The Power of Storytelling

PUSH! PUSH!

Kelly Parker is inside her car in the middle of winter in Cleveland, and paramedics are yelling for her to push. She’s giving birth to her daughter on the side of the road because she didn’t make it to the hospital in time. Kelly is a storyteller—personally and professionally—and she said this story is one of the most important (“funniest” is the word she used) that she shares with people.

“I share this story because it’s inspirational. Regardless of what you're going through—you might be on the side of the road of life, you might be experiencing some things you never thought you’d be experiencing—but you push through and don’t give up,” she says. “Get to the finish line and don’t second guess yourself.”

Parker often finds herself on stage telling a room full of complete strangers this very personal and funny story (which happened 12 years ago and everything worked out just fine) because she believes in the transformative power of narratives. She runs her business, KDP Consulting, on the belief that well-crafted stories can drive profits, reshape cultures, and enhance collaboration. 

Parker is the keynote speaker at the 2024 Women in Residential+Commercial Construction Conference hosted by four leading brands in the construction space: Pro Remodeler, Pro Builder, Building Design+Construction and Furniture, Lighting and Decor. The event is slated for Sept. 18-20 in Phoenix, and once there, attendees will experience the power of storytelling in person and learn how to master the skill in business.

“Some of the things that I’ll be sharing go along with how I see women stepping up with confidence, owning their space and owning the room,” Parker says. 

Her Story

Another story Parker shares is less dramatic, but no less life changing than a roadside birth. It takes place just a few years ago when storytelling wasn’t a part of her work.

“I was just trying to find my way, which is an idea that resonates with a lot of us. I was taking on things that I thought I was supposed to take on, and [one example] was speaking on the power of kindness at work. Now, I'm not a mean person, but that's not my sweet spot,” Parker says. A business coach she was working with told her the idea was good, but that she didn’t see Kelly in it. 

Her reaction: surprise. “I'm supposed to be in it? I'm just trying to make it work.”

That coach advised Parker to make storytelling her thing. Again, her reaction was surprise. “I didn't think anyone would find value in it.” 

She was wrong. 

Today, she helps other people tell their story or their company’s story. “I want them to find that little nugget… that they can use to connect and build.” 

It sounds simple, but Parker says when she sees people struggle to tell a good story it’s because they’re typically one of three types:

1. Ramblers: “Those who think everything is a thing, but actually nothing is the thing.”
2. Riddlers: “Those who think they’re being clear but no one knows what they’re talking about.”
3. Picassos: “Those who have all the right elements in the wrong order.”

She coaches people on how to keep it simple and helps them clarify and condense their stories by focusing on the point of the narrative and then organizing everything around that point.

“Simplification is something we often forget because it's harder to be simple. But add a little drama or humor to give the story something concrete that I can picture,” she says. 

Such as a dramatically funny story about giving birth on the side of the road.