Strategic Storytelling to Influence and Engage

Duration : 2 sessions of 3 hours each

© AFI par Edgenda inc.

Discover strategic storytelling to influence, mobilize, and engage your teams around an inspiring vision. This program is designed for managers, executives, and leaders who wish to improve their ability to communicate in a way that mobilizes and to influence their teams in contexts of organizational transformation, strategic change, or increased mobilization.

Audience

Managers, executives, and leaders.

Prerequisites

• Have a management, leadership, or coordination role with a team or a strategic project.
• Be involved in a context of transformation, mobilization, or organizational communication.
• Registration is done by internal recommendation or individually.
• A short preliminary questionnaire is sent in order to identify needs and adapt the examples to the participants’ context.

Objectives

• Understand the principles and levers of strategic storytelling.
• Identify high-potential stories within their organizational context.
• Develop practical skills to craft and deliver a mobilizing narrative.
• Experience the impact of storytelling as a tool for influence and mobilization.

Contents

Module 1 – Fundamentals and Exploration

1. Welcome and Introduction

• Icebreaker: Share a personal story in 2 minutes (introduce yourself through a narrative).

2. Understanding Strategic Storytelling

• The difference between communicating facts and telling a story.
• Elements of a mobilizing narrative: protagonist, challenge, tension, resolution, call to action.
• Inspiring examples (company cases, leaders – videos).

3. The Manager’s Role in Influence and Mobilization

• When and why to use storytelling in an organizational context.
• Connection to transformational leadership and mobilizing communication.
• Group discussion: What transformation challenges are participants experiencing, and where can storytelling help?

4. Practical Workshop (Experimentation) – Identifying Key Stories

• Individual work: Identify a meaningful experience from your professional or organizational journey.
• Work in pairs: Share your story and receive feedback.
• Group debrief and discussion on the impact of the stories heard.

Module 2 – Construction and Application

5. Techniques for Structuring a Mobilizing Narrative

• Simple models (e.g., three-act narrative structure, “Hero’s Journey” model adapted for management).
• Ingredients to evoke emotion and strengthen credibility.
• Adapting your narrative to your audience (teams, executive committee, partners).

6. Practical Workshop (Experimentation) – Building Your Strategic Story

• Small group work: Each participant chooses a real challenge from their organization.
• Story construction using a provided template.
• Presentation to the small group with structured feedback.

7. Role Play – Storytelling to Mobilize

• Simulation: Present your story to a group as if they were your team.
• Managing verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Group feedback and self-reflection.

8. Integration and Action Plan

• Each participant defines a concrete situation where they will use storytelling in the coming weeks.
• Sharing of commitments.
• Conclusion and synthesis of key learnings.