Lead with a Story

LEAD WITH A STORY
Written by Paul Smith

Lead with a Story

A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives that Captivate, Convince, and Inspire.

#1 bestseller in Amazon’s Business Communication category

  • Top 5 business books” — The Washington Post
  • “Best 25 business books of 2012″ — ExecRank.com
  • “Best storytelling books ever published.” — List.ly

Over the last decade, storytelling has become one of the most rapidly growing tools used by business managers and executives. Companies like Disney, 3M, Motorola, and the World Bank have adopted storytelling as a key method of influence and leadership. Instead of corporate memos, email, and PowerPoint presentations, storytelling is now being used to inspire and motivate organizations, to create a vision for the future, to define culture and values, to set goals and build commitment to them, and to lead change.

Lead with a Story: contains ready-to-use stories for 21 of the toughest challenges leaders face, and a how-to guide for readers to craft their own. Complete with stories from over 50 companies like Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, Merrill-Lynch, Saatchi & Saatchi, Dun & Bradstreet, National Car Rental, Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut, and more, this practical resource gives readers the guidance they need to deliver stories to stunning effect.

Available from these online retailers:

Audio Version

Purchase the audio version of Lead with a Story on Audible.com. Click here »

Other Language Versions

Japanese Language Version: click here »

Korean Language Version: click here »

For Russian, Chinese, and other languages, contact me: leadwithastory@gmail.com.

Praise for Lead with a Story

Chip Heath

“Stories are flight simulators for our brains and in this book Paul Smith brings you a story for every important challenge you and your team will face at work. If you master these stories, you’ll master your challenges.”

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and others Die

Sara Mathew,

“A compelling book that will help bring alive the power of storytelling to make a meaningful difference in your business or your life.”

Chairman and CEO Dun & Bradstreet

Bob McDonald,

“Storytelling is how great leaders communicate their beliefs to the organization. Lead with a Story shows you how.”

Chairman, President, and CEO Procter

Andy Murray

“As a marketing consultant, I’m constantly looking for great stories that bring clarity to new ideas. Lead with a Story is now my go-to-source for sample stories that inspire change across a broad range of business challenges. This is a must read book for any leader who wants to up their game by leading through inspiration.”

, Saatchi & Saatchi-X and Mercury11

Jim Bangel

“I got your book late yesterday and started reading it after supper. I finished it this morning at 8:15. I couldn’t put it down all night! This book is everything I had hoped it would be…and more.”

, Former Corporate Storyteller Procter & Gamble

Annette Simmons

“What a great book! Paul Smith explains where storytelling “rubber hits the road.” This book offers the most storytelling success stories I’ve seen between two covers. It is invaluable for any leader who wants to inspire, motivate, or persuade.”

The Story Factor and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins

Joan M. Lewis

“This is the most practical business book I’ve ever read, and it is changing how I communicate in day-to-day interactions. I really loved it.”

Global Consumer & Market Knowledge Officer Procter & Gamble

Bob Johansen

“I forecast that this book will provoke powerful insights for future leaders who have a story to tell and want to learn how to tell it.”

Leaders Make the Future and Distinguished Fellow, Institute for the Future

Margaret Parkin UK-based training coach

“Paul Smith’s book, Lead with a Story not only explains why stories are important, but demonstrates it by telling stories. In fact, there are over a hundred of them – ancient and modern, funny and poignant – and all of them thought-provoking. A great resource for any business person looking for new and innovative ways to tackle leadership challenges.”

speaker and best-selling author of Tales for Trainers

Bracken Darrell President, Logitech

“Storytelling is part of the power underneath some of the best leaders I’ve known. Paul’s comprehensive and story-loaded book is a great tool for all of us who want to lead well.”

Evelyn Clark

“Paul Smith makes a valuable contribution to the practice of leadership storytelling with a thorough examination of the why and how as well as the who, what, when and where. Lead with a Story is a go-to reference for every leader who wants to be heard and understood.”

Author Around the Corporate Campfire

Jeff Schomburger,

“Influence separates good leaders from great ones. Lead with a Story is loaded with practical examples to influence people and decisions through storytelling.”

President Procter & Gamble Global Walmart Customer Team

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