The Elements of Persuasion

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"Every great leader is a great storyteller," asserts Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. Master storytellers Richard Maxwell and Robert Dickman compare storytelling to running; while everyone can run, few achieve greatness. The best runners understand how their muscles work together to maximize efficiency and reach their goals. Similarly, exceptional leaders know how to craft stories from the inside out. In this guide, Maxwell and Dickman reveal how storytelling is vital across industries and how anyone can harness its power. Drawing from their experiences in entertainment and corporate consulting, they present a formula for compelling stories. Successful narratives contain five key elements: the passion of the storyteller, a hero guiding us through the journey, an antagonist or challenge to overcome, a moment of realization enabling the hero's success, and the resulting transformation of both the hero and the world. Ultimately, leading is more rewarding than following. Even if you don't aspire to be a CEO or change the world, mastering storytelling can empower you to take control of your work and ideas, unlocking the potential to influence others and achieve your goals.