The Halo and the Noose

The Halo and the Noose is a book about the power of story telling and story listening in business life. It is aimed at all leaders and motivators who would rather use a gentle approach to lead and guide. The book is also for any person who wants to grow and learn on a spiritual front.

Authors Dr. Dorian Haarhoff and Graham Williams set out their complex and important theme with an impressive directness and clarity. They also offer techniques and practical applications that can really help. This is not just about story telling, but more importantly about how we can all change our story and create a better future distinct from the past.

Research shows convincingly that people relate well to story – they identify, become interested, their right-brains become involved, they suspend belief and counterargument, learn, are motivated, memory is enhanced, and action results. Story brings an added dimension to employees – who don’t always take well to jargon, data, bullet point slide presentations, and the like. Story also teaches the critical communication competencies of speaking, writing, forging emotional connection, building rapport, listening…

In our day-to-day communications, the gap between being effective, influential, positive or ineffective, strangled, and shut-out is a very small gap, yet the difference can be huge – like halo or noose. As Dan McKinnon has said: “A halo has to fall only a few inches to be a noose”

A storytelling goldmine

Written in three main sections, the book covers not only the way and how of story telling and listening, but the ways in which stories work in business. It is loaded with findings, advice and tips addressing many business topics, and contains numerous anecdotes, quotes and stories.

This book is a very useful resource for educators, leaders, coaches, sales persons, contact centre and service staff, and those tasked with fostering learning and development within their organisations. It is also essential for anyone wishing to become more adept at telling their own stories.

The Tony Grogan illustrations support the stories in the book beautifully, bring their own insights, and act as memory – anchors. His pictures are worth thousands of words. The over 100 stories and their applications are drawn from a truly diverse range of countries, cultures, languages and religions – yet their messages are universal.

The authors boast lifetimes of story-telling and business consulting in many countries around the world – North and South Americas, West and East Europe, the Far East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand; and have the gift of transferring knowledge and skill to others.