Storytelling Coach: How to Listen, Praise, and Bring Out People's Best

by Doug Lipman

Winner of Storytelling World Award & the Pegasus Award Whether we are in a business meeting, before a congregation, or in front of a class of students, we are always telling stories. In The Storytelling Coach , Doug Lipman shares his proven principles for teaching people to bring life and power to their stories. Lipman outlines his basic coaching principles, guidelines for emotional safety, the four primary obstacles to success, and suggestions for overcoming these challenges.
Excerpts from actual coaching sessions provide the reader with dramatic moments of insight and transformation that follow good coaching. This book provides indispensable information for storytellers, actors, oral interpreters, salespeople, business managers, clergy, lawyers, and for all others who use spoken communication.

Genres: Nonfiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Boxofdelights]

As a helpful listener, I do not interrupt you.
I do not give advice.
I do not do something else while listening to you. I do not convey distraction through nervous mannerisms.
I do not finish your sentences for you. In spite of all my attempts to understand you, I do not assume I know what you mean.
I do not convey disapproval, impatience, or condescension. If I am confused, I show a desire for clarification, not dislike for your obtuseness. I do not act vindicated when you misspeak or correct yourself.
I do not sit impassively, withholding participation.
Instead, I project affection, approval, interest, and enthusiasm. I am your servant, your booster, your partner in communication. I am eager for your imminent success, fascinated by your struggles, forgiving of your mistakes, always expecting the best. I am your delighted listener. (p.61)

[Vanessa]

I read this book hoping to find tips in helping my students be better storytellers, which it totally did. What I unexpectedly found was ways I could be a better listener in general. Parts of the book were too specific for me, but I really enjoyed how easy it was to read and how it will help me improve my life and teaching.

[Joelle]

I was really enjoying this book but decided that it wasn't something I needed to finish because I'm not interested in coaching storytelling but learning to do it.

[Dnicebear]

For all my interpersonal roles in life I will refer to this book (beginning with my family, of course). I especially needed the principles relating to not giving direct advice because it's easy for me to go that route because I feel a false need to be efficient. (I'm remembering my overall goal this year of living as though I have all the time that I need.) Here's a quote addressing the need for 'indirectness:' "To be sure, it is possible to obscure a simple insight with a flurry of unnecessary 'niceness.' If the goals and time are limited, it may be reasonable to say, 'here's how I would do it. Decide for yourself.' All the same, it is tempting for the coach to overlook the negative effects of these direct suggestions. Even the best coach can misconstrue the storyteller's intention. When that happens, the coach's suggestions may further obscure the storteller's true intentions, thus actually slowing the story's progress toward full realization. Further, such externally-provided suggestions may slow the storyteller's progress toward realizing her independent creativity. Thus, it is usually more efficient to be indirect." (p. 81) Some of Lipman's descriptions of processes around this theme are even more convincing.

[Samantha]

Had to read this for one of my storytelling classes (I'm a library science grad student) and I just loved it! Anybody interested in any type of coaching, teaching, or managing should read this and apply the four-part structure to their lives. It's a quick read and really great information about interacting productively with people.

[Sherry (sethurner)]

I bought this to help me with coaching public speaking. Lipman is a master at helping teachers coach storytellers and other public speakers, and his suggestions are clear and logical.

[Laura Beasley]

World's best storytelling coach shares his wisdom. I use what I learned from Doug every week in my everyday social interactions as well as at work.