83. How Storytelling Can Get You What You Want

In this episode we discuss: How storytelling can get you what you want. We are joined by David Pullan, author, speaker, coach, and gold miner.

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• We chat about the following with David Pullan:
• How can leaders use storytelling to make their ideas unforgettable?
• What makes a message stick in people’s minds long after the meeting ends?
• Why do leaders often overlook the importance of how they communicate, not just what they say?
• How can storytelling build trust and psychological safety within teams?
• What practical steps can leaders take to transform everyday communication into moments of influence?

References

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pullan-4b0619a/
• www.thestoryspotters.com

Biography

David Pullan and his wife and business partner, Sarah Jane McKechnie, first met in a rehearsal room over thirty years ago and have been collaborating ever since. From acting alongside Shirley MacLaine, performing for Henry Kissinger, and filming in the former Yugoslavia (with Robert Downey Jr dancing on the table), to cooking a chicken live on stage, their careers have been defined by spotting, shaping and sharing stories in unexpected ways.

Together, through their company The Story Spotters, they draw on their backgrounds as performers, coaches, scriptwriters and hypnotherapists to help clients master the communication moments that matter. Their book, The DNA of Engagement, offers a story-based approach to building trust and influencing change in today’s noisy corporate world.

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Summary

00:14:40 – Why stories matter more than facts

00:17:37 – Meeting people where they are

00:20:23 – How stories help ideas stick

00:23:04 – A leader’s process for shaping communication

00:28:27 – Common mistakes leaders make with storytelling

00:31:07 – Switching gears: the role of vulnerability

00:36:26 – How authenticity shapes perception

00:39:13 – Balancing emotion and logic in leadership stories

00:42:03 – Why psychological safety is essential

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