PPP #81: Talk to the caveman

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Storytelling Talk to the caveman Ask yourself: would a caveman understand the story I’m telling? The best stories, no matter how complex, speak of our primal urges, such as hunger, fear of death, and...

PPP #80: Less is more

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Leadership Stay humble To be a great leader, you must recognise the blindspots in your thinking. Don’t be afraid to seek help, question yourself, and have honest conversations with your team. (Share this on...

PPP #79: Keep your eyes on the prize

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Workshop Get to the bottom of it A problem can have many roots, which aren't always obvious. Uncover the underlying issues with your project by asking “Why?” up to five times. This will allow...

PPP #78: The curse of knowledge

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Story Structure Good vs Evil Not all of your stories will be as simple as Good vs Evil. Real-life stories are both complex and engaging. They include clashes between two Goods or having to...

PPP #77: Predict the future

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Teamwork Demonstrate your impact Your team needs to feel valued. Let them know how they contribute to the overall goals by measuring impact and monitoring progress over time. Focus on good communication by scheduling...

PPP# 76: The Magic Rule of 3s

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Storyteller Third time’s the charm Next time you’re telling a story, consider the rule of 3s. Create a list of three items with an unexpected ending, such as ‘peace, love and marzipan’. This will...

PPP #75: Do you understand?

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Facilitation A group of individuals “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.” - C.S. Lewis...

PPP #74: Stop wasting time

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Leadership Listen... Great leaders are not those who speak loudest, but those who listen most attentively. (Share this on Twitter) Productivity A waste of your time “One of the very worst uses of time...

PPP #73: You must be radical

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Making mistakes Some things are unavoidable “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” —Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Share this on Twitter) Taking action Be...

PPP #72: What happens next?

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Storytelling What happens next? Every presentation needs a ‘hook’ to draw your audience in and get them hungry to learn more. Open a loop — give the audience a question or unresolved situation, enticing...

PPP 71: be dramatic!

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Storytelling Be dramatic! Conflict is at the heart of every great story. Something must prevent your hero from getting what they want. This creates drama, and drama creates human interest. Without conflict, your story...

PPP #70: Find your focus

Pip’s Practical Prompts Newsletter Sent by Charles Burdett Storytelling No BS Authenticity goes a long way when telling stories effectively. Don’t try to fool your audience with imaginary scenarios — they can see it from a mile off. You’ve lived an interesting...