The Art of Using Storytelling to Advance Your Career
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Millette Granville, VP of DEI at 2U, had to learn early in her career that the key to success would be tied to how well she could tell her own story. Storytelling is described as an art. It requires creativity, vision, skill, and practice. Storytelling isn't something you grasp overnight, it...
Millette Granville, VP of DEI at 2U, had to learn early in her career that the key to success would be tied to how well she could tell her own story. Storytelling is described as an art. It requires creativity, vision, skill, and practice. Storytelling isn't something you grasp overnight, it takes time to master. Being a good storyteller will help you advance in your career, turn complex topics into easy-to-understand language and it will create an emotional connection with your audience.
In this chat, you’ll learn:
- The art of storytelling
- How to simplify topics to connect with your audience
- How telling your story can impact your career
During the Chat & Learn, Millette shared the following tips:
When you were listening to the story:
- What images, environments and characters did you picture in your mind?
- What emotions did you feel?
- Make it visual. What images did you see?
- Emotions are the fast lane to the brain. What emotions did you feel?
- Make your message memorable. What is the catchphrase in this story? In the Chat Put the Pill in the Peanut Butter!!
What a great story can do:
- Create an emotionally charged event with the listener
- Build relationships, engage attention and stimulate curiosity
- Establish credibility for the expert/storyteller
- Disrupt preoccupation and command attention
- Create pattern interruption. Be unpredictable
- Stories take your listener on an imaginary test drive
- Your brand will stand out from the crowd because they will remember you
Brand Pitch
Self-Advocacy-Telling your story:
- Who are you?
- What do you do?
- What do you want?
- What do you need?
- What are you willing to compromise on?
Tips, and Techniques for telling your brand story:
- Make sustained eye contact with one person at a time.
- Slow down. Give yourself time to think on your feet and find your place.
- Move. Walk with purpose from one position to another, but never pace.
- If you need to use notes, just use bullet points of your presentation.
- Breath. The more you rush, the more you run out of breath.
- Be prepared and stick to your presentation. Be honest and emotionally available.
Meet The Speaker
Millette Granville, CDP is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for 2U, Inc., a global education technology company that partners with over 75 top-tier, non-profit universities to build, deliver, and support high-quality online degrees, certificates, boot camps, and short courses. In this role, Millette is responsible for providing strategic leadership on all global equity, diversity, and inclusion policies, programs, and practices.
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Q&A
Q&A guidelines-
no question atm. excited to listen and engage.
By: Marlén, Account ManagerPosted on 2021-12-28 -
Is language affecting / influencing story telling
By: Rashi, Risk leadPosted on 2021-12-27 -
Storytelling is such a buzzword right now, would you mind explaining what that means in the context of job search and business?
By: Joseph, Graphic DesignerPosted on 2021-12-27 -
How to explain your personal contribute to a goal that was achieved by your team
By: Diana, Fullstack DeveloperPosted on 2021-12-27 -
What's the best way to use story telling in your interview job as far as concerned with your career choices?
By: Nayyab, Creative Graphic DesignerPosted on 2021-12-27 -
What recommendations do you have for using storytelling in interviews?
By: Jenna, Leadership & Mindset CoachPosted on 2021-12-27 -
How do you skillfully yet humbly tell your story that highlights your accomplishments?
By: Judy, Executive OfficerPosted on 2021-06-30 -
If you have had different jobs or worked on different projects (that at first glance don't necessarily "go together") how do you make your differing skills a value add, instead of it looking like...
By: YvonnePosted on 2021-06-30 -
I'm definitely a jack-of-all-trades bohemian type of person, and sometimes it feels challenging to piece together the many lives I feel that I have lived into one cohesive narrative (I work in...
By: Matthew, Network Operations CoordinatorPosted on 2021-06-30 -
What to include in my story to make me standout? Will this session be recorded for later viewing?
By: Eloise, Program Project ManagerPosted on 2021-06-30 -
How do I succinctly & successfully tell my story to land my dream career?
By: Gemma, People Operations ManagerPosted on 2021-06-30 -
Please cover how to tell your story in your resume. Thanks!
By: VictoriaPosted on 2021-06-30 -
How to stand out with your interview without being boring or inauthentic.
By: Tierra, Marketing ManagerPosted on 2021-06-30 -
How to keep a story short but interesting
By: Debra, Product Manager|ClaimsPosted on 2021-06-30 -
How to tell your story in your resume knowing it will be prescreen by a bot before getting to a real person
By: Mercedes, Business DevelopmentPosted on 2021-06-29 -
Now that there a more job offering remote positions, do you have any suggestions on how to convey that you are the match for a remote position?
By: Tina, Accounts PayablePosted on 2021-06-29 -
When storytelling, what is the best way to frame the topics you feel will be most the compelling or will relate most to your audience?
By: Dawn, Account executivePosted on 2021-06-29 -
I am a serial career changer, from Web Design to Accounting to Network & Systems Admin, so I'm wondering how I can compress my entire career history into something I can easily convey in a job...
By: Veronica, SysAdminPosted on 2021-06-29 -
How do you do story telling without it sounding like an elevator pitch or is it supposed to sound like an elevator pitch?
By: kashya, Program CoordinatorPosted on 2021-06-29 -
With only a high school diploma what is the most a person could expect to make $$ (hourly/ yearly) & what perks/benefits expect- get?
By: MaureenPosted on 2021-06-29 -
How can you tell a story in a two-page max resume?
By: Carri, Program Project ManagerPosted on 2021-06-29 -
How can storytelling be applied when transitioning between careers?
By: Joel, Child Support OfficerPosted on 2021-06-29 -
How to tell a convincing story in a job interview?
By: Kalpana, HealthcarePosted on 2021-06-29 -
Can storytelling be use in your CV and how? Which areas/stages of one's career can storytelling play key roles?
By: Goodness, Social Media ExpertPosted on 2021-06-29 -
I'm interested in staying relevant and constantly learning and growing from each experience. I'm a project manager so presenting and communicating are key and storytelling is an art I want to...
By: Leslie, Program Project ManagerPosted on 2021-06-29 -
I have had a long career with many unique / worthwhile experiences... how to make the story succinct?
By: Qing, Principal Data ScientistPosted on 2021-06-29 -
For someone who has been a stay at home mom for over 5 years for a child with special needs, how would you effectively use storytelling to showcase the management and advocacy skills you have been...
By: Moire, Legal ProfessionalPosted on 2021-06-29 -
How do we mix our personal reasons for taking a break and our previous professional histories in different mixed careers before ?
By: Sumee, AccountantPosted on 2021-06-29 -
Do we divulge information about families and our challenges that we face? Can we use our families in examples when asked cc
By: Kimberly, Parole InvestigatorPosted on 2021-06-29 -
With a career break how to share our professional story with years of break and not conveying as outdated
By: Siri, Business AnalystPosted on 2021-06-29 -
What templates or frameworks are helpful for storytellers to structure stories for interviewing?
By: Ilene, Vice presidentPosted on 2021-06-29 -
How much personal detail should these stories tell? I separate work from my personal life and tend not to discuss mine or ask others about theirs.
By: Beth Anne, ManagerPosted on 2021-06-29 -
I am just opening up for this story telling approach. I am interested and would like to use it as a way to tackle my generalist resume and the shift to my next role.
By: Nina, Community ManagerPosted on 2021-06-28 -
Is it ok to get personal if you think the company is all about work life balance (marriage, kids) or is it better to completely avoid these details?
By: Marian, UX DesignerPosted on 2021-06-28 -
What advice would you give to a Recruiter who is interested in breaking in to the DE&I sector? (Full disclosure: I’m a white cis woman and curious to know your opinion on someone like me...
By: Dayna, HR ProfessionalPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How to know when humour is appropriate.
By: Sura, Program DesignPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How to differentiate yourself
By: Abby, Account executivePosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you convince a company/individual you can tell their story without giving away all your work for free?
By: Nanette, Sr. Manager TrainingPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you craft the most effective elevator pitch?
By: BRIGITTA, Public Relations Associate Account ExecutivePosted on 2021-06-28 -
What are the common tactics when talking to non-technical people who are most likely senior than you are? Thanks.
By: Shisi, Backend DeveloperPosted on 2021-06-28 -
I'm curious about how to condense a long-and-winding-road career story into a concise, powerful, engaging nugget that provokes follow-on questions/conversation.
By: Sonia, Communications ConsultantPosted on 2021-06-28 -
Would be great if you can share a general framework for storytelling.
By: RuchikaPosted on 2021-06-28 -
Interesting in learning how to simplify stories and share the right amount of information!
By: Sara, RecruiterPosted on 2021-06-28 -
I'm interested in different ways of communicating to hopefully contrast the increasing trend of using corporate buzz words and double talk that contain very little meaningful content.
By: Milcah, Senior ManagerPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How to tell a story? Step to successfully build it.
By: GlendaPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How can you fill in career gaps with story telling?
By: NazzmaPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you keep your story short and memorable
By: Izzy, TeacherPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you frame a role that was a step down when you are looking for a step up?
By: Sarah, Fixed Income Trade & Portfolio Manager RolesPosted on 2021-06-28 -
What kinds of stories are most effective?
By: KristenPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How should I summarise a variety of jobs?
By: Melanie, Product ManagerPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How to summarize a long work history, what are the important areas to focus on?
By: Susmita, Software EngineerPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How long should my story take to tell?
By: Faizal, Engineering ManagerPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you distill your story down to what's really meaningful to a potential client?
By: Mimi, CREATIVE DIRECTORPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you keep your audience interested?
By: JessicaPosted on 2021-06-28 -
How do you tell the same story on your resume that you would tell in person.
By: Wenona, ConsultantPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What tools can I use to be able to verbalize my strategic experience?
By: Ramona, Business AnalystPosted on 2021-06-27 -
Hello Millette, What are the tools to use to create a great storytelling In spite of being an introvert, a low self esteem Ik dividual? Thank you
By: Ariadna, Lead EngineerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
Hello, Millette Granville! I want to ask what should be omitted in story? Thank you for answer!
By: Vasilisa, Account ManagerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What makes a great elevator speech?
By: Aliya, Customer SuccessPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What resources for learning to tell better stories does Milette recommend?
By: Arianna, Digital ProducerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How to apply storytelling to a Cover Letter. Some times it is the first and only opportunity to impress the recruiter and it's hard to think about a different kind of text that doesn't blend with...
By: Vanesa, VideographerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How do we prepare to share a story that will likely result in an emotional response within ourselves? How do you handle the “recovery” or transition after crying or anxiety? I will be sharing...
By: Aaron, Sales OperationsPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How to represent authentic you , I’m more than projects , technologies , degree and skills I have on my resume.
By: Fatma, Fullstack DeveloperPosted on 2021-06-27 -
Why did you choose this career?
By: Laura, Product ManagerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What is the best story said to impress an interview er?
By: Elli-Anna , Formulation ScientistPosted on 2021-06-27 -
Why should we hire you?
By: Nilrashmi, Technical Program Project ManagerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
No current questions. Thank you.
By: Erin, Marketing LeadPosted on 2021-06-27 -
General advice on avoiding coming off as a "millennial job hopper"
By: Dori, Sales and MarketingPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How to program the right sequencing of a career story ?
By: Xuefei, Product Marketing ManagerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How can I add to my story when I am removed from the job or role for some time?
By: Karen, Technical SupportPosted on 2021-06-27 -
I recently transitioned from Finance to UX Design. A lot of times when I tell the story of my journey it feels very long winded and 'all over the place'. I'm worried this will hold me back when...
By: DeePosted on 2021-06-27 -
What is general framework would you use when storytelling to senior leadership, in order to sell a vision or strategy you want them to approve?
By: Heather, DesignerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How do you best tailor the "about yourself" response to the job you're applying for?
By: Samantha, Graphic DesignerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What are the essential elements of a story and how long should it be?
By: Jodi, Director Utilities and Power GroupPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What is the best way to answer the "Why do you want this position" question?
By: Erin, TeacherPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What if I have pivoted a few times or have a large gap in resume?
By: Amy, Product ManagerPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How do you fill in career gap if think do not have enough relatable info: want to own it yet want to be thoughful....
By: Anna, Investment AnalystPosted on 2021-06-27 -
I don't have any questions for now until after the training
By: Agosu, LogisticsPosted on 2021-06-27 -
How to tell a meaningful story for a career change?
By: Alice, Student TeacherPosted on 2021-06-27 -
What is the best way to share 10 years of professional experience in the "Tell me about yourself?" aspect of an interview.
By: Denise, Business Coach & MentorPosted on 2021-06-27 -
Tips for practicing storytelling
By: Liesl, HR ManagerPosted on 2021-06-26 -
I don't have a specific question, just want to learn more about being a better storyteller, specifically in interviews and when managing up.
By: JayePosted on 2021-06-25 -
how to do negotiate effectively?
By: Bhavna, DirectorPosted on 2021-06-25 -
How do you make sure to not over-share or make your story too personal? I'm returning to the workforce after helping take care of my Mom as she battled cancer. Its a big part of what I've been...
By: Kristin, ExecutivePosted on 2021-06-25 -
How to infuse stories in a job interview?
By: Tanuka, Customer Success Program ManagerPosted on 2021-06-25 -
How do you navigate sharing your story authentically at work with aspects that may be considered TMI, such as struggling with infertility, aging parents, or children with behavioral issues?
By: Maren J, Course DeveloperPosted on 2021-06-21 -
What advice would you provide on communicating big ideas to others?
By: JosephPosted on 2021-06-17 -
English is my second language and sometimes I have trouble summarizing or describing a situation. What are some tips that you can offer?
By: LunaPosted on 2021-06-17 -
How did you gain clarity as in the direction you wanted to take your career in?
By: SablePosted on 2021-06-17 -
What is an easy/accessible way to practice storytelling?
By: JennyPosted on 2021-06-17 -
How do you build confidence for making public presentations?
By: KelleyPosted on 2021-06-17 -
If you were to create a required reading list, what books would be on it?
By: KatrinaPosted on 2021-06-17 -
what is the pill in the peanut butter?
By: MIKAYLAPosted on 2021-06-17 -
What is the most impactful part of your story is it the challenge, or the outcome?
By: ReginaldPosted on 2021-06-17 -
Hi Millette, what types of stories would you recommend for job interviews?
By: JelysePosted on 2021-06-17 -
Which stories should you collect from your professional or personal life?
By: Ciandra, Admissions CounselorPosted on 2021-06-17 -
The importance of telling your story.
By: RyanPosted on 2021-06-17 -
What is your story and journey to developing this message?
By: KenishaPosted on 2021-06-17 -
When is the right time to tell my story or encourage others to tell theirs?
By: JazzminePosted on 2021-06-17 -
How to balance telling your story to self-promote while being humble and not braggy
By: AnthonyPosted on 2021-06-16 -
What books or resources have helped you used or recommend to hone our storytelling skills?
By: RenaePosted on 2021-06-13 -
How do you know who to trust with your story?
By: DelilahPosted on 2021-06-09 -
Who do you look up to for inspiration re Storytelling skills and abilities?
By: Meg, Curriculum DirectorPosted on 2021-06-09
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