Once upon a time in a land far, far away, trainers told creative, captivating stories that piqued the interest of colleagues, clients, and customers. These trainers did not say, “Trust me on this” or “Take my word for it,” nor did they overwhelm their listeners with complex bar graphs or slay them with bullet (points). Rather, they used the power of storytelling to get people to agree, believe, comply, or act. Stories help people sit up and listen, and most importantly, connect!  

As trainers, we’re in the communication business. Whether designing or delivering, persuasion is at the heart of what we do—and storytelling is one of the most impactful ways we do it. This webinar will uncover the art and architecture of storytelling to reveal the power of persuasion. The session will answer these questions:

• How do we move from communicating to "inform" to communicating to "advocate" in sales and marketing presentations? 
• What are the roles of trust and emotions in persuasion? 
• Does speaking virtually change how we should persuade? 

Dr. Constance Staley is a Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She holds a B.S. in education, an M.A. in linguistics, and a Ph.D. in communication. As a mid-career academic, Dr. Staley worked as a trainer in an East Coast Fortune 500 company, designing and delivering all management and supervisory training. She was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to teach in the republic of Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union; has won the University of Colorado Outstanding Teacher Award; and was twice nominated for a CASE U.S. Professor of the Year Award.

Connie has published 20 books/editions and recently served as Special Assistant to the Chancellor, leading a university initiative to design a next-generation campus Career Center for students. She is a sought-after conference keynoter and a highly popular trainer, both onsite and online. Dr. Staley currently teaches university courses in Communication, Training, and Consulting; Professional Public Speaking Online; and Conflict Management.