433: How to be a compelling storyteller at work - with Eric Harris

What makes a compelling storyteller at work? Someone who’s an excellent communicator, warm, captivating, and understands the value of being clear and concise.

But what if there’s more at play here than what meets the eye?

My special guest today is author Eric Harris and he’s simplifying how to be a compelling storyteller at work.

If you’ve got a big presentation soon and really need to effectively get your point across, this one is for you!

The Campfire Method:

Know your audience
Craft your story
Know yourself
Leverage your environment

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<What’s catching my eye this week>

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My challenge for you this week:

How are you going to take what you’ve learned in today’s episode and take action on these new ideas? What’s one thing you’ll do differently? Share it with me, privately or publicly. Snap a photo of you doing the thing, and send me a DM over on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesimplifiers) for added accountability and support!

Episode sponsored in part by Goodboy Agency, providing employer branding redesigns for busy HR Teams:

This episode is brought to you in part by Goodboy, helping HR teams compete for top talent. Goodboy helps midsize companies strengthen their employer brand, attract better candidates, and fill open roles faster. From redesigning your careers page to running targeted recruitment campaigns, they’ll help your company stand out in a crowded talent market. Visit www.goodboyagency.com/simplifiers to learn more.

Links, books and apps mentioned:

Resource: Find Eric Harris on LinkedIn - click here

Book: The Campfire Method: There’s a Braver Presenter in You - Eric Harris

Book: Building a StoryBrand 2.0: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen - Donald Miller

Book: The Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact + Wealth - David C. Baker

Resource: a free newsletter called Life After Decks, providing a weekly dose of inspiration to unlock the braver presenter in you - Eric Harris

Resource: a free guide for utilizing The Campfire Method in virtual presentations - Eric Harris

Podcast: How to master the art of executive storytelling, featuring Libby Magliolo - The Simplifiers Podcast

Podcast: How to squash the Sunday Scaries (guided visualization) - The Simplifiers Podcast

Mary’s new book is out NOW on Amazon!

My new book, Squash the Sunday Scaries: A Modern Playbook to Rebuild Trust, Transform Culture, and Reignite Your Workforce, is out now — and you can buy it today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your favorite independent bookstore. It’s written for HR leaders, people managers, and anyone ready to make work better in a practical, human way. If you’ve been looking for simple tools to improve employee experience, rebuild trust, and create better results for your people and your business, this book is for you. Learn more, visit: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/book

About Eric Harris:

Eric Harris - He is the founder of GatherRound and the inventor of The Campfire Method®, a leadership communication framework for presenters who need to move people toward complex ideas in high-stakes moments.

A former brand and ad agency leader, Eric launched GatherRound in 2015 after watching strong ideas repeatedly fail in the rooms where they should have won. Not because the ideas were weak, but because selling them is a skill most leaders are never taught. To close that gap, Eric created The Campfire Method. It has since been adopted by leadership teams at The Beck Group, Activision/Blizzard, Yum! Brands, and others. Eric also teaches Executive Presence and Strategic Storytelling at TCU Neeley Executive Education.

He believes your ideas have the potential to change the world. All they need is for you to light the fire.

Where Eric hangs out online:

Website: https://gatherround.us

Website: https://thecampfiremethod.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecampfiremethodbook

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erictharris

Eric’s vote for the perfect guest on The Simplifiers Podcast:

Namrata “Nammy” Sirur - She is a communications consultant, speaker, and personal branding expert for high-achieving immigrants. She helps highly skilled immigrants and emerging leaders at Fortune 500 companies become more influential and confident communicators.

At age 12, Nammy immigrated from Mumbai to the United States, where she experienced years of culture shock and accent bias. Although she was fluent in English, she struggled to understand American social norms and how vocal variety, humor, body language, and eye contact could shape others’ perceptions.

Through years of study, practice, and trial and error, she developed communication strategies that helped her speak with confidence, command attention, and build authentic connections. As a former video marketing agency owner and consultant to C-suite executives, Nammy has helped senior leaders at global firms tell their stories. Today, she draws on more than two decades of personal and professional experience to help high-achieving immigrants gain greater visibility, influence, and success.

Her work focuses on executive presence, personal branding, cultural competency, accent training, public speaking, and communication strategy. Nammy uses a relationship-based, empathy-driven approach to understand each client’s unique needs, uncover their strengths, and craft a powerful message. Her mission is to empower the misfit and create a greater sense of belonging for underdogs and those who feel like a fish out of water. She believes belonging builds the confidence people need to pursue big, audacious goals and achieve their professional dreams.

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