COURSE NUMBER: MBA291T.11
COURSE TITLE: Storytelling for Leadership
UNITS OF CREDIT: 1 unit
INSTRUCTOR: Arina Isaacson
E-MAIL ADDRESS: arina@haas.berkeley.edu
CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: http://bspace.berkeley.edu
MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Sunday, 9:00AM-5:00PM (April 13 and
May 4)
Please note the unusual format of
this course, which meets all day on two Sundays (4/13 & 5/4). You must
attend both sessions in their entirety in order to earn a passing grade.
PREREQUISITE(S): None.
CLASS FORMAT: In class presentations, skill building
exercises, lecture and visual mapping
project
REQUIRED READINGS: One textbook on
Storytelling, two articles and several video viewings.
BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: A mixture of class participation,
storytelling presentations, visual
mapping project, one out-of-class coaching session and a short final video project, in the
form of a story.
ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
The ability to create and tell certain kinds of stories is
not only a useful tool, but an essential prerequisite to being an inspirational
leader. Stories provide visual maps and images for conveying who we are, where
we came from and why we are going in a particular direction. Storytelling is data
with a heart and soul. You will learn to harvest your own experiences for
powerful lessons and identify the authentic moments that resonate with the
audience. For leaders, whose job it is to
manage change, storytelling facilitates learning and is a vehicle to assist
others in overcoming obstacles, generating enthusiasm and team-work, sharing
knowledge and ultimately leading to building trust and connection. It is an
effective way to communicate to various stakeholders at every level of an
organization. This session will give you strategies, skills and tools for
connecting to and speaking from the place of your rich life experiences and
true, natural voice.
The goals of this elective are for you to internalize the
fundamental principles behind stories that educate, influence, motivate,
inspire and connect. You will practice the three elements of telling powerful
leadership stories:
· Story
Structure: crafting concise and powerful story from personal experience that
paints a picture and lands the message.
There will be an in class analysis, in terms of structure,
story and delivery of several CEO’S that use stories in their presentations.
These case studies provide you with real world examples of how to communicate
narratives that are the building blocks of how to inspire, motivate, and
persuade as a leader.
You will practice crafting and telling 'Who I Am Stories” ? These are our leadership journey stories.
There will be crafting and telling three leadership journey
stories, outside reading, video viewing, a visual story project (River of Life)
and one video story as a
homework assignment.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Arina is an award winning director, improvisational
actress, visual artist and master storyteller. She is the founder and artistic
director of the San Francisco School of Improvisation.