Faye Fulton

Faye Fulton

Speaker / Business Storytelling Consultant / Story Expert

Business Storytelling Keynote Speaker

Today I have a boutique practice. That hasn’t always been the case, but I have always worked in my area of expertise which is communication. I have been a Professional NSA (National Speakers Association) speaker for over twenty years and I’ve delivered thousands of speeches and hundreds of training programs. Now I have niched the services I offer and work in a specialized area of communication — business storytelling.

We are all familiar with stories and we all have stories, but making stories work for you in the business world is a skill, and like any skill, it must be learned.
Storytelling is often misunderstood and it is an underutilized communication tool, but knowing how to work strategically with stories will set you apart in business.

My keynotes are customized and packed with information. They are designed to create meaningful and measurable improvements for the attendees. My goal is to inspire and help the audience understand why story works and how to apply story in their businesses or work with it to advance their careers.

Most people I meet are very confused when it comes to working with stories in the business arena. Over the last five to seven years, the words “story” and “storytelling” have become buzzwords and the sensationalism of these words has made it hard to understand what a story actually is. These days people will call any type of narrative a story when, in fact, they don’t have anything close to being a story. Many storytelling efforts fail as a result of not understanding what story entails.

The keynotes I share are learning experiences and include powerful research, engaging stories, and actionable strategies for measurable results. I encourage everyone to craft and tell stories that are precise & peculiar, wobbly & warm, and delicious & daunting.

Move beyond content to connection – you can do that with story and it’s the tagline for my business.

People need to connect with their peers, customers, clients, donors, etc.  The biggest challenge facing most business leaders today is connecting with their audiences in an emotional way. Whether you are giving a speech, making a presentation, conducting a meeting, raising funds, or sitting in a job interview, you want to work with story because story evokes emotion.

Facts and data inform but they do not create connection. Stories engage and influence and move people to take action. The emotional component of story connects with the values of the listeners so they are more likely to remember your story.

What is story?

Not all stories are created equal and I know you have listened to stories thinking, “What is the point?” or “When will this be over?”

Most people have trouble coming up with a definition of story and mumble something about story having a beginning, a middle and an end. That is true, but that doesn’t help anyone understand what story is or is not.

When it comes to business storytelling, I share this definition:

Storytelling is the intersection of your writing skills and your telling skills. Both skills are essential but the magic happens when you are an expert at combining the two.

A great story is something to relish. Knowing how to craft your story to be more captivating, more memorable, and move your listeners to action is what it takes. But in addition to that, in order for a story to be understood, it must be skillfully told.

Story has the power to transport your listeners to a different perspective or attitude. And, with the right story you can:

~ Motivate your team
~ Engage your customers
~ Impress your shareholders
~ Shape your media
~ Win over investors
~ Land a job
~ Influence outcomes

A captivating, poignant story can help your listeners remember a feeling, a place, or a person they have long forgotten.

When I tell a story, I want my audience to devour that story and then take it home and savor it. I want them to roll it around in their minds and reflect on it.

Working With Strategic Storytelling

I work with story in several ways:

Giving Keynote speeches
Conducting workshops
Engaging in one-on-one sessions with clients

Need a Guest for your Podcast?

I love being interviewed on podcasts and discussing the “why” and “how” of storytelling in the business world. Storytelling is an underutilized skill, but I will share many reasons as to why you want to use this powerful communication tool to set yourself apart from your competition.