Communication Archives

What Is the GROW Model in Coaching & How Do You Use It?

What is the GROW model in coaching? When should you use it? What are the four stages of the GROW model? The GROW model in coaching was developed by Sir John Whitmore and his colleagues as a way to help employees set goals, maximize their potential, and improve performance. The GROW model has four stages and focuses on having the employee take ownership of their work to improve self-reliance. Read on to learn more about the GROW model in coaching and how to use it, according to Whitmore.

The Subversion of Expectation: The Source of a Story’s Energy

What is the subversion of expectation? How does it keep a story going? How does it impact the audience? One of the main ingredients in a story is the subversion of expectation. This element is extremely important. Robert McKee maintains that it’s the source of all energy in a story. Read more to understand what subverting expectations means and how to do it in a story.

4 Healthy Relationship Habits to Improve Emotional Intimacy

Looking to learn some healthy relationship habits? How can you improve your emotional intimacy with your partner? The authors of The School of Life argue that most healthy relationship habits have a foundation in emotional intelligence, which means your ability to understand how your and others’ emotions work. In the book, they explain four habits to learn for a healthy relationship, based on this principle. Read on to discover these four habits for a healthy relationship, according to the advice in The School of Life.

What Is a Controlling Idea? Robert McKee’s Focus on Theme

What is a controlling idea? What role does it play in a story? How many should one story have? A controlling idea, Robert McKee argues, is the glue that holds a story together. In his book Story, he explains why it’s important and how it works. He also shows writers how to connect all of the scenes of a story to the controlling idea. Continue reading to learn what McKee teaches about this important aspect of a story.

Critical Thinking, Logic & Problem Solving: Book Overview

What are some common biases and fallacies that you should be aware of? What’s a logic tree, and how can it help you make decisions? The book Critical Thinking, Logic & Problem Solving explains the process of critical thinking and shows how to apply critical thinking to solve problems more effectively. The book also explores how to craft logical and effective communication and stories. Continue reading for an overview of this highly practical book.

Robert McKee: Story Structure 101

What are the various pieces of a story? How do they all fit together? According to Robert McKee, story structure is a critical element of the most impactful stories. They follow a consistent pattern that organizes all of the devices, such as escalating risk and a coherent theme, that make up the story. Continue reading to learn what McKee teaches about story structure.

How to Write a Story Outline: Advice From Robert McKee

Why should a story outline take more time than the other steps in the writing process? Should you work forward or backward? In his book Story, Robert McKee details what he believes to be the ideal writing process: Begin with an outline, flesh it out into a treatment, then polish it into a final script. McKee frames this as a process for screenwriters, but you could apply it to stories in any medium. Let’s look at McKee’s advice for how to write a story outline.

How to Write a Scene in a Script: Switch Between Points of View

When you’re writing a script, how do you come up with compelling scenes? Is there a formula to follow? In Story, Robert McKee breaks down how stories function and uses this theory to explain how you can write a gripping story—filled with compelling scenes. The book is intended for screenwriters, but its principles apply to any kind of storytelling. Continue reading to learn how to write a scene in a script, and discover why this method is so impactful.

How to Write a Treatment: Blending Text and Subtext

What’s the purpose of a treatment? What’s the best way to write one? McKee details what he believes to be the ideal writing process: Begin with an outline, flesh it out into a treatment, then polish it into a final script. McKee frames this as a process for screenwriters, but you could apply it to stories in any medium. Keep reading to explore the second step in McKee’s process and learn his advice for how to write a treatment.

How Do You Write a Story? Robert McKee’s 3-Step Process

How do you write a story? What’s the first step? At what point should you get feedback? In his book Story, Robert McKee details what he believes to be the ideal writing process: Begin with an outline, flesh it out into a treatment, and then polish it into a final script. McKee frames this as a process for screenwriters, but you could apply it to stories in any medium. Continue reading to learn McKee’s three-step story-writing process.