1. THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF
GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP:
STORYTELLING
Presented by
Eric Kaufman & Allisen Penn

2. Allisen Penn’s Story
• Regional Program
Leader, University of
Tennessee Extension
• 25 years Extension
experience, as a
County Agent,
Associate District
Director and
Leadership Specialist

3. Eric Kaufman’s Story
• Extension Specialist
& Assistant Professor,
Virginia Tech
• Support Virginia’s
Extension Leadership
Councils and the
Strengthening
Extension Advisory
Leaders Program

4. What Is It About a Story?

5. Tell Me a Story
"Tell me a fact and I'll
learn. Tell me the truth
and I'll believe. But tell
me a story and it will live
in my heart forever."
- Indian Proverb

6. Language of Leadership
How do you:
• inspire enduring
enthusiasm for a cause?
• connect with diverse,
difficult, cynical
audiences?
….at work, in the
community, in the
family?

7. Problem
?
Analysis
?
Solution!
?
The western intellectual tradition
Get their
attention
Elicit
desire
Reinforce
with reasons
Effective presentation to get action
The Secret Language of Leadership

8. Why Giving Reasons Doesn’t
Work

9. Science of Storytelling
• Our brains are more
active with stories
• A story can put your whole
brain to work
• Evolution has wired our
brains for storytelling
• We make up (short) stories
in our heads for every
action and conversation
• Whenever we hear a
story, we want to relate it to
one of our existing
experiences

10. Storytelling & Leadership
“Good storytelling is a
hallmark of effective
leadership.”

11. Springboard Stories (Denning):
Communicate a complex idea and spark action
1. Must be true
• Not just a story without inaccuracy
(e.g., 700 happy passengers reach New York after the Titanic’s
maiden voyage)
2. Must be positive
• Listener wants to remember & share
3. Must be minimalist
• i.e., free from distracting details

12. Types of Stories

13. Storytelling Criteria
• Clear
• Focused
• Persuasive
• Positive
• Relevant
• Conversational
• Humorous

14. Learning Application
Developing Your Extension Advocacy Story
Part I – Share a story about:
• Someone who influenced you
• How you became an Extension leader
Part II - Write Your Extension Story
Part III - Tell Your Extension Story

15. Examples & Discussion
How does the story…
• Gain Attention?
• Elicit Desire?
• Reinforce with
Reasons?

16. Storytelling Tips
• Five Senses
• Eye Contact
• Gesture
• Pause
• Breathe
• Practice

17. Think-Pair-Share
What are your takeaway
points from this
session?
How will you apply
storytelling?

18. For More Info
• Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders
(SEAL) Curricula: http://bit.ly/ExtAdvisory
• Eric Kaufman, EKaufman@VT.Edu
• Allisen Penn, AllisenPenn@UTK.Edu