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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Lead with a Story summary
Paul Smith
A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives that Captivate, Convince and Inspire
19 mins
Brief summary
'Lead with a Story' by Paul Smith showcases the power of storytelling in leadership. With real-life examples and practical tips, it teaches how to use storytelling to motivate and inspire your team.
Table of Contents
Lead with a Story
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
Storytelling is an important aspect of any successful business.
Question: Why is it that some of the longest-running shows on televisions are soap operas?
Answer: People just love a good story. Whether it’s the drama in a soap or a riveting page-turner, we become completely captured by good stories.
But it’s not only authors and screenwriters who have profited from the art of storytelling. In fact, a great deal of businesses have as well: Nike, Microsoft, FedEx and Costco each have their own corporate storyteller.
Who exactly are these corporate storytellers and why do these companies hire them?
Stories are critical components of corporate messaging towards customers and employees alike.
For most of human history, storytelling has been the primary method for imparting knowledge. Before the printing press made possible the mass distribution of written materials, most information was shared via oral tradition in the form of stories.
Indeed, storytelling offers some unique advantages over other types of communication:
First, anyone can tell and learn from a story. A good story can transfix anyone, regardless of age or education.
In addition, stories are memorable. It’s quite difficult to remember an isolated fact or a statistic. However, according to psychologist Jerome Bruner, if these facts are put into a story, we’re 20 times more likely to remember them.
Finally, stories can appeal to every type of learner.
There are three types of learners: 40 percent of us are visual learners, 40 percent are auditory learners and the remaining 20 percent are kinetic learners. Stories attract all three – a story’s imagery influences visual learners, the vocabulary appeals to auditory learners and the emotions and feelings connect with kinetic learners.
As you can see, stories are a great way to impart knowledge, so much so that businesses have incorporated them into their strategies. In the next few blinks, we’ll go into detail about the specific areas of business that can be improved with a story.
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What is Lead with a Story about?
Lead with a Story (2012) teaches you how to enhance your skills as a great leader by harnessing the power of storytelling. By taking examples from one of the most successful companies in the world, you’ll learn how to craft a great story that motivates people and modifies their behavior.
Lead with a Story Review
Lead with a Story by Paul Smith (2012) delves into the power of storytelling as a leadership tool. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- Packed with compelling narratives from real-life leaders, it shows how storytelling can inspire, motivate, and influence others.
- Combining practical tips with captivating stories, the book provides a framework for crafting and delivering impactful narratives that resonate with your audience.
- Through its engaging storytelling approach, the book proves that leaders who master the art of storytelling can effectively communicate their vision, build trust, and drive change.
Who should read Lead with a Story?
- Leaders of all kinds
- Anyone who wants to be better at motivating others
- Anyone who finds his or her coworkers dozing off during presentations
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Lead with a Story FAQs
What is the main message of Lead with a Story?
The main message of Lead with a Story is that storytelling is a powerful tool for effective leadership and communication.
How long does it take to read Lead with a Story?
The reading time for Lead with a Story varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Lead with a Story a good book? Is it worth reading?
Lead with a Story is a valuable read for leaders and communicators. It offers practical insights and examples to enhance storytelling skills and drive success.
Who is the author of Lead with a Story?
The author of Lead with a Story is Paul Smith.
What to read after Lead with a Story?
If you're wondering what to read next after Lead with a Story, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Stories for Work by Gabrielle Dolan
- The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall
- The Story Factor by Annette Simmons
- Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks
- The Art of War (new version) by Sun Tzu
- The Storytelling Edge by Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas
- A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
- The Mind's Mirror by Gregory Mone
- When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein
- How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job by Dale Carnegie