Listening and Storytelling Workshops for Teams

Powered by Storytelling

Our fun and engaging teambuilding workshops foster a culture of belonging while the stories told capture the spirit of your organization.

Our team building workshop has three pillars:

• create an open, safe, and inviting listening environment• teach storytelling principles that make everyone a storyteller• value the humanity of each employee

The training format is flexible and can combine a keynote with Murray Nossel, Ph.D., co-founder of Narativ and author of Powered by Storytelling, with modules of instruction and reflection, break-out groups, and audience engagement exercises. Each participant receives a workbook that supports on-going storytelling.

Remember Your Heritage

To jump start storytelling, participants begin by telling the story of a grandparent in the first person. There has never been a workshop in which this exercise failed to create an emotional connection between team members.

To tell what happened means to speak only of what was perceived through the five senses. Easier said that done. In this module participants experience first-hand the creative potential in crafting a story and also learn a valuable communication skill.

A Powered by Storytelling workshop teaches storytell-ing according to the Narativ Method. In a lively group setting, participants excavate and share personal stories that create new bonds and revitalize old ones.

Highlights of a Narativ Workshop

Tell What Happened

“Besides developing our listening skills, the seminar was remark-able in its humanizing effect upon the workplace: employees I hardly knew and even some I did acquired extra dimension and humanity as they related their stories. I felt surrounded by people of incredible warmth and vitality. As the day progressed, a tapestry of lives lived, of shared history wove us all the more tightly together. Our stories were simultaneously so different and yet emotionally so similar. Fantastic.” Chris Spencer, Senior Vice President, Creative Services

We meet with your management team to clarify goals and understand the “listening environment” at your company. We develop the unifying story prompts that will excite and inspire your team.

Customized to your goals and team size. This can take place in a half-day or full-day format.

We tailor a post-survey to your measurement goals and provide you with a sum-mary and details of the impact.

Storytelling takes practice. Like any skill—and art—practice refines and deepens both storytelling and listening competencies. Often clients ask us to return after a set period of time to review our method as well as support participants in practic-ing the skills they have learned.

Our ProcessDiscovery

Workshop

Post-workshop Survey

Review and Practice

Contact Us

Jerome Deroy, CEO

Reach Jerome at 212.268.4200 or jerome@narativ.com.

Visit us at narativ.com.

Case Study

“After only a few hours with Narativ, the Medium team gained a further appreciation for the art of storytelling, learned the Narativ method for telling great stories, and grew closer together by learning how to better listen to each other’s stories.”— Jason Stirman, Director of Operations

Medium started with 10 people. Two years later it employed over 100 with new hires joining every two

weeks. Leadership wanted teams to connect in a different way, outside of their usual roles, and learn principles of communication that they could use to continuously strengthen collabo-ration. One of the goals we measured was whether the workshop had strengthened each par-ticipant’s connection to their co-workers. On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), participants’ average response was 4.8.

Why did it work?Stories dimensionalized people at Medium beyond their roles and titles. Many staff who were usually quiet in work settings opened up and shared their stories. One person told us how liberating this had been for them because they felt like they had truly been listened to and valued at the same level as anyone else. The training established trust, transparency, and a willingness to go the extra mile for the good of the team.

What’s your story? It’s a question human beings have been asking each other since we first gath-ered around a campfire to while away the night. Millennia later, the human need for stories hasn’t changed. We communicate best and most effectively with stories, whatever our purpose may be.

In Powered by Storytelling, Murray Nossel, Ph.D., a master of transformational storytelling, shows you how to use stories for any business purpose―including to create buy-in, resolve conflict, and inspire and motivate others.

Narativ’s team building workshops are based upon Murray Nossel’s groundbreaking guide. Each participant receives a copy of the book.

“If you think your enterprise doesn’t need great storytellers, this book will convince you that you’re wrong. With creativity and verve, Murray Nossel shows how to apply the power of narrative to market-ing, manufacturing, management, and just about every corner of your business. If you want to become better a storyteller — and a better listener — POWERED BY STORYTELLING is the book for you.”

Daniel Pink, author of DRIVE and TO SELL IS HUMAN

“Murray Nossel has forever changed my understanding of communication and deeply influenced my ability to communicate. His insights for the teller and the listener are simple yet profound.”

Katia Beauchamp, CEO, Birchbox

“Murray Nossel presents a thoughtful guide, teaching us how to discover and tell the personal stories hiding within each of us —and he artfully illustrates how this brilliant tool can have profound impact upon group dynamics in any setting. If you’re looking to spark ‘new talent’ within your organization, this book generously reveals how you can be POWERED BY STORYTELLING.” Rob Sorcher, Global Chief Content Officer, Cartoon Network

Praise for Powered by Storytelling