Brilliant!
Most leaders don’t have a storytelling problem. They have a structure problem. So, under pressure, they add more context and data. And people leave remembering only the biscuits. This post is written by my friend and great coach Florence Divet ☀️ - give her a follow too! If you’re a CEO or leader, here are the 6 storytelling frameworks worth having in your back pocket. Each serves a distinct purpose. ➤ 1. ABT: And. But. Therefore. Use it for one sharp message, fast. And = what we all know But = the tension nobody’s saying out loud Therefore = the move we now need to make Perfect for board updates, all-hands openings, tough emails, and moments where you need to cut through noise. If you can’t explain your message in ABT, you don’t have one yet. ➤ 2. 3-Act Structure Use it when your message needs a full arc. Act 1: where we are Act 2: what’s in the way Act 3: what changes now Perect for keynotes, town halls, strategy rollouts, and major pivots. Most exec talks skip the tension. But no tension means no attention. ➤ 3. Golden Circle: Why. How. What. Use it to inspire belief. Why = the purpose How = the principles What = the decision, product, or plan Ideal for culture, hiring, vision, and launches. Beware: a why without proof is just a slogan. ➤ 4. STARR Use it to build credibility with proof Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection Best for investor updates, board meetings, crisis debriefs, and showing how a team actually delivered. This is not the whole speech. This is where trust is earned. ➤ 5. Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Use it to drive action. Attention, Need, Satisfaction, Visualisation, Action Best for change programmes, fundraising, sales kick-offs, deadline pushes, or any speech where “interesting” is not enough. Logic informs. Visualised outcomes move people. ➤ 6. Hero’s Journey Use it for transformation stories. Normal world, Disruption, Trial, Lesson, Return Best for founder stories, customer stories, culture moments, and recognising someone’s journey. Important bit: in business, the leader usually should not be the hero. The customer, team, or employee is the hero. You are the guide. ➤ Here’s how they differ: • ABT → clarity. • 3-Act → flow. • Golden Circle → meaning. • STARR → proof. • Monroe → action. • Hero’s Journey → emotion. No single framework does it all. ➤ A practical 15 to 30 minute speech mix looks like this: - Open with ABT so everyone gets the point. - Use Golden Circle so the strategy means something. - Run the body in Three Acts so it doesn’t ramble. - Drop in 1 or 2 STARR stories so you prove competence. - Bring in Hero’s Journey if the moment needs heart. - Close with Monroe so people know exactly what changes on Monday morning. Great leaders combine them to create meaning, build trust, hold attention, and drive action. That’s why some speeches get applause. And others get results. -- 💾 Save & ♻️ Repost 🔔 Follow Monica Federico for more on leadership for business owners
