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William A. Brantley

Program and project managers are master storytellers. They have to be in order to weave high-priority information into a memorable narrative for their people. Customers must commit to and understand their goals, and how the program is meeting them. Stakeholders need to trust the direction and stay engaged with the program intent. Program and project teams and leaders, need to understand what matters and how their work connects to the greater whole.

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Program and project managers are master storytellers. They have to be in order to weave high-priority information into a memorable narrative for their people. Customers must commit to and understand their goals, and how the program is meeting them. Stakeholders need to trust the direction and stay engaged with the program intent. Program and project teams and leaders, need to understand what matters and how their work connects to the greater whole.

Storytelling is not a part of the Project Management Institute, Inc's (PMI) "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge'' (PMBOK). Storytelling is not something that Certified Associate In Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), certified scrum masters, or other certified project manager credential holders will encounter on an exam. Storytelling is something that successful program or project managers learn from years of experience. If storytelling is not on the PMP exam or similar project management certification exams, why should you bother learning how to tell good stories?

Because, human brains are naturally designed for stories. We have brain structures devoted to making sense of the world in cause-effect terms. Good stories are like flight simulators in that you can try out various approaches to a problem before tackling the real problem. Risk management for programs and projects is more effective when using compelling narratives. Stories are also effective ways to transmit large amounts of information to your project teams and stakeholders. People can remember more information and act effectively on that information. For agile project management, stories are how customers communicate their requirements to the agile project team. Stories are the foundation of persuasive communication and will help you become an expert communicator.

In this online course of the Program Management and the Art of Communication certificate program, you will learn how great program and project managers use their storytelling skills to create compelling project visions, persuade stakeholders, and design effective risk management strategies.

Earn 10 professional development units (PDUs) while completing the only professional certification program that helps you develop storytelling as part of your collection of project management tools.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: The Structure and Components of Stories
Week 2: Telling the Program or Project’s Story
Week 3: Risk Management Through Storytelling
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Applicable to program and project managers in any industry
Develops persuasive and effective communication skills for program and project managers
Taught by William A. Brantley, a recognized instructor in the field of storytelling
Addresses risk management through the lens of storytelling, offering unique insights for project managers
Provides a framework for communicating effectively with stakeholders using stories
Earns you 10 professional development units (PDUs) upon completion

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Reviews summary

Practical storytelling for project managers

According to learners, this course is an exceptionally practical guide for program and project managers looking to enhance their communication skills. Many found the content highly relevant and immediately applicable to their professional roles, praising the clear, engaging instruction. The course helps fill a crucial gap not typically covered by traditional project management certifications, offering unique insights into persuasive communication. Students particularly value its focus on using storytelling for stakeholder management and risk communication, and appreciate the opportunity to earn 10 PDUs. While largely positive, some experienced professionals suggested a desire for more advanced case studies.
Valued for providing professional development units (PDUs).
"Earning 10 PDUs was a great bonus, making this course an easy choice for my professional development."
"I appreciated getting valuable insights and fulfilling my PDU requirements at the same time."
"This course was perfect for maintaining my certification while learning a crucial soft skill."
Addresses a critical communication gap in traditional PM certifications.
"Storytelling isn't covered in PMP, so this course provides a much-needed perspective on a vital project skill."
"This course offers insights into an aspect of project management that goes beyond the typical PMBOK approach."
"I found this course invaluable for understanding the human side of project communication, unlike standard certifications."
The instructor's expertise and delivery make learning enjoyable.
"The instructor was fantastic, bringing the concepts to life with real-world examples and a clear, engaging style."
"Her teaching style made complex ideas easy to grasp, and I always looked forward to the next module."
"I appreciate the instructor's ability to clearly articulate the value of storytelling for program outcomes."
Provides immediately applicable strategies for project managers.
"I found the techniques taught in this course directly applicable to my daily program management tasks. Highly practical!"
"The strategies for communicating with stakeholders are incredibly useful; I've already started implementing them effectively."
"This course helped me connect abstract ideas to concrete actions, making my project communications more persuasive."
Some experienced learners desired more advanced content or case studies.
"While excellent for beginners, I wished for more advanced examples or complex case studies for experienced PMs."
"I found the foundational concepts great, but I was hoping for a bit more depth in applying advanced storytelling."
"The course could benefit from additional real-world, intricate scenarios to push experienced learners further."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Storytelling That Delivers Program and Project Outcomes with these activities:
Review storytelling techniques
Solidify your storytelling skills by brushing up on existing knowledge of techniques and refreshing your memory.
Browse courses on Storytelling
Show steps
  • Review the principles of storytelling.
  • Identify the different types of stories.
  • Create a storyboard for a short story.
Read 'Storytelling for Project Managers' by C. Carr
Understanding and applying storytelling techniques specifically in the context of project management
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes
  • Summarize and present the key points
Review Storytelling Techniques In Literature
Review basic narrative techniques commonly used in literature
Browse courses on Storytelling
Show steps
  • Review works from different mediums and genres and identify the different storytelling techniques
  • Identify the tools of storytelling
  • Identify the use of symbolism and imagery
Seven other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all ten activities
Refine Your Storytelling Skills
Review key storytelling concepts to enhance your foundational knowledge and improve your communication abilities.
Show steps
  • Identify and analyze effective storytelling techniques.
  • Practice crafting stories that clearly convey messages.
  • Seek feedback on your storytelling delivery.
Explore Storytelling Software Tools
Gain familiarity and proficiency with various software programs designed to enhance storytelling
Show steps
  • Research and identify storytelling software tools
  • Select specific tools for exploration
  • Follow guided tutorials and experiment with software features
Develop a compelling project vision
Showcase your ability to use storytelling in a practical setting by crafting a vision for a fictional project.
Show steps
  • Identify the project's goals and objectives.
  • Develop a narrative that explains the project's purpose and value.
  • Create visual aids, such as a storyboard or slide deck, to illustrate your vision.
Craft Compelling Narratives & Communicate Project Objectives
Crafting compelling and engaging project narratives that effectively communicate project objectives
Browse courses on Effective Communication
Show steps
  • Identify the key objectives of the project
  • Craft a compelling narrative that resonates with the audience
  • Present the narrative to stakeholders
Participate in Peer Review and Feedback Sessions
Engaging with peers to provide and receive feedback on storytelling techniques and project narratives
Browse courses on Feedback
Show steps
  • Identify peers within the course
  • Form peer review groups
  • Share and review project narratives
  • Provide constructive feedback
  • Incorporate feedback into revisions
Create a risk management plan using storytelling
Enhance your risk management skills by creating a plan that effectively communicates risks and mitigation strategies.
Browse courses on Risk Management
Show steps
  • Identify the potential risks associated with a project.
  • Develop a story that explains the risks and their potential impact.
  • Create a plan for mitigating the risks.
Practice Storytelling Techniques Through Role-Playing and Simulations
Developing storytelling skills through interactive exercises and real-world simulations
Show steps
  • Identify scenarios where storytelling is effective
  • Develop and practice storytelling scripts
  • Participate in role-playing activities
  • Engage in realistic simulations

Career center

Learners who complete Storytelling That Delivers Program and Project Outcomes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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