Applied Storytelling

Overview

There is no art form as eternal or essential as storytelling. It conjures images across time and space: whether experienced around the campfire, the holiday dinner table, or within the confines of a good book, storytelling is everywhere. And, as the business world of the 21st Century has discovered, intentional and impactful storytelling provides one of the most indispensable competitive advantages on the market. An empowered, aware storyteller interviews, inspires, leads, and manages more effectively than someone who dismisses a story purely as a form of entertainment. ****

In this Applied Storytelling course, you will learn how to integrate this foundational human skill more powerfully into your career. Over the course of 4 self-paced weeks, you will train in vocal and physical performance techniques that will support your public speaking; you will engage in all the different types of story that shape our professional world; you will learn how to tell a story and practice in scenarios including digital storytelling and oral storytelling that will help launch or advance your career goals as a storytelling practitioner; and you will understand how to implement best practices of storytelling to enliven the day-to-day of your job. ****

No experience is necessary to enroll! You might be asking, “Which sorts of careers will benefit from this class?” Well, the answer is “All of them.” While some fields may seem more inclined toward story than others, everyone in the workforce encounters moments of stage fright where they can apply storytelling to become more captivating, confident, successful humans.

Syllabus

Week One

In week one, we will discuss the different aspects of the body that make up our voices and check in with ourselves to discover our vocal ranges. We will explore the implications of changes in tempo, gesture, volume, pitch, timbre, and silence, and observe how different locations change the style of a presentation. At the end of the week, enjoy an interview with Jean Andzulis, whose acting background influences the way she approaches her work as Director of Special Projects at Boomerang Water.

Week Two

This week, we will focus on the elements of a story. What are ethos, logos, and pathos, and which is most important? How do you organize a story to maintain interest? Throughout the week, Moth Grand Slam champion Will Clegg will offer his insights into telling a compelling, emotional story.

Week Three

Now that you have the building blocks of a story, how do you want to use them? This week, we encourage you to begin telling your own stories, varying the lengths and focuses so you can adapt your stories to various situations, including pitches, networking, and job interviews. Maribel Lara, Senior VP and Head of Consulting at The Sasha Group, shares her expertise on how to effectively frame and pitch an idea.

Week Four

In this final week, we'll pull everything together into a final capstone presentation. Build a slide deck, find your style, rehearse and share your work. John Corso-Esquivel, Associate Professor of Art at Davidson College, shares his slide deck on how to present a slide deck.