Strategic Storytelling Quotes

“When prioritizing, it is common to use a two-by-two matrix –”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“the most compelling business presentations are a form of strategic storytelling leading listeners down a controlled path.”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“appropriate.”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“If your audience is overly complacent, begin with the complication to create a sense of urgency.”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“What appears to be a set of solutions is merely a set of initial hypotheses, proposed explanations that now must be rigorously tested. A good problem solver will search for facts, all the while updating the hypothesis. Great problem solvers not only seek information that confirms their hypothesis but also mercilessly hunt for disconfirming information.”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“What? So what? Now what?”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“SMART goals are specific, measurable, action-oriented, relevant, and time-bound.”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“Again, Ms. Minto applied her SCQA framework to creating structured, concise, and compelling introductions to written communications – especially memos and reports. In story parlance, the situation describes the recent context of “Once upon a time… and every day…” The complication includes the inciting incident and its consequences or “… until one day… and because of that…” The question captures the most intense query raised in a reader’s mind in response to the complication – often “why?” or “how?” Note the question is often implied and therefore not typically written into the introduction. Finally, the answer offers a solution to the problem set up by the situation and complication inclusive of the climax and the aftermath, or “… until finally... and after that…”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“Executives, being executives, have a natural prioritization of how best to use their time and brains during meetings. Unless told otherwise, their default mode is decision making. When I want the people I am presenting to in that mode, I start my bullet with “Approve…,” “Adopt…,” or “Authorize…” The second mode executives operate in is problem-solving mode. If you start a bullet with “Problem solve…,” “Explore…,” or “Brainstorm…,” your audience knows you are seeking thoughtful input rather than a quick decision. Finally, the third mode in which executives operate is the passive listening one. Spend the least time in this final mode because it is not an effective use of senior leaders’ time. I begin agenda bullets with “Review…” or “Evaluate…” to signal to my audience that I am about to share information.”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations

“A great leader, one who applies bright spot analysis, does not trust sales managers to know who their top performers are. Yes, that is blasphemy, but sales managers are people too, and hold biases due to personal relationships and past performance. The right first step is to stack rank account executives by recent performance”
― Dave McKinsey, Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations