This course is tailored for senior internal communication leaders who wish to leverage storytelling as a strategic tool within their organisations. It is ideal for those aiming to influence executive stakeholders, shape organisational culture, and foster alignment with business objectives through impactful storytelling.

The workshop is aligned with the following professional competencies and areas of expertise:

• Strategic Influence and Executive Advising: Enhance your ability to influence the C-suite and senior leaders through storytelling that aligns with organisational goals.

• Strategic Planning and Business Insight: Develop stories that support business strategy, reinforce organisational priorities, and drive cultural cohesion.

• Understanding People, Culture and Change: Learn to craft stories that foster understanding, bridge cultural divides, and support transformational change within your organisation.

You will also be given the opportunity to book a 30-minute one-to-one session post-course with the trainer to discuss anything you would like to explore further.

Who should attend?

This course is best suited for those at an advanced level in internal communications, seeking to embed strategic storytelling practices into their leadership approach. The course is aligned to Levels 3 & 4 of the IOIC Profession Map. 

If you are less experienced and looking for a more foundational course on storytelling, you might consider: The Power of Storytelling. 

Learning objectives

By the end of both sessions, participants will:

• Understand what strategic storytelling looks like in practice and be able to assess the current state of storytelling in their own organisation
• Have a three-step framework for embedding business storytelling into organisational communication
• Know how to make the case for storytelling to senior leaders and be equipped to have those conversations with clarity and confidence
• Be able to identify and navigate the common objections leaders raise when asked to invest in storytelling
• Walk away with practical scripts and role-play experience to use immediately in their own organisations.

The course will cover

Part One: 6^th November, 10:00 – 13:00

Understanding Strategic Storytelling and Assessing Where You Are

• What strategic business storytelling is and what it is not
• The three core components of strategic storytelling: listening, storytelling and taking action
• Examples and case studies of storytelling done well in internal communications
• The two approaches to embedding storytelling: bottom-up and top-down
• A structured assessment of your current internal communications: where are the gaps, and where is the opportunity?
• Goal-setting: what does success look like for your organisation?

Part Two: 13^th November, 10:00 – 13:00

Getting the Buy-In: Conversations, Scripts and Role Play

• How to frame the storytelling conversation in terms of business outcomes, not communication tactics
• The most common leadership objections to storytelling investment and how to respond to each one
• Scripts and conversation frameworks for the key moments: proposing a storytelling strategy, responding to scepticism, and making the case for resources
• Guided role-play: practise the real conversations you need to have, with coaching and feedback
• Building your personal action plan: the first three conversations you will have when you return to your organisation

You will also be given the opportunity to book a 30-minute one-to-one session post-course with the trainer to discuss anything you would like to explore further.

Additional benefits

All participants will also gain:

• Pre and post course access to Canvas, the IOIC's online learning environment, where you will find all course materials and be able to engage with their fellow participants through forum discussions
• Proven techniques and frameworks you can apply to your own organisation
• Eight CPD Points for IOIC Members
• A network of senior IC professionals to connect with and learn from
• Places are strictly limited to ensure every participant gains the support and guidance they need, and to facilitate maximum opportunity for interaction, connection and engagement.

Please note that we use Zoom for our online courses. Please ensure that you are able to access this system where you are based before booking your place. All times are in GMT. 

Trainer

Beatrice Kabutakapua

Find out more