Executive communication by

Storytelling
JULY 18TH, 2020 | AMIT AGGARWAL
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Story of: Thirsty Crow 2

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Direction of Crow 3

Crow (genus Corvus in the family

Corvidae) flying at 12.345 km/h in NW
direction, while the wind was flowing at
6.78 km/h in SW direction
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About Earthen Pot 4

Earthen pot made with unglazed

pottery by an SMB in Bikaner with
Revenue Rs 3.4 Cr
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Water Content 5

Contaminated water with

fluoride and nitrate content
0.010 ppm, unfit for human
drinking as per USEPA
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Stones Type 6

Multicolored stones of different

sizes varying from 9.65g to
22.88g, some with sharp edges
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Happy Crow! 7

So the crow was “very happy” on a 7

level Likert scale with a happiness
quotient of 8.7 points. His inclination to
drink some more water was “low” as
per marginal utility curve
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How did you find this story?

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Boring

Made no sense
No Flow

Too many unnecessary details

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What are the elements of a good story? 10

Captivating

Fun

Easy to understand

Memorable

Relatable

Convincing

Action, Climax
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11

But why are we talking about story in

a B-school?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-PAzrpqUQ
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Why are we talking about Story in business context? 12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL-PAzrpqUQ

Audience remember only story. Data is only there to validate your argument.

A B
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How do most people create a story or PPT?

13
Create a human body. Go and find the parts and make it.

Lack of structure

Prioritize
Efficient & Faster
6 noses 3 legs 6 hands 3 heads
Persistent- Thorough

Beautiful irresistible tail Ferrari engine “part”

Best in Class – Auto Engine
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14
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How many of you will benefit from this session? 15

50% will forget it by tomorrow because it is not relevant today

30% will never try it and eventually forget it in 6 months

17.5% will give it up in pressure & will follow the masses

2.5% will make it a part of their DNA

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16
II am
am not
herehere
for for
thisthis
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Who wants to become a Storyteller ? 17

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Lets start with 2 great examples 18

1. Ford Vs Ferrari
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCVykLzWh98

2. Gandhi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMX-TrOPUs4
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S-C-R is the magic formula 19

Situation: Relevant facts about the current situation; facts that the no one would not
dispute

Complication: Complication / Challenge / Problem, etc. in the current situation that created
the needs to be solved

Resolution: Potential solutions / Hypotheses that might be able to address this

complication

Let us look at some great stories
Situation
• There are a bunch of avengers
who are chilling out in life.
• There is some who-cares-
Thanos kicking posteriors on
some god damn star
Complication
• Thanos wants to come to
Hinjewadi and give SNAP
Examination. (Bad joke).
• Wants to wipe half of the world
by snapping his fingers
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20
Resolution
• Avengers come with whole sena
of Kauravs and Pandavas
• Stark steals the stones and
disintegrates them

Let us look at some great stories
Situation
• There are a bunch of avengers
who are chilling out in life.
• There is some who-cares-
Thanos kicking posteriors on
some god damn star
• Jack is a painter babu and
traveling in general
compartment of Titanic
• Rose is a super-rich woman not
happy with her life
• Rose starts liking our Raja
Hindustani
Complication
• Thanos wants to come to
Hinjewadi and give SNAP
Examination. (Bad joke).
• Wants to wipe half of the world
by snapping his fingers
• The Godzilla ship is sinking
• Rose’s heart is also sinking
• Her hopes of eloping with her
new found love is also sinking
• Her husband is PUBG champ &
hunting for them
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21
Resolution
• Avengers come with whole sena
of Kauravs and Pandavas
• Stark steals the stones and
disintegrates them
• Rose couldn’t do “audience
poll” or “phone a friend”, so
she uses Jack’s lifeline to
survive and becomes the
millionaire with blue diamond
necklace

Let us look at some great stories
Situation
• There are a bunch of avengers
who are chilling out in life.
• There is some who-cares-
Thanos kicking posteriors on
some god damn star
• Jack is a painter babu and
traveling in general
compartment of Titanic
• Rose is a super-rich woman not
happy with her life
• Rose starts liking our Raja
Hindustani
• There is a loser Thakur who lost
the game of Mortal Kombat with
Gaming Guru Gabbar Hari
Singh
• There are another 2 losers
chilling in some jail of India
Complication
• Thanos wants to come to
Hinjewadi and give SNAP
Examination. (Bad joke).
• Wants to wipe half of the world
by snapping his fingers
• The Godzilla ship is sinking
• Rose’s heart is also sinking
• Her hopes of eloping with her
new found love is also sinking
• Her husband is PUBG champ &
hunting for them
• Thakur took an oath to kill
Gabbar. He has no freaking idea
how to do that
• But he is a punter and bets on 2
losers
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22
Resolution
• Avengers come with whole sena
of Kauravs and Pandavas
• Stark steals the stones and
disintegrates them
• Rose couldn’t do “audience
poll” or “phone a friend”, so
she uses Jack’s lifeline to
survive and becomes the
millionaire with blue diamond
necklace
• Loser 1 with long legs knew the
cheat code of Counter Strike. He
flips his lucky coin to give God
level immortality to Loser 2 and
captures Gabbar
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SCR Pyramid needs to flow into a story format 23

Pyramid Storyline
There is a party going on in
Situation Situation Titanic. R likes J and his
way of life

A B

1 2 3 4

a b c d

RA RB
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SCR Pyramid needs to flow into a story format 24

Pyramid Storyline
There is a party going on in
Situation Situation Titanic. R likes J and his
way of life

A. R&J are getting drowned

Major A B
Challenges

B. Husband is hunting for them

1 2 3 4

a b c d

RA RB
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SCR Pyramid needs to flow into a story format 25

Pyramid Storyline
There is a party going on in
Situation Situation Titanic. R likes J and his
way of life
Challenges
should be A. R&J are getting drowned
M-E-C-E
1. Water is freezing
Major A B 2. Log can fit only 1 person
Challenges

Sub B. Husband is hunting for them

1 2 3 4
Challenges 3. Husband is a good shooter
4. Cops are supporting husband

a b c d

RA RB
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SCR Pyramid needs to flow into a story format 26

Pyramid Storyline
There is a party going on in
Situation Situation Titanic. R likes J and his
way of life

A. R&J are getting drowned

1. Water is freezing
Major A B a. Shivering & ice crystals on eyebrows
Challenges 2. Log can fit only 1 person
b. Buoyancy < Weight of J & R

Sub 1 2 3 4
Challenges B. Husband is hunting for them
3. Husband is a good shooter
a. Winner of PUBG
Supporting a b c d 4. Cops are supporting husband
Data
b. Transfer of $100K in their a/c

RA RB
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SCR Pyramid needs to flow into a story format 27

Pyramid Storyline
There is a party going on in
Situation Situation Titanic. R likes J and his
way of life

A. R&J are getting drowned

1. Water is freezing
Major A B a. Shivering & ice crystals on eyebrows
Challenges 2. Log can fit only 1 person
b. Buoyancy < Weight of J & R

Sub 1 2 3 4
Challenges B. Husband is hunting for them
3. Husband is a good shooter
a. Winner of PUBG
Supporting a b c d 4. Cops are supporting husband
Data
b. Transfer of $100K in their a/c

Resolution RA RB RA – Jack & Jai have to die to make the films superhit
RB – Lets get rid of husband first who is deadlier than the COVID
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It is a good practice to do Strawman with pen and 28

paper first
Situation Situation Challenge A Sub Ch 1 Supp Data a Supp Data b
Party at Titanic J loves R R&J Drowning Thanda Thanda Shiverrrrr Ice on unibrow
paani
• Bullet 1 • Bullet 1
• Bullet 1 • Bullet 1 • Bullet 1
• Bullet 2 • Bullet 2
• Bullet 2 • Bullet 2 • Bullet 2

Sub Ch 2 Supp Data c Supp Data d Challenge B Sub Ch 3 Supp Data e

1 log pe sirf 1 log Buoyancy Weight of Rose Husband bana Husband is Ab tak
hunter PUBG
56 Sharp S
• Bullet 1
• Bullet 1 • Bullet 1 • Bullet 2 • Bullet 1 • Bullet 1
• Bullet 2 • Bullet 2 • Bullet 2 • Bullet 2

Sub Ch 4 Supp Data f Supp Data g Analysis Analysis Analysis

Police bhi chor hai Cops names NEFT transfer Title Title Title

• Bullet 1 • Bullet 1 • Bullet 1

• Bullet 2 • Bullet 2 • Bullet 2

Resolution A Argument i Argument ii Resolution B Argument iii Argument iv

Jack has to die Get rid of husband No better plot
Public senti $$$ Superhit Villain cant win
• Bullet 1 like Sholay • Bullet 1
• Bullet 2 • Bullet 1 • Bullet 1
• Bullet 2
• Bullet 2 • Bullet 2
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29
Time to check your skills

Design a story for this challenge

Your college life is starting and you want a bike/scooty to enhance your swag and ask
your dad to sponsor it. Dad is ready to give you Creta instead of Activa but has one
condition – You have to get the highest package at campus placement

Present the story and your robust plan of action to your dad before he pokes your dream
bubble with a pin. You don’t want your swag to be reduced to OLA White Tata Indica
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How I will get that 7L job at BOD? 30

College life starting. I want to look cool – bike/scooty. Dad wants me to get 17L job -
Marico

• A) COVID – Market Slow down (50%) RA – Just Grab the top package
• Marico might not even come to campus
• Marico laying off 500 people, Marico hired didn’t get called
• Marico might not offer 17 L
• Marico revenue going down by 20%, Marico is shutting down its plants

• B) Everyone in your batch is good. High Competition (30%) RB – Linkedin, Certifications,

• High pressure to perform builds stress
•
HBR, Voluntary internships,
Leaders in senior positions have more heart attacks, Study >50% of psychiatric patients are business
leaders
• Everyone is at same level by getting same trainings
• Everyone has similar marks in examination, case studies. No one is recognizing you as the SME. You are
also just one amongst them

• C) Develop skills – Communication Skills (20%)

• Don’t know English language well – Grammar, vocabulary RC – Read books, Movies,
• Bad grades, trolled by GN, Bad score in TOFEL / SAT
• Lack of confidence – Public speaking , jittery in interviews Toastmasters
• Sweaty palms, Jittery , Blabbering
Just get on the stage everyday.
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Remember the 7 elements of most amazing stories! 31

Captivating
Fun

Easy to understand

Memorable

Relatable

Convincing

Action, Climax
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How do you know if you are a good storyteller? 32

1. IF YOU CAN PRESENT THE ENTIRE STORY WITHOUT ANY SLIDES TO AN AUDIENCE
IN EXACTLY 5 MINUTES
GOLD STANDARD

2. If your audience remembers that story even after 24 hours and can narrate it to someone
else
PLATINUM STANDARD – You are a master storyteller !
 Thank you

To hear more stories, feel free to contact

Amit Aggarwal (SIIB 2002 – 2004 Batch)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaggarwal/
Twitter handle - @criticamit
Insta handle - @amit.agy