Page 166 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

You Listen More Than You Talk • 147

right ones for the situation, keep them brief, make sure that you’re going
somewhere with your stories, and don’t manipulate facts or exaggerate to
make your point.
Understanding is a combination of facts and beliefs. People are com-
plex; they don’t deal with facts alone. Facts are shaped by the filter of feel-
ings. Stories bring facts and figures to life, create an emotional bond, and
bridge the head and the heart.
The best stories tell of overcoming adversity or a struggle. A sad
story teaches more than a happy one because people learn more from
mistakes than from successes. The best stories cause people to think,
“Boy, I’m glad that didn’t happen to me. That’s so interesting. That’s so
right. I understand. I agree.”

I was at death’s door, and the devil said, “You remind me too much
of myself. Get out of here.” Some nurses were sitting up with me late
one night, and I could hear some spirited conversation. I asked,
“What’s going on?” One said, “They have a pool going to see if you’re
going to make it.” That’s all I needed to hear. I got up off that bed
and started walking immediately.”

To tell stories, set the scene in a few words; then tell the struggle/
obstacle/hurdle/setback and how you overcame it. Over 2,000 years
ago, Aristotle wrote in Poetics that stories should have a beginning, a
middle, and an end; complex characters as well as a plot that incorporates
a reversal of fortune and a lesson learned; and be engaging by involving
the five senses to draw people in.

Interesting side note:
Every Bond story has (1) intro of Bond and the villain, (2) villain
and Bond compete in some sport/event, (3) villain cheats to win,
(4) Bond cheats the villain to win, (5) villain captures Bond, (6)
villain tortures Bond, (7) Bond escapes villain, (8) Bond seeks
revenge on villain, (9) villain expires, and (10) Bond gets the girl.
Or, as in almost every movie, introduce characters, get them up a
tree, and get them back down.