The script of your story is your foundation. Without a script, you are hoping to get lucky every time you tell your story. Sometimes you’ll nail it and the story will be great. At other times, your brilliance will desert you. You’ll go out of sequence, forget important details and mess up the point. Or worse, you won’t have a point.

The Script Shall Set You Free

If you want to be considered an excellent storyteller, or if you desire to become a professional speaker, “The Script Shall Set You Free.”

I learned this lesson many years ago when I was an actor. I played the characters, George, in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and Danny Zuko, in GREASE. My favorite playwright, however, was William Shakespeare. When I was 30, I got to play my dream role: Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. When you perform in a play as brilliantly written as that one is, and you hear the audience laugh at the same places night after night, you learn to appreciate good writing.

Acting in great plays taught me that there are certain combinations of words, in specific sequences, that work better than other words in other sequences. I also saw how the construction of the story, the sequence of scenes and the addition or deletion of specific elements, made a huge difference in whether the story flowed or stumbled forward.

The actor’s first job is to memorize his or her lines – the script. Next, they have to move beyond memorization to interpretation – to make the script conversational and real. Finally, the actor adds the emotional layers. As an actor, once you have your lines down to the point that they become yours, you truly are free. But it all starts with the script.

When you write out your story, you’re forced to make lots of choices: what goes in, what stays out. The process of writing forces you to remember details. It makes you think about the sequence and flow of the narrative. I find that when I’m crafting a story using The Nine Steps of Story Structure, I discover gaps in the sequence that have to be filled in.

Make the Move from Good to Great

Writing enables you to make the move from good to great. And, as I stated before, it gives you a foundation to build on. If you don’t have a script, you won’t have anything to polish and improve over time.

I’m not saying that you have to write out your entire speech, word for word. I certainly don’t do that. You want to leave room for spontaneity. You need to speak from your heart to what moves you in the moment. Also, you want to leave room to customize in the moment and to piggyback on something that was said in an earlier session. My keynote speeches and workshops are meticulously designed ahead of time, but there is ample room to be creative in the moment.

My signature stories – the ones I’ve become known for and that I perform many times each year – are scripted and memorized. They are mini-plays – eight to twelve minute pieces of theater…Story Theater.

Write Conversationally

The process of scripting a story that is meant to be spoken is radically different than scripting one that is meant to be read. We have all been taught how to write a term paper. Most of us have never been schooled in conversational scripting. Screenwriters and playwrights know how to do it, but for the rest of us, proper punctuation and sentence structure is what we know.

Consider these two scripts:

Version 1. It was autumn in New England. The trees were starting to turn, and radiant hues of red, orange and green filled the hillsides. The air was crisp and clean. Joan was driving and I was in the passenger seat. The country highway wound its way through the countryside like a ribbon of black in a sea of color. I pushed “play” and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons became the background music for our weekend escape.

Version 2. It was autumn in New England. We decided to take a drive in the country so we hopped in the car and headed out. Joan was driving and I was riding shotgun taking in the colors and letting the cool breeze blast in my face. It was incredible. I popped in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and we just cruised and cruised until sundown.

There’s nothing wrong with version one until you try to speak it out loud. Go ahead. Try it. Most of it sounds fine. A few sentences however are too literary, too much like the language in a novel. In other words, version one makes great reading, but not great conversation.

Version two is more conversational and casual. The idea is to capture the way YOU speak when you’re just talking to a friend. If version two sounds like Doug Stevenson is speaking, rather than you, adopt the concept and write your own language.

Talk Onto Paper

I call the process of writing conversationally, talking onto paper. Talk and transcribe. Write a first draft without any editing, proper punctuation or fancy adjectives. Simply tell your story out loud and transcribe what you are saying…without editing it. Keep the sentence structure fluid.

Script your entire story in a stream of consciousness flow. Try to keep moving forward rather than stopping and starting. You can, however, go back to add details as you recall them, but make sure you are adding, not subtracting. Let the story flow forward as you remember it. Remember, you are simply creating a FIRST DRAFT.

This process was hard for me at first because I wanted to clean up my script and make it sound better. I wanted to sound more educated and cultured and not have so many incomplete and run-on sentences. The problem was that when I tried to clean it up, it no longer sounded like me.

After you have the first draft of the story scripted, according to The Nine Steps of Story Structure, go back and read through it again. Create a SECOND DRAFT by editing the content. Ask yourself, “What needs to stay in the story? What needs to be deleted because it isn’t required to lead to the point? What needs to be added so my audience gets the full picture?” Remember, this is not a grammar edit. If you keep editing grammar and punctuation, you’ll never get the gist of the story. You want to capture the essence of the experience, and it doesn’t have to be grammatically correct!

During this process, allow yourself to remember thoughts and feelings. Make it visual. Make it sensory.

Are you ready to blow people away with an amazing story? Are you disciplined enough to write, rehearse and memorize? Remember…the script shall set you free. Write it!

by Doug StevensonThe

Basically, you’ve got a lead character, male or female, that sets out on a journey to accomplish something. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a love story, a thriller or an action adventure flick; the story structure is the same. The lead character has a goal or task to accomplish. He or she sets out to accomplish it, meets interesting characters along the way, and encounters a number of obstacles that have to be overcome. In the end, there is a resolution that either makes us feel good, bad, or just plain confused, depending on the skill of the director.

In other words, you’ve got a knight in shining armor, a fair maiden in distress, and a dragon. The knight has to slay the dragon in order to rescue the fair maiden. Consider Angelina Jolie, in the movie Salt. She’s been framed to be a bad guy and has to prove her innocence. She’s the knight in shining armor; the people who frame her are the dragon; and her good name / reputation is the fair damsel in distress.

While the situations and characters change, it’s all the same story. When you understand this classical story structure, you can use it to your advantage when crafting your stories for a business audience.

The Nine Steps of Story Structure, below, are explained in greater detail in my book, Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater Method. I’ve also created a You Tube video where you can see where each of the Nine Steps occurs while I’m telling one of my signature stories about leadership. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ3BDkMN1LY

The Nine Steps of Story Structure

1. Set the Scene

Go back in time and create the context within which this event takes place. Consider…

Time: year, month, day, time, season, holiday…

Place: city, state, country, home, school, office, bedroom, market, beach…

Atmosphere: sunny, rainy, gloomy, tense, joyous, comfortable, uncomfortable…

Event: board meeting, wedding, vacation, dinner, soccer game, seminar, movie…

Relationship: sister, boss, spouse, son, supervisor, teacher, friend, tour guide…

Data/Statistics: relevant trends and facts…

2. Introduce the Characters (Not necessarily Step 2)

Describe the main characters visually. Start with physical characteristics, age and clothing. Next, describe their personality and style. Describe anything pertinent about your relationship with that person. Introduce characters in the natural sequence that they arrive in your story.

Wendy was a middle-aged woman with long black hair that she wore pulled back in a braid. She always wore fashionable clothes-the latest styles and fancy shoes. She had a habit of always being late for meetings. She also had a tendency to apologize for things, even when she wasn’t responsible for the situation.  I think she had a lack of self-esteem, and maybe that’s why she wore fancy clothes-to make up for it.

3. Begin the Journey

The journey is the task, objective or activity to be accomplished. It is what you are attempting to do before something goes wrong or you encounter an obstacle. Example: Going on vacation to Greece; waiting in line for tickets; meeting a friend for lunch; negotiating a contract; planning the annual meeting; riding a bicycle.

4. Encounter the Obstacle

The obstacle is the challenge. It is a problem, dilemma or question. It may be a person, something to be overcome, or something to be learned. It’s who or what gets in the way of achieving your goals. Define the obstacle in your story.

Example: A flat tire, a delayed flight, an abusive boss, a lack of self-esteem, a misunderstanding…

5. Overcome the Obstacle: Using Step Five to Teach

This is the “how-to” step in the Nine Steps of Story Structure. It is the most critical step because it  teaches the lesson on a subliminal level. Write it out. You may choose to perform parts of this step as an IN moment such as talking to yourself (self talk) as you consider your options and come to a conclusion or new awareness.

Two Options:

A: Overcome the obstacle correctly, thereby teaching the correct behavior.

B: Overcome the obstacle incorrectly. Make mistakes. Show people through your

thoughts and behavior what you don’t want them to do. Then, use the story as a spring board to discuss the correct or desired behavior.

Describe, in a linear sequence, each step in overcoming the obstacle. Think incrementally in little steps, not broad strokes. What came first: a thought or an emotion? Then what? Did you go into avoidance mode or take immediate action? Tell the truth. The magic is in the details.

6. Resolve the Story

This step is relatively easy. Go back through your story script and look for details that need to be resolved. Ask yourself, “What will my audience be wondering about if I don’t tell them? How did things work out in the end?”

7. Make the Point

A. Bridge Statement leading into the Point

After resolving the story, say, “What I learned from that experience was…” or

“What that experience taught me was…”

B. Make the Point

What is the ONE point that your story makes above all other points?

8. Ask “The Question”

The question formally transfers the learning point to each audience member. It asks them to take     personal accountability in relation to a specific question. It is a YOU question that forces them to  consider how the lesson of the story applies to them.  Example: “How about you? What do you need to do to lead by example?”

9. Repeat the Point / The Phrase That Pays

Re-state or repeat the point verbatim. Use the exact same words you used the first time you made the point. Memorize the sentence or Phrase That Pays.

To download an article on The Phrase That Pays, go to …

http://storytelling-in-business.com/view-all-articles/113-storytelling-in-business-business-storytelling-mental-velcro-make-your-message-stick

To study this method with Doug, call 719-573-6195 and consider attending The Story Theater Retreat in Colorado Springs, CO, USA. The retreat is limited to four students and lasts 2 1/2 days. Go to www.storytelling-in-business.com for more information.

Where does a story begin? Determining when and where your story begins impacts the direction your story takes. Over the next month I’m going to be sharing the process I go through to construct a story as Deborah and I go off on our journey to Malaysia.

Here’s the back story. I’ve been hired to do six days of story training in Kuala Lampur by a large training organization. In addition, they’ve licensed my Story Theater Method for two years. That means I have to train six of their trainers to teach my method. This is an amazing opportunity to visit a new country, meet some wonderful people and do some very good work.

So where does the Malaysia story begin? There are a number of options. I could start the story on Tuesday March 1^st, the day we board our flights to Malaysia. But the story begins long before we board the plane. Do I start it in Washington DC in June of 2009 when I gave a presentation at the ASTD International Conference?  That’s where the client first saw me. But I didn’t meet him until December of 2009 when he came to Denver to go skiing with his family. We met in a hotel lobby where he talked about bringing me to Malaysia. Is that where the story starts? Or does it start in Colorado Springs when Deborah showed me an email requesting a meeting in Denver?

Think about a story that you’d like to tell. Where does your story begin?

Step One of the Nine Steps of Story Structure is called Set the Scene. It’s a specific time and place. It’s where the journey begins. Once you consider all of your options, choose one starting point and go from there. As you develop the story, you’ll soon discover whether the time and place you chose was right. If it’s not, you can choose one of your other options and go from there.

I intend to take you along on this journey as my Malaysia Story unfolds. Stay tuned.

www.storytelling-in-business.com

For Deborah and me, here at Story Theater International, it was also a year of reflection. We had to question our business model, our product offerings and our limiting beliefs.

As a speaker, trainer and coach, I believe my job is to inspire people to step into their greatness. In order to do this, I have to be inspiring. I have to model what I teach. In other words, I have to step into my greatness in order to understand what it might take for someone else to get there.

Greatness isn’t something that is only bestowed on heroes.  It can be earned everyday by people like you and me. Greatness can be the result of an accumulated ability to overcome adversity with dignity and humility. It is something that you can grow into over time.  It can be achieved by making conscious and difficult choices.

Here are Six Suggestions for Achieving Greatness

1.      Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Many of you reading this newsletter are a lot like me. You have dreams and aspirations to do great things, to make a difference, to help other people. You don’t want to settle for average so you set your goals a little (or a lot) beyond an easy reach. In setting out to achieve those goals, you have to do things that stretch you, challenge you and often scare you. You ask for a lot from life and in return, you are asked to do things that are uncomfortable. So you might as well get comfortable being uncomfortable. For you and me, uncomfortable is the new normal.

For example, Deborah and I decided to visit Bennett and Jessica in South Korea for Thanksgiving. Bennett is my stepson and a Captain in the Air Force, stationed at Osan Air Force base.  My daughter-in-law, Jessica, teaches kindergarten on the base. Because we were travelling anyway, we sent out emails to all of our contacts in Korea and Japan to see if anyone was interested in hiring me to do a program. Two wonderful people in Japan said “yes”.

I presented a four-hour Story Theater workshop to 38 Japanese business people, most of whom spoke very little English. Luckily for me, an American living in Japan (who has followed my teachings for many years) agreed to be my translator. I have presented several times with simultaneous translation where the listeners wear headphones to hear the presentation in their language, but I had never presented with consecutive translation.  I was going to speak three or four sentences, and then he was going to translate them into Japanese. The night before the presentation, and that morning, I was very uncomfortable! As I began the workshop, I realized that, because of having to stop for my translator to do his work, my timing was thrown off.  Often, I couldn’t complete a full thought.  It was no less uncomfortable, but by this time in my life, I was used to being uncomfortable.  I relaxed into it, and got comfortable being uncomfortable.  The workshop went great, and I had one more new experience under my belt!

2. Jump out of an airplane.  (Literally or metaphorically – you choose!)

I like to do things that scare me. Jumping out of a plane was one of those things on my list. So I signed up and on a sunny Saturday morning, I went out (up!) and did a tandem jump. I was right: it was scary. It scared me so much that on the way down, I puked all over my tandem guide, who was harnessed to my back. When I landed I was white as a sheet. It was a rough experience and I don’t ever plan to do it again. But I got to check that one off my list of scary things to do before I die.

Some of you are wondering why anyone would do such a thing. Some of you know exactly why. When you face your fears, you become more courageous. The more you do scary things, the less things scare you. When I began presenting that workshop in Tokyo, it was scary.  But I had done scary things before.  And compared to jumping out of a plane, the fear of presenting that workshop was really no big deal.  The fear was still there, but it was familiar.

What are you afraid to do? Do it this year. Not someday in the future…in 2011.

3. Invest in your personal development.

I only finished one year of college. That may be a surprising admission. I don’t have a Bachelors degree. Within a few weeks after leaving college, I enrolled in a Second City Improvisation class in my hometown of Chicago. That led to an acting class that I attended every week for 2 ½ years. And that led to a 13-year career as a professional actor in Hollywood.  Even though I don’t have a college degree, I have never stopped studying.  It was always something: dance, singing, carpentry, real estate, speaking, training, Internet marketing, webinars, and now I’m studying e-learning.

But for most of my life, I avoided studying myself. I avoided looking in the mirror and into my shadows to learn and understand why I was so co-dependent, why I was so stubborn, why I was having such a hard time maintaining a long-term relationship. In my late 30′s, I began seriously studying myself.  I invested in my personal development.  Six years later, and after many honest looks in the mirror, Deborah and I were married.  At the time of my writing this article, we’ve been married for 16 years.

Until you take the time to learn about yourself, your ability to achieve and model greatness will be limited.  Each of us is influenced by our upbringing.  We may have inherited some pretty funky ideas from our parents. We may have been taught things that weren’t true; we probably made decisions based on our adolescent interpretations of what we were experiencing.

In 2011, take the time to enroll in some personal development classes -do some “touchy-feely” studying of yourself.  This last year, I took a class on forgiveness, and it helped me to heal some issues I didn’t even know needed healing.

4. Attempt something big.

Set a goal in 2011 that seems huge and daunting. And then get started. Take the first courageous step in moving towards accomplishing that dream. For years, I had talked about writing a book. Then one day I finally sat down and started writing it. It took me over 2 years to complete and self-publish the book that many of you have purchased and read.  It started with a goal, a dream. Then there was the first step, followed by more steps, until it became a reality.

Do you want to post a video on You Tube?  Do you want to speak at the Ted Conference or at a National Speakers Association conference? Do you want to write a book or create your first website? What do you want to accomplish? Think big. Dream big. Take the first step.

5. Be worthy of a raise.

In order to get a raise or a promotion, or to raise your speaking fees, you’ve got to earn it. You’ve got to do the things that make you worthy of the raise, promotion or higher fee. You can’t wait around for someone to give you permission to be outstanding. You’ve got to stand out first.

Every person who has attended my Story Theater Retreat at the Peak View Studio in Colorado Springs, has said this one thing: “I have never worked so hard on an 8 minute story in my life. But now I understand why it’s necessary and how to do the work.”

Greatness doesn’t come easy. It takes focus, discipline and knowledge. You have to hang out with the people who know what you don’t know and are doing the things you want to do. You have to push yourself beyond complacency. You’ve got to earn the next level of success.

6. Increase the power of your magnetism.

Every time you attempt something that is difficult or challenging, you get stronger. With each attempt, whether you succeed or fail, you learn and grow. It’s as if you are born with a magnet inside you and with every attempt, every victory, and every lesson learned, you increase the power of that magnet. Over time, your magnetism increases.

Conversely, every time you shy away from a challenge, procrastinate or pull back from an opportunity, your magnet loses some of its power.

As the New Year dawns, pay attention. Your spirit is constantly evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities of this new decade. You will have opportunities to get comfortable being uncomfortable.  You will be inspired to do scary things.  You will have revelations that require you to invest in your personal development. You will dream big dreams. You will hear the call of greatness and increase your power of magnetism. Everything will be the same and yet, nothing will be the same.

Be ready. Be responsive. Something wonderful is about to happen in your life. You are writing a new story. Your life is the message.

***************

Doug Stevenson, president of Story Theater International, is a storytelling in business expert. He is the creator of The Story Theater Method and the author of the book, Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater Method.

His speaking, training and executive coaching clients include Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Lockheed Martin, Oracle, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Volkswagen, Century 21, The Department of Defense, The National Education Association and many more.

His 10 CD – How to Write and Deliver a Dynamite Speech audio learning system is a workshop in a box. It contains an 80-page follow along workbook. Learn more at: www.dynamitespeech.com

Doug can be reached at 1-800-573-6196 or 1-719-573-6195. Learn more about the Story Theater Method, purchase the book or Story Theater audio six pack, and sign-up for the free Story Theater newsletter at: www.storytelling-in-business.com.

I’m sure you know what it’s like. You overhear people on their cell phones negotiating contracts, talking to their kids, or discussing what they had for dinner. And then, there might be the occasion where you see someone in pain. Perhaps that middle-aged man just lost a loved one and he and his wife are headed to a funeral. Maybe that lady who looks pasty and exhausted had surgery last week and she’s on her way home to an empty house.

Life, in all of its manifestations, is happening around us at an airport: a family is going to Disneyland; a daughter is flying off to college; a spiritual seeker is on a pilgrimage to India. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it’s subtle. The only certainty is that everyone is at a different place on his or her journey.

I have no idea where someone is on his or her journey through life when I see them in an airport, nor do I have any idea where someone is on their path when they’re sitting in my audience to hear my keynote.

This fact has been brought home to me many times as a speaker. One time, when I was speaking in Las Vegas to an audience comprised of members of all branches of the military, I noticed a man with what appeared to be a scowl on his face. He was dressed in his Navy whites and looked like he did 200 pushups every day before breakfast. After the speech, as he waited his turn to speak to me, he still had that serious look on his face. I thought he was angry with me for something I had said. Instead, he was kind and sincere as he shared with me how much my speech had meant to him. I had completely misinterpreted his facial expressions.

Another time, a woman in my audience appeared annoyed by my every word. She fussed and fidgeted all through my speech. She was a short woman wearing a very professional business suit.  I thought she must be a manager or supervisor. When she finally approached, she thanked me profusely for helping her see what she needed to do to change her life. I had completely misinterpreted her body language.

I had interpreted her body language without any understanding of where she was on her journey. I had interpreted her body language to mean that I was doing or saying something wrong.

If you’re a keynote speaker, this has probably happened to you. You work hard to develop a speech that inspires and motivates, that informs and instructs. You rehearse and prepare with the best of intentions. Then you stand before the gathered crowd and deliver your presentation with every ounce of genius you can muster.

And smack dab in the middle of your speech, you see a face that distracts you. He looks bored. Another person is looking down in their lap and shaking their head side to side. You think to yourself, “That person disagrees with me”. Someone else is checking his or her email. A man leaves the room. A woman looks at her watch. The meeting planner whispers in someone’s ear.

It’s easy to go “cuckoo” with all of this going on. It’s easy to misinterpret what you see. And it’s very easy to take it all personally. But in most cases, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.

What my experience as a keynote speaker has taught me is this: Notice, Never Interpret. It’s fine to notice what’s going on in your audience, to be aware, to be present. It’s dangerous, however, to interpret what you see in someone’s face or body language.  And it’s even worse to assume that it has anything to do with what you are doing or saying.

In my experience, most of the time, what I think is going on with someone is only the surface story. To use a medical analogy: it’s the symptom and not the cause. Without really knowing where someone is on their journey, their body language can be completely misleading.

Now, when I notice someone looking at their watch or looking bored, that’s all I do. I notice it. I never interpret it. When I’m delivering a keynote, my job is to stay focused on my material and to deliver it at the highest level. And quite honestly, when I have exactly 60 minutes to deliver a brilliant speech that exceeds my customer’s expectation, my job is too important to let myself get distracted or taken off course by misinterpreting an audience member. I have a job to do and every second counts.

So the next time you’re delivering a speech or presentation and you notice someone who is fussing or fidgeting; or you see someone with a stern look on their face; Notice, Never Interpret. You may actually be that someone who, at just the right moment, steps in and says or does something that makes a profound difference in his or her life journey.

That is why inspirational leaders are so valuable. They are a net asset.

Inspirational Leadership is a program that focuses on three areas of development; character, culture and communication.

Inspirational leaders do more with less. They produce better results with fewer people and smaller budgets. Their people work harder and smarter because they are treated with respect.

People want to work for inspirational leaders because they are expected to think, contribute and solve problems on their own. They are given the support they need to innovate and are allowed to make mistakes as long as the process leads to positive solutions. After all, the creative process that led to every great invention or innovation was filled with trial and error.

Inspirational leaders attract the best talent and inspire intense loyalty to themselves and their team. They are the leaders others want to follow. They are worth their weight in gold.

One in a hundred people is a born inspirational leader. They are born with the inherent skills, qualities and personality traits needed to lead others forward to their highest level of contribution. The good news is, the skills and qualities of an inspirational leader can be taught and nurtured.

Right now, there are people in your organization that have everything it takes to become inspirational leader. They simply need to be developed.

Inspirational leaders are:

• Skillful delegators
• Patient teachers
• Natural motivators
• Self-directed learners
• Outgoing and inclusive
• Secure in who they are
• Conscious and skilled communicators
• Good listeners
• Compassionate and empathetic
• Skilled facilitators
• Inquisitive explorers
• Consensus builders
• High achievers

Focus area #1 – Character

Inspirational leaders devote time and energy to personal development. They are self-aware and humble. They are also confident and decisive. They have the ability to provide constructive criticism without attacking the individual.

Think about your coworkers. The majority of them work for your company because they like it there. They like the people, the salary and the benefits. They may come to work because they have to have a job in order to pay the bills – but they produce at a high level because they are invested in the outcome.

But there is one thing that can absolutely sabotage their creativity, productivity and spirit – a lousy boss. Bad bosses are the reason many companies struggle to compete. Bad bosses destroy people’s spirit. Because they lack self-awareness and skills, they de-motivate people around them.

Bad bosses cost companies money. They decrease the value of each individual. They destroy talent. It’s as if they take 20 good people and reduce their productivity to the level of 10 average people.

Bad bosses are often good people. They are simply unaware. They are insecure. And they lack the skills and training to shift their negative behavior to positive behavior. With proper training, they can become great leaders.

On the other hand, some bad bosses are not good people. They are mean; controlling and lack even the most basic conscious communication skills. They blame others for their own misgivings and are the last people to work on themselves. While they may get results, they are bullies. They are a net loss for the companies that keep them around.

In an inspirational leadership keynote or workshop, we’ll focus on the character traits of inspirational leaders.

Focus area #2 – Culture

How does corporate culture affect productivity and morale? The answer is, a lot. If the culture is one of inclusion and cohesion, each individual contributes at a high level. If the culture is one of intimidation and coercion, people give exactly the bare minimum.

In essence, people work for their own reasons. They work to support their family, their needs and their desire to contribute. If their ability to contribute is compromised by a culture that stifles their creativity, they will contribute less. If on the other hand, the culture inspires and challenges them, they will contribute their best effort.

In an inspirational leadership keynote or workshop, we’ll examine exemplary corporate cultures.

Focus area #2 – Communication

This is probably the area that is most in need of skill building for leaders today. It has often been said that it’s not just what you say but how you say it. Both are true. What you say; what words you choose to use, can make the difference between an empowering conversation and one that leads to resentment and mistrust.

How you say what you say; your tone of voice, inflection and the attitude behind the words, also affects the outcome of a conversation.

The good news is that conscious communication skills can be learned. Leaders, who understand how to facilitate a meeting, provide constructive feedback and give clear and unambiguous directions will be responsible for increased productivity. They will also improve loyalty, increase retention and attract the best talent.

Inspirational leaders are worth their weight in gold. Invest in them and they will pay you huge dividends.

If you are frustrated by the pace, be patient. As my good friend and drinking companion Bill Shakespeare always says to me,

“How poor are they that have not patience. What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”

Be patient my friends. What is yours will find you.

The Retreat is unique because:

• there are only four students
• you’re in a wonderful home with astounding views of the Rocky Mountains
• Deborah will attend to you like you’re in a five star hotel
• it’s an acting and comedy class for business professionals
• it uses story as a vehicle to expand your speaking skills
• you’ll learn how to use movement and staging
• you’ll discover how to work with a range of emotions
• The Story Theater Method is proven storytelling technology
• Colorado Springs is a wonderful destination for transformation
• I am an intuitive coach who will meet you where you are (watch the video)
• you’ll be on your feet being coached and video recorded for approximately two hours
• rather than being told what not to do – you’ll be set free to be your amazing self
• you’ll be provided with healthy food and snacks like fruit, vegetables and power bars

We schedule retreats two ways: 1) we put specific dates on the calendar and people register for the dates that work for them; or, 2) we use the “collaborative scheduling” method to schedule retreats based on your schedule, and the schedules of others who are interested to attend.   If none of the dates listed below suit you, we ask that you call us and give us date options that work for you. Give us three or four date combinations spanning three consecutive days. When we find four people who can attend on the same dates, (and I’m also available!), we make it happen. It’s up to you.

The cost is $2500 and includes my book: Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater Method, the Story Theater Audio Six Pack 2 CD set, and The Dynamite Speech System 10 CD/workbook system. You also get two 30-minute coaching calls with me. One coaching call is before the Retreat and one is afterwards.

If you’d like to talk to me to about the retreat, feel free to call me and we’ll spend a few minutes on the phone. To schedule a call with me or to register for the retreat of your choice, call Deborah at 719-573-6195.

The October 13, 14, 15 retreat is full.

The next scheduled dates are:

• October 21, 22, 23
• November 4, 5, 6
• January 6, 7, 8
• March 30, 31 April 1
• May 15, 16, 17

The links below will take you to You Tube videos with actual footage from the Story Theater Retreat along with testimonials from retreat graduates. Listen to what these business professionals have to say about working with Doug to improve their presentation and storytelling skills. Watch these videos. Then call to register or inquire about alternate dates that fit your schedule.

Story Theater Retreat Video Part One

Story Theater Retreat Video Part Two

Story Theater Retreat Video for Coaches

Story Theater Retreat Web Link