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“The best presentation on storytelling I have ever attended in my career.” – Healthcare CEO

Instructional Keynotes and Skill-Building Workshops

Lead, Engage and Persuade with Strategic Storytelling

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Doug’s Clients Include

Lead, Engage and Persuade with Storytelling for Business

Are you ready to incorporate storytelling into your business culture? Do you want to improve communications, increase sales and leap past your competition? Do you want to make an emotional connection with your employees, stakeholders and clients?

It has been proven that a logical argument alone will often fail to engage or persuade people to change their thinking or behavior. To make matters worse, bad PowerPoint puts people into a content coma, and dense technical information – while valuable and important – usually works like a sedative on the brain!

Is it possible to convey relevant facts and data while inspiring people to give their best effort? It is when you learn how to embed data inside a well-crafted story. In this inspiring, entertaining and instructional keynote or workshop, Doug Stevenson will show you how.

People buy on emotion and then rationalize their decision. That’s why facts, data and product knowledge alone often fail to change hearts and minds. Learn how to tell your story and you will engage attention, inspire action and produce measurable results.

Learn to identify relevant stories that engage attention and motivate people to action
Develop your corporate story and connect emotionally with others
Sell the value of your products and services with client success stories
Discover how you can “Hide the Pill in the Peanut Butter”
Become a more inspiring leader by sharing your wisdom stories
Make your message memorable with proven storytelling techniques
Step away from the podium and into your dynamic power as a speaker

Storytelling works because it’s based on the science of how people learn and remember information. When you learn to be a better storyteller, you will be a more effective and charismatic leader with the ability to inspire and motivate people.

Each instructional keynote is a mini-learning experience with powerful research, engaging storytelling, and actionable strategies for measurable results.

Alternative title: The Power to Persuade – The Magic of Story

Strategic Story Selling – Sell It With a Story

You’ve Got One Shot to Make a Positive Impression

When you’ve only got one shot at making a positive impression and ensuring that you make the sale, your message and presentation need to be better and more memorable than the one your competition just gave. In this inspiring, entertaining and instructional keynote or workshop, you’ll learn how to use strategically chosen stories to overcome resistance and answer questions with a story rather than with features, benefits and data.

When your products and services are facing stiff competition from competitors with similar products and services, you must differentiate yourself. One thing you have that your competition doesn’t have are your client success stories. When you learn how to craft and deliver them, you will stand apart and your closing ratios will improve.

Do your salespeople know the objections they always hear; yet respond with a different answer every time?
Do they try to sell their products and services by reciting features and benefits, facts and data?
Are your PowerPoint decks handcuffing your salespeople, robbing them of the flexibility they need to close the deal?
Are they failing to connect emotionally and establish bullet-proof relationships?
Would you like to help them improve their closing ratio and sell more?
Are you ready to shake things up and try something new and stimulating?

In the ancient martial art called Aikido, you use your opponent’s energy and momentum to neutralize them without doing harm. Aikido, literally translated, means “the way of blending energy.” In Doug Stevenson’s unique Aikido Selling approach, the sales person welcomes resistance, questions and objections because they know they are prepared to embrace the objection and answer with the appropriate story. The story has been chosen, crafted and prepared in advance, in anticipation of the objection.

The right story, told at the right time, with the right point has the ability to shift the conversation from logic to imagery and emotion, thereby reducing defensiveness for both prospect and salesperson.

“Most sales trainers approach selling with stories from thirty-thousand-feet. It’s too conceptual to be effective. Doug’s Aikido Selling workshop is filled with street level stuff. It’s strategic, practical and applicable to the kind of selling we do. Plus, the time just flies by. Doug makes it interactive, fun and enjoyable.”

CEO, Consulting Firm

About Doug Stevenson

Doug Stevenson, CSP, is the author of Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater Method and is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer on strategic storytelling for leadership, sales, marketing and fundraising. For over 24 years, he has taught the science of the art of storytelling. He has worked with clients in 18 countries.

His clients include: Google, Verizon, Coca-Cola, NBC, Deloitte, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pfizer, Con Agra Foods, Caterpillar, Microsoft, SAP, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Aetna, Lockheed Martin, The American Education Association, The National Association of Realtors, The American Medical Association, Rockwell Collins, Insperity, Junior Achievement, Amgen, AAA, Oracle University, Red Bull, Deco Proteste, Asurion, Medstar Hospitals, and hundreds of associations and non-profits.

Testimonials

Motivation and Leadership Keynote

“We brought Doug in to be the opening keynote speaker for our senior leadership summit. The room was filled with 120 of our VP’s and above, so the stakes were pretty high. The greatest accolade I received in relation to Doug’s storytelling keynote was when our CEO texted the senior manager of talent development saying we absolutely nailed it with our keynote speaker. There is no question that Doug is one of the top-tier speakers on storytelling in a business context.”

Adnan Barqawi, Leadership Development Manager, Asurion

“On behalf of Caterpillar Inc. and the nearly 300 Operations, HR and Communications managers who attended our Global Engagement Conference, thank you for a truly awesome session. Your delivery was engaging, enlightening, and entertaining. Your storytelling presentations were the two highest scoring sessions in our entire conference. Your breakout session was also the only standing room only one of the entire conference. Thank you again for your passionate and persuasive message.”

Brian R. Gareau, OE + E Manager, Caterpillar

“Doug Stevenson has built a reputation as a storytelling in business expert. When Deloitte asked me to find someone to teach storytelling skills to our associates, I hired Doug. He worked with me to create a highly customized workshop, even going so far as to incorporate our corporate themes into his workbook. Doug is a true professional. If you’re looking for a storytelling speaker or trainer, I highly recommend Doug Stevenson.”

Alexandra Davis, Advisory Talent Development, Deloitte

“We brought Doug in to teach the power of storytelling for our C-Suite Leadership Conference. Our members love him. That’s why we keep bringing him back. One of our executives said, ‘This is the best presentation on storytelling I’ve ever attended.’ He’s also a great choice for an opening keynote because he sets the tone for the entire conference. I highly recommend him.”

Meredith Forehand, VP of Leadership Development, Hospital Corporation of America

Leadership Development Training

“We brought Doug Stevenson in to teach his storytelling method to both our senior trainers and our senior management here at Oracle University. He was a huge success. Since that time, I’ve personally used what I learned from Doug and have found it to be practical, valuable and fun. I’ve also hired him two more times to work with other groups. His workshop is both inspirational and very practical, with easy-to-use tools and techniques. I’m constantly looking for opportunities to bring Doug back into Oracle and I highly recommend him. Doug Stevenson delivers!”

Elizabeth Wiseman, VP, Oracle University

“Doug, it’s safe to say you knocked it out of the park. Some of the feedback I’m hearing from your storytelling workshop; “This was the best training I’ve ever had at ….” “We need to get Doug’s message out to more people here.” “Doug makes the material so compelling.” We really appreciate your time and hope we can work together again soon.”

Darrin Wylie, Director, Experience Architecture, Major Insurance Company

Venture Capital Presentations and Coaching

“Doug is truly a master in teaching the art and science of public speaking and storytelling. Over 15 months after I studied with Doug, I found myself sharing Doug’s method to the CEO of Qwiki, a San Francisco-based technology startup, the night before a major startup contest. Doug’s system transformed the CEO’s speech dramatically and we WON the contest. Winning increased Qwiki’s profile (NY Times, etc.) significantly and, as a result, we accelerated our fundraising process and raised $8 million in Series A financing. Doug’s Story Theater Method had a direct, measurable, and substantial impact on our company.”

Navin Thukkaram, Managing Director, NT Capital Partners, COO, Qwiki Inc

Sales Keynotes and Training

“Doug Stevenson gave an informative and entertaining keynote on storytelling for sales at our Global Sales Kick-Off. We know storytelling will help us close more sales and Doug’s methodology is what we needed to get us started. Doug was a big hit for us and he’ll be a big hit for you.”

Patrick Stuver, Co-Founder, Everbridge