THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP:

STORYTELLING

Presented by Eric Kaufman & Allisen Penn

Allisen Penn’s Story

•  Regional Program Leader, University of Tennessee Extension

•  25 years Extension experience, as a County Agent, Associate District Director and Leadership Specialist

Eric Kaufman’s Story

•  Extension Specialist & Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech

•  Support Virginia’s Extension Leadership Councils and the Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders Program

What Is It About a Story?

Tell Me a Story

"Tell me a fact and I'll learn. Tell me the truth and I'll believe. But tell

me a story and it will live in my heart forever."

- Indian Proverb

Language of Leadership How do you: •  inspire enduring

enthusiasm for a cause? •  connect with diverse,

difficult, cynical audiences?

….at work, in the community, in the family?

Problem

?

Analysis

?

Solution!

?

The western intellectual tradition

Get their attention

Elicit desire

Reinforce with reasons

Effective presentation to get action

The Secret Language of Leadership

Why Giving Reasons Doesn’t Work

Science of Storytelling

•  Our brains are more active with stories •  A story can put your whole

brain to work •  Evolution has wired our

brains for storytelling •  We make up (short) stories

in our heads for every action and conversation

•  Whenever we hear a story, we want to relate it to one of our existing experiences

Storytelling & Leadership

“Good storytelling is a hallmark of effective

leadership.”

Springboard Stories (Denning):

Communicate a complex idea and spark action 1.  Must be true

•  Not just a story without inaccuracy (e.g., 700 happy passengers reach New York after the Titanic’s maiden voyage)

2.  Must be positive •  Listener wants to remember & share

3.  Must be minimalist •  i.e., free from distracting details

Types of Stories

Storytelling Criteria • Clear • Focused • Persuasive • Positive • Relevant • Conversational • Humorous

Learning Application Developing Your Extension Advocacy Story Part I – Share a story about: •  Someone who influenced you •  How you became an Extension leader Part II - Write Your Extension Story Part III - Tell Your Extension Story

Examples & Discussion

How does the story… •  Gain Attention? •  Elicit Desire? •  Reinforce with

Reasons?

Storytelling Tips • Five Senses • Eye Contact • Gesture • Pause • Breathe • Practice

Think-Pair-Share

What are your takeaway points from this session? How will you apply storytelling?

For More Info

•  Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders

(SEAL) Curricula: http://bit.ly/ExtAdvisory

•  Eric Kaufman, EKaufman@VT.Edu

•  Allisen Penn, AllisenPenn@UTK.Edu