The Art Of Storytelling
Listen with Empathy
Over the weekend, a friend that I've never met face-to-face visited this blog and posted an entry in my guest book - "Your Edge" - (I hope you will do the same). Her name is Imelda and I know her as @imeldadulcichPR. She is one of the growing number of amazing people I've met as a result of being a member of a very special Twitter community. Imelda wrote about her edge that comes from empathetic listening and story telling. She brings the art to a new level of appreciation and respect. One that often brings tears to the eyes of the person she is listening to. And then the magic happens. That's when Imelda turns the listening edge into a successful art of memorable storytelling. Stories are so very powerful.
10 Tips from the Kitchen Sisters
Imelda's post reminded me of a captivating keynote presentation by the Kitchen Sisters that I attended at the WOMMA Summit last November. Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva were embraced by the crowd as they told story after story about a number of Hidden Kitchens that they first featured on their popular NPR show.
Before closing, they walked us through ten tips for successful story telling. I'd share them with you, but another summit attendee has done an excellent job already. Let me direct you to "The Art of Storytelling" as originally posted by Good Apple.
Thanks for the reminder about the importance of empathic listening Imelda. It's what makes the memorable storytelling possible in the first place! It's your edge - it's what set's you apart.
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Mar. 23, 2011 An excellent reminder, Rod, of how powerful storytelling can be. But I think what is even more important to consider now is that many marketers have realized this. Now, it becomes how do you differentiate your storytelling to distinguish it from others. And by earnestly and honestly using empathy to listen and then tell a great story, marketers will actually help consumers understand the value of a product or service to them, the consumer, rather than the value to the company of having that sale. And that's a much more powerful form of marketing than simply asking for a few consumer reviews or stories about their interactions with a brand and then reprinting those in a brochure or on a company website.
Thanks for this important reminder.
Keith Trivitt
Associate Director of PR
PRSA