E68 - Storytelling to Inspire Change - Podcast with Steve Rawling

The Inner Game of Change

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Welcome to the Inner Game of Change Podcast, where I explore the intricate layers of organizational change alongside insightful professionals in the field.
Today, I am thrilled to welcome Steve Rawling: a master storyteller, author, strategic learning facilitator, and leadership development expert.

Drawing from his rich personal experiences, journalistic curiosity, and continuous reflection, Steve has cultivated a value-based approach to helping clients communicate through the art of storytelling. His publications are globally considered among the most effective tools for anyone aspiring to become a storyteller.

In this episode, Steve and I dive into the profound impact of storytelling—how it enriches our experiences, inspires action, and transforms our perspectives.

I am truly grateful to have Steve with me today.

About Steve (In his own story)

It's March 2020 and my order book has shrunk to zero. I was supposed to be in Estonia, speaking at a conference and running workshops with clients. Then Covid killed it all. But hey, I'm a TV journalist - I know how to communicate via a screen. I shifted all my training to Zoom, I rescued 80% of my cancelled work - and new clients started coming in.
2020 has turned into a boom year. I miss working face to face with clients. I miss Meeting-Biscuits and coffee break chats. But I sell stories - and stories work across any medium.
I've spent 30 years telling stories. I've chased people with a camera crew; I've walked through petrol bombs; I've been bitten by a dog once, sworn at many times and welcomed into strangers' homes again and again. All so I could get people to tell their side of the story.
But I was amazed how bad most people were at telling stories when it came to their work. I'd listen to the rehearsed soundbites and the PR spin. Eventually I'd go: "So what you're really saying is... [insert much more interesting story]."
Now I do this for a living. I help people find the great stories that are buried beneath the business-speak. I help them tell simple stories to connect with customers, staff and investors. I work with media companies, designers, innovators, charities, CEOs and universities across Europe.
My book on innovation techniques - Be Creative Now - was published by Pearson Business in 2016 and is translated into Chinese, Russian and Arabic.
Contact
Steve’s Profile
linkedin.com/in/steverawling

Websites
stories-that-work.com (Company)
pipdecks.com/products/storyteller-tactics (Company)

Email
[e-mail]

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

Chapter

1. The Power of Storytelling (00:00:00)

2. Storytelling and Audience Engagement Art (00:07:32)

3. [Ad] Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott Allen (00:17:03)

4. (Cont.) Storytelling and Audience Engagement Art (00:17:51)

5. The Power of Story in Communication (00:19:36)

6. The Impact of Stories on Models (00:29:43)

7. The Power of Presentation and Communication (00:41:36)

8. Navigating Change and the Polar Bear (00:49:03)