Transformational Listening: The Most Underrated Communication Skill in Business
Listening Isn’t What You Think It Is In today’s workplace, communication is constant. Meetings, messages, pitches, presentations—professionals are expected to convey ideas clearly and quickly. But amid the rush to speak, share, and be heard, a crucial skill often goes ignored: listening. And not just passive hearing or polite nodding, but transformational listening—the kind of […]
How to Build Trust Through Story (Without Making It About You)
Trust Doesn’t Come From Telling. It Comes From Resonating. In an era where everyone is sharing, posting, and presenting, storytelling has become the gold standard of communication. It’s praised as the key to selling, leading, motivating, and connecting. And it’s true—stories are one of the most powerful ways to engage the human mind and heart. […]
Turning Complex Solutions into Compelling Stories with AI StoryBuilder
Questek innovations is a materials engineering and design company that empowers materials innovators. Founded by Dr Greg Olson, renowned materials scientist and professor at MIT, they have helped companies innovate with materials for over 20 years. Bill Mahoney, a seasoned software executive, was hired to lead the launch of a SaaS platform, ICMD™, that helps […]
Why Active Listening Is the Missing Link in Your Storytelling Skills
Storytelling Is Not Just About Speaking In a professional culture that prizes confident communication, it’s easy to assume that storytelling is all about how well you speak. We’ve been conditioned to think that if we can tell a clear, emotionally charged, and well-structured story, we’ll capture attention and earn influence. But that belief leaves out […]
When to Use Storytelling for Maximum Impact
Why Timing Matters in Storytelling Storytelling has always been one of the most effective ways to communicate ideas that stick. But story alone isn’t a magic bullet—it’s not just what you say, but when you say it that defines its power. In today’s world, people are flooded with messaging from every direction. Every platform, every […]
Your Message is Getting Drowned Out. Storytelling is the Lifeboat.
The Modern Communication Crisis Every day, your message competes with a digital tsunami. Emails, ads, pings, push notifications, LinkedIn updates, Slack threads, and a constant stream of headlines—this is the reality your audience wakes up to. We live in a world where attention is under siege, and even the most important messages are lost before […]
You’re Not as Good a Storyteller as You Think—Here’s Why
The Overconfidence Trap Most professionals overestimate their storytelling ability. Because they can speak confidently, deliver a decent presentation, or hold attention in a meeting, they assume they’re naturally good at telling stories. But what they’re often doing is performing—not connecting. They’re talking at people, not to them. And as a result, they mistake clarity for […]
Great Storytelling Starts with Great Listening—Here’s How to Get Better
In a world dominated by noise, speed, and artificial intelligence, great storytelling is more essential than ever. It’s how we make sense of complexity, break through the digital clutter, and move people to action. But here’s the truth that most people miss: the foundation of great storytelling isn’t charisma, cleverness, or even writing skill—it’s great […]
The High Cost of Miscommunication in Product Management and Product Marketing
By Stacey Weber In the fast-paced world of product management and product marketing, effective communication is not just a skill—it’s a necessity. Miscommunication can lead to costly mistakes, wasted resources, and missed opportunities. Let’s explore some real-world examples of how communication errors can have significant financial impacts. Imagine a scenario where a product manager is […]
Why Some Stories Inspire Action While Others Get Ignored
By John Geraci, CI2 Advisors In today’s noisy world, stories have become our best shot at being heard. We’re all navigating a barrage of messages every day—emails, alerts, social posts, video calls, texts. In the middle of that digital chaos, most communication barely registers. But occasionally, a story cuts through. It lands. It lingers. It […]