In the second episode of Authors Circle, I bring to you, Dan Manning.
Dan Manning is the master storyteller.
The best I have ever known and seen in action.
He not only tells stories but he knows how to ‘teach’ storytelling.
When I was thinking of doing a podcast series on ‘storytelling’ he was the first one who came to my mind.
Dan has 25 years of experience in the Air Force to inform his storytelling expertise.
Here is one of his story which shows his mastery.
When Dan Manning was deployed to Afghanistan, he had to brief a very “serious” 4-star general on a complex problem.
Others had tried before him, presenting all the facts, scenarios, and polished slides – their PowerPoint skills were top-notch. But each time, they came back dejected. Despite all the effort, the general just didn’t see the issue their way.
Dan was new to the team, with a unique background and expertise in this area. But he knew that wasn’t the key to getting through to the general.
Instead of reciting facts, Dan told a story.
The others were saying “We need 80 hours of Close Air Support per day.” While this metric served for budgeting, it didn’t address the heart of the problem.
It was like talking about ambulance coverage only in terms of hours available—not whether an ambulance could actually reach someone in an emergency.
He reframed the issue.
He shared a story illustrating how a lack of timely Close Air Support could change the entire outcome of a battle. This wasn’t about just meeting an 80-hour quota; it was about ensuring support was there precisely when and where it was needed.
This shift in perspective unlocked new, practical questions: rather than asking, “How can we provide 80 hours of CAS?” the team began asking, “How can we ensure CAS is available when and where it’s needed?”
This reframe led to more effective solutions, resonating deeply with the general.
The general could see and feel from his own perspective, a story he could walk through in his head.
Suddenly, everything clicked.
The general instantly “got it.”
No re-brief was necessary.
He walked into a crowded room, declared that he understood, and gave the green light to put the solution into action.
This is the power of storytelling.
Stories do more than generate emotions.
They do more than inspire or move people to act.
We tell stories to move ideas.
Ideas take root and grow when they “come to life” in the listener’s mind.
They leap off the slides and become real, imagined in vivid detail, tested against experience.
They come alive—not flattened by perfectly polished slides.
You don’t change minds with more facts. You change minds with more stories.
Dan has developed a framework to tell stories with impact.
He candidly shared this framework in this podcast.
His seven-element framework for storytelling, emphasize the importance of focusing on ‘change’.
We also delved into common storytelling mistakes and the role of emotions in effective narratives.
Here’s the detailed breakdown:
00:00 Introduction to Dan Manning
01:09 Dan's Journey from Air Force to Storytelling
03:07 The Power of Clarity in Storytelling
04:55 Key Elements of a Good Story
06:48 Dan's Storytelling Framework
11:58 Real-Life Application of the Framework
21:12 Anecdotes vs. Fully Developed Stories
23:53 The Importance of Change in Stories
25:11 The Evolution of Storytelling
27:08 Identifying Change Moments
27:24 Homework for Life: Capturing Daily Stories
30:39 Emotions in Storytelling
34:44 From Fear to Action: A Personal Journey
40:07 Crafting Transformative Stories
42:59 Common Mistakes in Storytelling
45:29 Categories and Patterns of Stories
47:56 The Power of Eulogies
49:00 Improving Storytelling Skills
50:44 Dan's Community and Services
This podcast provides insightful tips for using stories to enhance personal branding, marketing, and leadership communication.
You can’t miss this podcast.
You can listen to the full podcast on YouTube and Spotify as well.
That’s all from me today.
As always, thanks for reading and listening.
See you next week.
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