection
    • This becomes your story… Through your eyes
  • How to handle price conversations?
    • Move from dollars and cents to value — “They need to feel the pain of if they didn’t have this thing I’m selling.”
    • Our decisions are not always based on logic, they are based on ideas
  • Use the “Get To Know You Document“
  • Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

“They need to feel the pain of if they didn’t have this thing I’m selling.”

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