335. How storytelling saved Jurassic Park's company, with Corey Rosen

How you deliver news to your team has a huge impact on how they react. Whether it's bad news and you want to allay fears, or good news and you want everyone to be excited - the very best way to do this is with a story.

In this episode, professional storyteller and Moth host Corey Rosen explains why the way you deliver information matters more than the information itself, and how a single story once saved a company from the inside out. Corey should know: his career started at Industrial Light & Magic, where he accidentally erased Harrison Ford's ear from a Star Wars film, before he went on to work on Jurassic Park, the Star Wars prequels, and Jim Henson Productions.

Corey shares the moment his old boss, legendary stop-motion animator Phil Tippett, called an all-hands meeting everyone assumed meant layoffs, and instead told a story that changed the entire mood of the room. Al and Leanne dig into why bullet points make people forget, why stories make people remember, and exactly when a leader should reach for a story instead of just giving the answer.

Key Takeaways:

How You Deliver News Matters: The same information can create fear or buy-in depending on whether it's delivered as data or as a story.

Lead Change With the Why: Before rolling out something new, start with the story behind the decision, not the announcement itself, so people come with you instead of resisting.

Know When to Skip the Story: If someone just wants a status update, give them the status update. Save story for moments that need real understanding or buy-in.

Facts Fade, Stories Stick: Information delivered as a story activates more of the brain and is far more likely to be remembered and repeated.

Connect with Corey Rosen:

– Website: https://www.yourstorywelltold.com

– Book: A Story for Everything

Connect with Al & Leanne