Turn Raw Numbers Into A Stand Out Story

Can I share with you the time when my presentation to stakeholders nearly flopped?

I’m sure you’ve found yourself in a similar situation—feeling confident that the numbers you’re about to present will win over your leadership team… only to find the room falls silent. I knew my audience had packed schedules and even less patience for a PowerPoint full of data that didn’t align with what they cared about.

To prepare, I took my yellow highlighter and went to town, marking off key points in my presentation. But when I looked at it, the whole page was a sea of yellow.

I realized something had to change. If I couldn’t communicate this data in a way they’d understand, not only would I lose the room, but my promotion could slip further out of reach.

With just five minutes left before I went on stage, I threw out the plan, trusted my instincts (and the prep I’d done), took a deep breath—and told a story.

Instead of focusing on why they should approve the initiative, I framed the presentation around the risks they’d face if they didn’t act. I finished and stood silently while the stakeholders discussed among themselves. Thirty seconds later? Approval granted.

Here’s the lesson:
I don’t have a superpower or secret advantage that you don’t. I don’t have advanced degrees or credentials that others might think give me an edge. On a side note this was a shock to some of my co-workers in the room. What I leveraged was years of practicing how to craft stories that speak directly to the needs of stakeholders, based on a deep understanding of their roles, not assumptions about what they “should” know.

This is a skill you can master too and I'm here to help you reduce the time it would take you to learn this. Ready to start telling your own winning stories?

Inside the Executive Webinar Collection you will learn how to be strategic in your storytelling, deliver presentations masterfully while being viewed as a leader of influence.​ This collection of trainings, designed for busy leaders like yourself in mind and inside are topics ranging from:

• Strategic Thinking & Planning

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• Confidence in Leadership

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• Leadership Storytelling
  
  

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About the Author

LaDawn Townsend is a storytelling strategist and keynote speaker recognized as a leading authority on influential storytelling. With a reputation for transforming how organizations communicate, LaDawn has worked with top companies including Amazon, NASA, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. Congressional Bipartisan Group, and a variety of nonprofits. Featured in Inc. Magazine and Fortune, she has coached high-performing brands, executives, and politicians to lead with purpose, craft compelling narratives, and create meaningful connections with their audiences. Through her dynamic approach, LaDawn empowers leaders to use storytelling as a tool for influence and impact.