Training

Share

To hire us for private coaching or for your next conference, seminar, annual meeting, special event, or retreat, email info@speakeasydc.org or call Amy Saidman at 240-888-9751.

BECOME A MORE ENGAGING & PERSUASIVE PUBLIC SPEAKER WITH STORIES

Storytelling is all the buzz these days. People in businesses, non-profits, sales, marketing, education, fundraising, advocacy, and more are recognizing the power of story in their work.  Countless professions require people to speak in front of an audience or craft a compelling message.  The question is how — how do we gain the attention of an audience? How do we take complex information and make it understood by a wider audience? How do we persuade others to act?

Stories have proven to be the “stickiest” possible way to communicate a message. In other words, stories “stick” in our memory more than raw data and information. Humans are hard-wired to understand the world through story, so when  information is coupled with narrative content and a narrative structure , presentations are far more  engaging, compelling, and memorable. There is also no better way to build rapport with and gain the trust and attention of your audience.

SpeakeasyDC’s seminars, presentations, and private coaching options are designed to help you or your group tap into stories from their own lives to find  potential story material, understand  narrative structure, apply effective storytelling techniques to content-development as well as presentation, and determine how best to incorporate stories and the principles of storytelling to the work you do and your particular goals.

More about private coaching

 More about SpeakeasyDC’s current schedule of classes

SAMPLE KEYNOTE

What Happens Next: Unlocking the Power of Storytelling

In this keynote presentation, SpeakeasyDC’s Artistic Executive Director Amy Saidman and/or Education Director Stephanie Garibaldi will demonstrate the power of a good story told well and explain how storytelling can be used by your organization to strengthen its message, improve communications, and build community. Presentation touches on:

  • What makes storytelling powerful
  • How to build an effective narrative
  • How to find story material from your own life
  • How to structure and shape a good story
  • How to bring a story to life

SAMPLE SMALL GROUP WORKSHOPS

The Big One: Fishing Out Your Own Story ©

Commonly, people tell themselves, “I don’t have any stories. My life is boring. What could I possibly have to tell?” The truth is we all have an unlimited supply of stories worth sharing. In this interactive workshop, we will help you fish through the waters of your life to find a good catch for a story that has meaning in your life, universal resonance, and a strong narrative. We will explore common narrative arcs and discuss ways to integrate these stories into the work you do.

Iron Chef Storytelling: Turning Your Raw Ingredients into Something People Can Swallow ©

So, you have a few ideas, but you don’t know how to turn these pieces into a full-fledged story one that is compelling, meaningful, entertaining, and memorable. This workshop will offer tips and tricks for shaping your story arc, establishing a strong through-line, finding your voice, making choices about what to keep and what to leave out, and making your point stick.

I’m Sold: Selling with Story ©

Whether you are selling a product, an idea, or a cause, storytelling is a persuasive tool. This workshop will explore the basic principles of sales, and how the use of storytelling can be used to support and enhance those basic techniques. We will talk about the reasons that storytelling enhances the sales process, and participants will have the opportunity to develop their own stories for use in selling their cause, position, or product.

Story-swaps

What Happens Next: Unlocking the Power of Storytelling ©
In this keynote presentation, Amy Saidman will demonstrate the power of a good story told well and explain how storytelling can be used by your organization to strengthen its message, improve communications, and build community.
She will touch on:
What makes storytelling powerful
How to build an effective narrative
How to find and shape your own story
Amy Saidman is the Artistic Executive Director of SpeakeasyDC and Washington Storytellers Theatre. She has been telling her own stories, teaching, and coaching storytelling for 10 years. She brings her background in improvisational and stand-up comedy to her performances and teaching. She has worked with other national organizations to help them use storytelling in the work they do.
Sample Break-Out Sessions for Retreats & Conferences
The Big One: Fishing Out Your Own Story ©
Commonly, people tell themselves, “I don’t have any stories. My life is boring. What could I possibly have to tell?” The truth is we all have an unlimited supply of stories worth sharing. In this interactive workshop, we will help you fish through the waters of your life to find a good catcha story that has meaning in your life, universal of a strong narrative. We will explore common narrative arcs and discuss ways to integrate these stories into the work you do.
Iron Chef Storytelling: Turning Your Raw Ingredients into Something People Can Swallow ©
So, you have a few ideas, but you don’t know how to turn these pieces into a full-fledged story one that is compelling, meaningful, entertaining, and memorable. This workshop will offer tips and tricks for shaping your story, bringing it to life, finding your voice, and drawing your audience in. We will cover structure and qualities of a good story and common types of story arcs.
I’m Sold: Selling with Story ©
Whether you are selling a product, an idea, or a cause, storytelling is a persuasive tool. This workshop will explore the basic principles of sales, and how the use of storytelling can be used to support and enhance those basic techniques. We will talk about the reasons that storytelling enhances the sales process, and participants will have the opportunity to develop their own stories for use in selling their cause, position, or product.
The Crystal Ball: Shaping your Future with Stories ©
The breaking news in May 2010: (Your organization) experienced record success in their advocacy efforts/profits/growth, winning long-fought legislative battles that support its goals and interests /attracting more new clients than ever. Senior executives and employees attribute this success to the implementation of new communication techniques and organizational models introduced at their 2008 annual retreat by SpeakeasyDC: “We can’t thank SpeakeasyDC enough for helping us achieve our goals in new and innovative ways,” said (Name of CEO) President and CEO of (your organization)
The above story has not yet happened, but imagining that scenario takes us one step closer towards realizing our goals. The practice of telling the story you want to be true in the future is a powerful exercise. In this workshop, we will help you use this tool to clarify and reinforce your vision, create common ground within your organization, and set you and your organization in the right direction.

In the day-in-day-out routine of work, opportunities to get to know your colleagues or share knowledge can be rare. In this simple session, SpeakeasyDC instructors facilitate the process of exchanging ideas and experiences that will help people do their jobs and work together better.


Share