The Strategic Use of Stories in Organizational Communication and Learning

As a trainer in the financial services industry, I often use stories to help me convey complex topics. I enjoyed reading Mr. Gargiulo's book as it supports my approach, but also triggers some thoughts on new/different ways to incorp & leverage the power of stories in my training and educational programs.

At last we have a definitive study by an original thinker who understands the difference between having something of value to say and having to say something. Terrance Gargiulo takes the reader by the hand and walks them through a garden of delightful stories told by real people in real businesses. Their powerful descriptions of what it's like to make critical decisions under pressure are crafted in story form, so that the reader is both enlightened and entranced. The final chapters of his book are are competency builders of first-rate quality, showing step-by-step how to improve your powers of observation and reflection so that you too can tell great stories.

We don't have to be so frenetically, and I think ineffectively, busy all the time." That's good advice from Terrence Gargiulo's latest foray into the world of communications behavior: good, bad and ugly. His first book, "Making Stories", opened our eyes to the power of story telling as the basis for getting our needs met. This current work carries through with the testaments of real people in real jobs. Their examples of what worked (and what didn't) are followed by a series of practical exercises that are, at once, so simple and so powerful that we have to do them. Watch closely, because as you do the exercises your life is going to change and others will notice. At that point, the book has paid for itself and that's just the beginning. Start reading it now and be prepared for an adventure that won't stop!

As a corporate presenter and technology coach I often get asked to construct themes and prepare story spines for important presentations. For me, Gargiulo's work is a terrific guide in devising a beginning, middle and end structure to match any client's business aim, be it organizational, strategic, market driven or entirely different. Gargiulo has a knack for understanding how stories can enrich and empower communication of all kinds, but in the generally dry corporate environment, they can be an important catalyst for change and deeper communication. I particularly liked Gargiulo's nine basic story types and what they can help the reader accomplish. Book is highly recommended for anyone seeking to broaden their communication skills in the corporate or academic arenas.