Have you ever wondered why some storytellers mesmerize you and others give Ambien a run for its money? How come some stories you tell have people on the edge of their seat and others induce yawns? Did you know that there is a lot more than words that goes into telling a good story?

In today's episode of "Why It Works," Sarah Elkins, a leadership and storytelling coach, reveals some of the hidden mechanisms behind storytelling. Listen in to find out the connection between vulnerability and storytelling, how lessons from music can improve your storytelling and the one thing that drives Sarah crazy about bad storytellers.

Listen via iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn

MEET OUR GUEST:

Sarah Elkins

President

Elkins Consulting

Compelled to create space for people eager for personal and professional growth, Sarah launched the No Longer Virtual (NLV) events; limited participation, two day conferences with the theme "connecting beyond the keyboard." NLV was included twice in the list of "hidden gems" of "can't miss conferences for entrepreneurs" in Forbes online.

Sarah is a speaker, workshop facilitator and coach, musician and storyteller. She works with leadership and sales teams to improve communication by creating environments that encourage authentic connection and curiosity, using storytelling techniques to help people find personal stories to share, and ways to share them.

Her podcast, Your Stories Don’t Define You. How You Tell Them Will, can be found on iTunes, Spotify, and more. She’s an active blogger on LinkedIn and on her website.

Sarah lives in Montana, and enjoys hiking, fishing, and traveling. She loves to cook and host guests in her 1890 Victorian home, nourishing and nurturing all who visit.

That's where I think storytelling is so important...it connects us on such a personal and human level.

~Sarah Elkins

Connect with Sarah:

• Twitter: @sarahelkins
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesmileisfree/

Website:

• http://elkinsconsulting.com/

NLV Conferences:

No Longer Virtual, London, 2018 - http://elkinsconsulting.com/nlv-london/

No Longer Virtual, Atlanta, 2019 - http://elkinsconsulting.com/no-longer-virtual/

OUR SPONSOR:

For you, the listeners of WHY IT WORKS, Audible is offering a FREE audiobook with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service.

I personally recommend Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, which topped the New York Times Best Seller and which was also made into a film by the same name in 2010 starring Julia Roberts. 

Find out her theory on where inspiration comes from, why you should't wait for permission to create, and how to deal with the fear that seems to be a constant companion of creativity.

To download your free audiobook today click, http://www.audibletrial.com/WhyItWorks

Paper, Joe, I need pages and I'm willing to pay for them! No problem, buy the book here.

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES:

VIDEO CLIPS

City Slickers - The Secret of Life

Scrubs Owning Your Burdens Is Half the Battle

Princess Bride - As you wish

Inside Man opening scene

Brandi Carlile - The Story

Top 10 Wheel of Fortune Fails

MUSIC:

Opening features the song "Morning" by Cambo Smith, available under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial License.

Recommendation segment features the song "Delta" by Moonove, under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 International License

Closing features the song "Siesta" by Jahzzar under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.

Have you ever wondered why some people get heard and others get talked over? Do you know anyone who is so inflexible they can only play a single role, regardless of what the situation calls for? Did you know that even Supreme Court justices can face challenges to their status?

In today's episode of "Why It Works," Michael Orth, who is a Professional Imposter, reveals some of the hidden mechanisms behind high and low status plays. We explore the need to be aware and adaptable, how lowering or raising your own status can both help raise the status of others, and how challenging status norms often results in backlash.

Listen via iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn

MEET OUR GUEST:

Michael Orth

Michael Orth calls himself a professional impostor. He started his career as an actor and improviser—then, after spending many years playing the role of a business professional in corporate presentations and events, he actually became one. For the last 20 years, he has worked with businesses that prioritize learning and development, helping them create and promote engaging and impactful learning experiences.

Our SPONSOR:

For you, the listeners of WHY IT WORKS, Audible is offering a FREE audiobook with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service.

I personally recommend the Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, by Adam Grant with a foreword by Sheryl Sandberg.

Find out why prodigies don't succeed, how feedback from teachers encourages students to become sheep, and how a Trojan horse is sometimes the best vehicle for getting traction for your revolutionary idea.

To download your free audiobook today, go to http://www.audibletrial.com/WhyItWorks.

REFERENCES:

VIDEO CLIPS

Donald Trump

Coach Carter

Big

Lupita Nyong'o winning Best Supporting Actress

Frances McDormand wins the Oscar for Lead Actress

Office Space

Mean Girls

More Perfect (From WNYC Radio)

Episode: Justice Interrupted (17:00 mark)

MUSIC:

Opening features the song "Morning" by Cambo Smith, available under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial License

Recommendation segment features the song "Delta" by Moonove, under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 International License

Closing features the song "Siesta" by Jahzzar under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License

Have you ever wondered why getting your point across can be such a struggle? Did you ever end up wasting a lot of time and energy because of a simple misunderstanding? And why do some people complete your sentences, while others make you want to throw things?

In today's episode of "Why It Works," Stephen Matini, who coaches executives and organizations on effective leadership and communication, reveals some of the hidden mechanisms behind good and bad communication. We explore the limits of understanding, the importance of having your views acknowledged, and the need for courage.

Listen via iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn

MEET OUR GUEST:

Stephen Matini,

M.A., PCC,

Assoc CIPD Executive Coach

Stephen has worked with both mid-sized and Fortune 500, especially in the engineering, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals & biotechnology sectors. In his current role as President of BOND&ROW, Inc., he works directly with business and functional leaders to identify competency gaps and design learning development programs to boost business performance.
His client portfolio includes multinational matrix organisations in the US, EMEA, and APAC regions like Hewlett-Packard, Novartis, Parker Hannifin, and Adecco.

Stephen’s areas of expertise include executive and group coaching, executive leadership development, senior team development, and change management.

He believes that most organizational issues result from breakdowns among key stakeholders, which can be effectively solved by improving communication. Stefano is particularly passionate about sustainable leadership to leverage organizational profitability, agility, and credibility while optimizing costs and risks.

In addition to consulting, Stephen is an adjunct professor for Organizational Communication at New York University, where he teaches undergraduate business student the stakeholder management approach to sustainable organizational development.

Stephen holds a Master of Arts in Business Communication from Emerson College and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Literature, Music & Theatre, where he graduated with honors. He is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation, and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn

REFERENCES:

videos

The Big Bang Theory: The Extract Obliteration

Meghan McCain, Joy Behar Got Into Shouting Match on 'The View'

Everybody Loves Raymond - Ray Uses Active Listening

Michael Scott's School of Management - The Office

Layoff Messaging - Up In The Air 2009)

MUSIC:

Opening features the song "Morning" by Cambo Smith, available under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial License.

Closing features the song "Siesta" by Jahzzar under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.