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Skill: Executive Storytelling

Data-driven narrative construction, stakeholder management, and meeting efficiency for influencing senior leadership decisions.

Metadata

Field	Value
Skill ID	executive-storytelling
Version	1.1.0
Category	Communication
Difficulty	Advanced
Prerequisites	None
Related Skills	slide-design, coaching-techniques, frustration-recognition

Merged: Includes content from stakeholder-management and meeting-efficiency skills.

Overview

Executives make decisions in minutes, not hours. This skill transforms complex data and analysis into compelling narratives that drive action. The goal isn't to present information—it's to influence outcomes.

Core Principle

Data tells. Stories sell.

Executives don't need more data—they need clarity, confidence, and a clear path forward.

Module 1: The Executive Mindset

What Executives Care About

Priority	Questions They Ask
Impact	"What's the bottom line?" "How big is this?"
Risk	"What could go wrong?" "What's the downside?"
Time	"When will we see results?" "How long until ROI?"
Resources	"What do you need?" "What's the investment?"
Decision	"What do you want me to do?" "What's the ask?"

The Executive Attention Span

Time	What They Absorb
30 seconds	Your main point (or they tune out)
2 minutes	Key supporting evidence
5 minutes	Nuances and Q&A prep
15+ minutes	Only if deeply engaged

Implication: Lead with the conclusion, not the journey.

Module 2: The SCQA Framework

Barbara Minto's Pyramid Principle adapted for executive communication:

Structure

Element	Purpose	Example
Situation	Establish shared context	"Our AI adoption is below industry benchmarks."
Complication	Introduce the tension	"Without intervention, we risk falling further behind."
Question	The problem to solve	"How do we accelerate AI adoption?"
Answer	Your recommendation	"Implement AIRS-based readiness assessment before deployment."

Example: AIRS Research Pitch

Situation: "Organizations are investing heavily in AI tools, but adoption rates remain inconsistent."

Complication: "We don't know which employees will adopt and which will resist—leading to failed rollouts and wasted investment."

Question: "How can we predict and optimize AI adoption before deployment?"

Answer: "AIRS-16, a validated psychometric instrument, predicts adoption intention with high accuracy. Price Value (β=.505) is the strongest driver—meaning ROI clarity is more important than trust or ease of use."

Module 3: The Pyramid Principle

Top-Down Communication

        [Main Point]
       /     |      \
  [Support] [Support] [Support]
   /  \      |   \      /  \
[Data][Data][Data][Data][Data][Data]

Rule: Always state the conclusion first, then provide supporting evidence.

The "So What?" Test

For every claim, ask: "So what? Why does this matter to the executive?"

❌ Weak: "AIRS has 16 items measuring 8 constructs." ✅ Strong: "AIRS predicts adoption in 3 minutes—faster than any alternative."

❌ Weak: "Price Value had β=.505 in our analysis." ✅ Strong: "ROI clarity matters twice as much as any other factor—if you can't show the value, adoption will fail."

Grouping and Ordering

MECE Principle (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive):

Groups should not overlap
Groups should cover everything

Ordering options:

Importance - Most impactful first
Time - Chronological sequence
Structure - Parts of a whole
Priority - Ranked by urgency

Module 4: Data Storytelling

The Three Acts

Act	Purpose	Content
Setup	Context and stakes	Why this matters now
Conflict	The problem/challenge	What's broken, what's at risk
Resolution	Your solution	What to do, expected outcomes

Narrative Patterns

The Hero's Journey (for transformation stories):

Current state (ordinary world)
Challenge arises (call to adventure)
Struggle and learning (trials)
Success achieved (return with elixir)

The Discovery (for research findings):

What we believed
What we found
What this changes

The Comparison (for recommendations):

Option A: status quo
Option B: alternative
Why B wins

Data Visualization Principles

Principle	Application
One point per chart	Don't overload visuals
Title is the takeaway	"Revenue grew 40%" not "Revenue 2020-2025"
Remove clutter	No 3D, no gridlines, minimal legend
Highlight the insight	Color/size to draw eye to key data

Numbers That Stick

Technique	Example
Anchoring	"That's 50% more than last year"
Humanizing	"Each hour saved equals 2,000 employees × $50/hr = $100K/year"
Comparison	"The cost of a coffee per employee per day"
Rounding	"$2.3M" not "$2,347,891.23"

Module 5: The Ask

Clarity of Request

Every executive presentation needs a clear ask:

Ask Type	Example
Decision	"Approve the $500K investment"
Input	"Share your concerns so we can address them"
Resource	"Allocate 3 FTEs for 6 months"
Alignment	"Confirm this direction before we proceed"
Escalation	"Remove the blocker with [stakeholder]"

The One-Page Summary

Section	Content	Lines
Headline	Main recommendation	1
Context	Why now, what's at stake	2-3
Key findings	3 bullets maximum	3-4
Recommendation	Specific action	2-3
Ask	What you need from them	1-2
Next steps	Immediate actions	2-3

Module 6: Objection Handling

Anticipate and Preempt

Objection Type	Preemption Strategy
Cost	Lead with ROI, payback period
Risk	Acknowledge, present mitigations
Timing	Show urgency cost of delay
Complexity	Simplify, offer phased approach
Skepticism	Cite precedent, pilot results

The Acknowledge-Bridge-Response Pattern

Acknowledge: "That's a fair concern..."
Bridge: "What we've found is..."
Response: "...which is why we recommend..."

Backup Slides

Keep supporting detail in backup slides:

Detailed methodology
Full data tables
Alternative scenarios
Risk registers
Implementation timelines

Templates

30-Second Elevator Pitch

We need to [action] because [problem].
Our approach is [solution].
This will deliver [outcome] within [timeframe].
I need [ask] to proceed.

5-Minute Executive Brief

1. [0:30] The headline and ask
2. [1:00] Context and stakes
3. [2:00] Evidence (3 key points)
4. [1:00] Recommendation details
5. [0:30] Specific ask and next steps

Slide Structure (McKinsey Style)

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HEADLINE: The main takeaway as a sentence│
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                         │
│         [Visual Evidence]               │
│                                         │
│         Chart, diagram, or key data     │
│                                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Source: [data source]                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Quick Reference

Storytelling Checklist

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Burying the lead	Start with recommendation
Too much detail	Ruthlessly cut
No clear ask	Specify the decision needed
Data dump	Select 3 most compelling points
Jargon	Plain language, define terms
Missing "so what?"	Connect data to business impact

Activation Patterns

Trigger	Response
"executive presentation", "senior leadership"	Full skill activation
"elevator pitch", "30 seconds"	30-Second template
"SCQA", "pyramid principle"	Module 2-3 frameworks
"objection handling", "pushback"	Module 6
"data storytelling", "present findings"	Module 4
"stakeholder", "influence", "politics"	Stakeholder Management
"meeting", "agenda", "facilitation"	Meeting Efficiency

Stakeholder Management

The Power-Interest Grid

	Low Interest	High Interest
High Power	Keep Satisfied	Manage Closely
Low Power	Monitor	Keep Informed

Stakeholder Profile Template

Field	Purpose
Name/Role	Who they are
Power Level	Decision authority
Current Position	Support, oppose, neutral
Desired Position	Where you need them
Key Concerns	What they worry about
Motivators	What they care about
Communication Preference	How to reach them
Strategy	How to move them

Influence Without Authority

Strategy	When to Use	Tactics
Reciprocity	Building long-term allies	Do favors first, bank goodwill
Coalition	Facing resistance	Build supporter network
Evidence	Skeptical stakeholders	Data, pilots, proof points
Authority	Borrowed credibility	Executive sponsor, expert endorsement
Social proof	Risk-averse stakeholders	Industry examples, peer adoption

The Stakeholder Ladder

Move stakeholders progressively:

Opponent → Skeptic → Neutral → Supporter → Champion

Resistance Patterns

Resistance Type	Root Cause	Counter
Fear of unknown	Uncertainty	Education, pilots
Loss of power	Territory threat	Involvement, shared credit
Resource concern	Budget/time	Clear scope, trade-offs
Not invented here	Pride	Co-creation, acknowledgment

Stakeholder Communication Frequency

Stakeholder Type	Frequency	Medium
Executive sponsor	Weekly	1:1, brief updates
Manage closely	2x/week	Meetings, direct calls
Keep satisfied	Bi-weekly	Email summaries
Keep informed	Monthly	Newsletters, dashboards

RACI Matrix

Role	Definition
Responsible	Does the work
Accountable	Owns the decision (one per task)
Consulted	Input before decision
Informed	Told after decision

Meeting Efficiency

Meeting or Not?

Need	Meeting Required?	Alternative
Decide something	Maybe	Async decision doc if simple
Share information	Rarely	Email, video, document
Brainstorm	Often	Async + sync hybrid
Build relationships	Yes	No substitute for presence
Status updates	No	Dashboards, async standup

Meeting Types

Type	Purpose	Duration	Required Elements
Decision	Make a call	30-60 min	Options, criteria, decider
Creative	Generate ideas	60-90 min	Prompt, diverge/converge
Tactical	Coordinate action	15-30 min	Blockers, handoffs
Strategic	Set direction	60-120 min	Context, options, trade-offs
1:1	Develop people	30-60 min	Their agenda first

Agenda Template

## Meeting: [Purpose Statement]
**Duration**: [X min] | **Attendees**: [Required], [Optional]

### Pre-Work
- [ ] Review [document]

### Agenda
1. [Topic 1] - [Owner] - [Time] min
2. [Topic 2] - [Owner] - [Time] min

### Decisions Made
1. 

### Action Items
| Action | Owner | Due |
|--------|-------|-----|

Facilitation Techniques

Problem	Intervention
One person dominates	"Let's hear from others"
Nobody speaks	Direct: "Sarah, your thoughts?"
Tangent emerges	"Interesting—let's park that"
Going in circles	"Let me summarize where we are"
Conflict emerges	"What do we actually agree on?"

Decision-Making Methods

Method	When to Use
Consent	Routine decisions ("Any objections?")
Consensus	High-stakes, need buy-in
Consultative	Need input, one decider
Delegation	Trust exists

Async Alternatives

Meeting Type	Async Alternative
Daily standup	Slack standup post
Weekly status	Dashboard + async digest
All-hands	Recorded video + AMA thread
Document review	Comments in doc

Meeting Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern	Fix
No agenda	Require agenda for all meetings
Too many attendees	7 ± 2 rule
Status meetings	Make async
No decisions	Clear decision process
No notes	Assign note-taker

Skill created: 2026-02-10 | Category: Communication | Status: Active Merged: stakeholder-management, meeting-efficiency

Synapses

[.github/skills/slide-design/SKILL.md] (High, Uses, Bidirectional) - "Executive presentation design"
[.github/skills/coaching-techniques/SKILL.md] (Medium, Complements, Bidirectional) - "Leadership communication overlap"
[.github/skills/project-management/SKILL.md] (Medium, Integrates, Forward) - "Stakeholder communication in projects"

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