Master the art of epic communication

StorySelling helps leaders and executives, sales teams and organisations tell better stories, inspire their team and close bigger deals.

The truth about selling in today's world

Every day in business, you're selling something. It could be a product or service. An idea in the boardroom. Your vision to the leadership team. Your strategy to stakeholders. Or your mission to your people.

Your success in these moments comes down to one thing: can you move people to take action? Can you get them to see what you see, believe what you believe, and do what needs to be done?

That's selling. And in New Zealand's most successful companies, the leaders who move people to action are the ones who tell the best stories.

What Kind of Speaker Are You?

Are you holding yourself back as a speaker? Take this quick assessment to discover if you're an anxious or avoidant speaker—and how to break free from the cycle that's limiting your speaking success.

The biggest problem with being overly anxious or avoidant is that both come at the cost of charisma. You don’t look or sound like a leader.

Break free from what's holding you back

As a leader, it’s easy to get stuck worrying about what people think of you and what you should be.

You might feel inauthentic and end up misaligned and out of rhythm with yourself.  

It can be difficult to break free of the stress, self-doubt and self-limiting beliefs that have been holding you prisoner.  

You have all the resources you need to succeed inside you. But it can be challenging to get out of your own way.

Lack of Preparation and Practice:

  • Procrastinating on preparation.
  • Not scripting talks or timing them.
  • Not practicing delivery and not knowing what or how to say things.

Content and Structure Issues:

  • Having too much to say in too little time.
  • Struggling with structuring content effectively.
  • Not knowing how to find the core of the story or narrative.

Communication Challenges:

  • Stumbling over words and forgetting points.
  • Difficulty regulating the mood of the talk.
  • Mono-emotional delivery and lack of engaging body language.

Nervousness and Confidence:

  • Feeling anxious, nervous, stressed, or overwhelmed.
  • Struggling with imposter syndrome or feeling unprofessional.
  • Being shy or bashful, which affects interaction with the audience.

Audience Engagement and Impact:

  • Not knowing how to engage or interact with the audience.
  • Having a disengaged audience due to boring content or delivery.
  • Speaking in circles or going over allotted time.

Technical and Visual Presentation:

  • Having bad slide decks or lacking powerful visuals.
  • Not knowing how to present effectively to a camera.
  • Oversharing or being overconfident without proper preparation.

Even the best ideas fail if they're not communicated well

You might have a game-changing strategy, a powerful solution, or a compelling vision. But if your message doesn't land, nothing moves forward.

Strategic initiatives stall because leaders struggle to get true buy-in from their teams.

Change programmes fail because the vision isn't communicated in a way that inspires action.

Sales opportunities slip away because presentations focus on features instead of customer success.

Louisa Taylor

Louisa Taylor

CEO of Canterbury Tech

Beyond expectations - Michael is supportive and respectful yet challenging in all the right ways. He led a group of our conference speakers through two sessions. Their conference feedback excelled above others and the speakers made deep connections to others in the cohort. Highly recommend.
Ben Hayward

Ben Hayward

CEO of Fulton Hogan

"Michael’s done some outstanding work with our organisation. Both at a personal and team level – he’s brough out the best in our people. High impact, practical and seriously engaging."
Emily Blythe

Emily Blythe

CEO of Pyper Vision & NZ Innovator of the Year 2023

Michael is more than just a coach. He is a partner in your success, someone who is truly committed to helping you achieve your dreams, and my go-to coach for speaking and facilitation.
Ed Harvey

Ed Harvey

CEO of Evnex

Michael helped the team at Evnex to develop our story and pitch for a live product launch. Michael was fun to work with, refreshingly direct and helped us to raise our game significantly.
Justin Watson

Justin Watson

CEO of Christchurch International Airport

“Awesome session. Michael gave us really useful tools and techniques and made us feel comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Michelle Sharp

Michelle Sharp

CEO of Unicef New Zealand

I always need someone with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective who challenges me to push past what I've become comfortable with. I want to continue to grow as a dynamic speaker and I know Michael will continue to help me achieve this.
Mark Rocket

Mark Rocket

CEO of Kea Aerospace

He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Michael has helped take my talks to the next level and given clarity on how to structure an engaging audience experience via script development, slide deck refinement and improved delivery.
Ryan Higgs

Ryan Higgs

CEO of Onside

Working with Michael was a ton of fun. He has an interesting and very effective process. I learned a lot about the technical aspects of how to construct & deliver a compelling talk.
Steve Ardagh

Steve Ardagh

CEO of Eagle Protect

He has the uncanny knack of being able to reduce your message down to some very simple but impactful nuggets helping your audience really get the message! I would highly recommend talking to Michael about your story and how you can present it to the world!
Anthony Baxter

Anthony Baxter

CEO of Firefly Digital

Michael is the real deal, a rare mix of practical and theoretical advice who brings real life experiences to the table. One of them has helped me secure a large contract that has easily paid for Michael's service for the next year.
Chester Boyes

Chester Boyes

CEO of Timescapes

Great to have a few one-on-one sessions with Michael. I learned a lot about my particular style, some of the behaviours I do without thinking and how to incorporate great story telling into my every day communications
Marian Johnson

Marian Johnson

CEO of Ministry of Awesome

Michael helped me construct my first hour-long talk to sector leaders and worked closely with me to improve my confidence, my poise, my body language and the overall flow of the story I was telling.
Troy Bilborough

Troy Bilborough

CEO of Bacon Bros. Burgers

Michael turned my simple speech into a powerful message, and I will use him in the future to further my presentation skills and develop stronger communication techniques.
Michelle Shirtcliffe

Michelle Shirtcliffe

CEO of Publica Group

Passion, enthusiasm and loads of great advice, thanks!
Frayne Cooke

Frayne Cooke

CEO of Well Revolution

NPS response 10. Looking forward to more sessions in the future. 'twas a ripper of a time. I'll be going through the online course for sure. You're a rockstar Michael!
Nic Kennedy

Nic Kennedy

CEO of Flux Federation

It was indeed epic! Lot's of learning, belly laughs and odd doh moments. Thank you for leading like a boss Michael Philpott.
Tania Armstrong

Tania Armstrong

CEO of State3

As the CEO of a NZ SaaS start up simplifying our message and clearly articulating our offering has been problematic... Michael is no nonsense, practical, to the point and authentic. I would highly recommend as an investment in yourself and wider organisation.

The two communication problems holding you back

When business leaders struggle to get results, it usually comes down to two key problems.

Your audience isn't the hero.

Most presentations put your company, product, or idea at the centre of the story. But your audience cares about their own success, not your solution. When you make yourself the hero, they tune out.

Your delivery doesn't inspire action.

Having a great message isn't enough. The best ideas fall flat if they're delivered without confidence and charisma. Many leaders know what to say, but struggle to say it in a way that moves people to act.

Success stories

We coach and train CEOs, celebrities, sales executives, tech giants, best-selling authors, professors, PhDs, and start-up founders to achieve outstanding results.

800%
Increase in sales over 18 months
20%
Increase in NPS (Net Promoter Score)
Generated over
$1M+
In sales from a 5-minute talk
Generated over
$2.5M
From an online pitch
Won
9 year
AOG contract
Was the
Highest scored
at a conference
Delivered
The best
presentation of their life
Generated over
12.5M views
on YouTube
5th
Most viewed Tedx talk on the planet
Secured
Costco
as a Reseller
Awarded
Best pitch
to over 900 investors
Secured a
US university
as a major client

5 things we learned from StorySelling

I had to give a talk at a conference, and had no idea where to start. Michael has a true gift for drawing ideas out of his clients and helping frame those ideas in a clear & compelling storyline. If I know a speaker has worked with Michael, I know they're going to give a great presentation and be worth listening to.

I had to give a talk at a conference, and had no idea where to start. Michael has a true gift for drawing ideas out of his clients and helping frame those ideas in a clear & compelling storyline. If I know a speaker has worked with Michael, I know they're going to give a great presentation and be worth listening to.

Sutter Schumacher

Michael is hugely technically skilled at what he does - he has a phenomenal ability to take a presenter from an early idea to a confident presentation onstage under the bright lights. I recommend him unreservedly.

Michael is hugely technically skilled at what he does - he has a phenomenal ability to take a presenter from an early idea to a confident presentation onstage under the bright lights. I recommend him unreservedly.

Kaila Colbin

Having spoken all over the world, I can tell you that Michael really helped me enhance my game and I know he can do the same for anyone else out there interested in doing the same.

Having spoken all over the world, I can tell you that Michael really helped me enhance my game and I know he can do the same for anyone else out there interested in doing the same.

Hamish Brewer

I had multiple people come up to me afterwards and say it/I was inspirational. I got some laughs in the right places too which was good! It goes without saying, I couldn’t have delivered the talk as I did without guidance and coaching from Michael.

I had multiple people come up to me afterwards and say it/I was inspirational. I got some laughs in the right places too which was good! It goes without saying, I couldn’t have delivered the talk as I did without guidance and coaching from Michael.

Melinda Baillie

Michael has been the big boss and great help in helping unravel the stories and ideas in my head. I very much like Michaels teaching methods, he is straight to the point and doesn't beat around the bush.

Michael has been the big boss and great help in helping unravel the stories and ideas in my head. I very much like Michaels teaching methods, he is straight to the point and doesn't beat around the bush.

Isaac Giesen

Not until I worked with Michael did I realise that there is so much room for improvement to make me an even better speaker. His expertise in speaker coaching made me more aware of my own verbal and body language and how to use them to be an effective and clear communicator of my ideas.

Not until I worked with Michael did I realise that there is so much room for improvement to make me an even better speaker. His expertise in speaker coaching made me more aware of my own verbal and body language and how to use them to be an effective and clear communicator of my ideas.

Alex Tan

The level of engagement and awareness of both my personal work and my organisation has sky-rocketed since working with him - and the results have been nothing short of amazing!

The level of engagement and awareness of both my personal work and my organisation has sky-rocketed since working with him - and the results have been nothing short of amazing!

Eduard Liebenberger

Michael's experienced advice, tips and tricks helped me to structure an impactful talk and deliver it with confidence on stage to an international audience. I think everyone who is considering speaking training should make the call with urgency, you’ll be glad you did and the more time you have to prepare the better!

Michael's experienced advice, tips and tricks helped me to structure an impactful talk and deliver it with confidence on stage to an international audience. I think everyone who is considering speaking training should make the call with urgency, you’ll be glad you did and the more time you have to prepare the better!

Fiona Short

He opened my eyes to how much work goes on behind the scenes to deliver a world class talk that brings your listeners on a journey with you.

He opened my eyes to how much work goes on behind the scenes to deliver a world class talk that brings your listeners on a journey with you.

Emma Gilmour
Sutter Schumacher
Sutter Schumacher
Practice Lead & Speaker
Kaila Colbin
Kaila Colbin
TEDx Curator
Hamish Brewer
Hamish Brewer
Award-winning Educator & Leader
Melinda Baillie
Melinda Baillie
General Manager
Isaac Giesen
Isaac Giesen
First Kiwi to Solo Row the Atlantic
Alex Tan
Alex Tan
Professor of Political Science & International Relations
Eduard Liebenberger
Eduard Liebenberger
Director of Digital
Fiona Short
Fiona Short
Principal Architect
Emma Gilmour
Emma Gilmour
First Ever Female Factory Driver for McLaren Racing

What you'll learn in StorySelling

This practical one-day workshop is tailored to help you get real results, no matter your role.

For leaders and executives

You'll learn how to inspire your teams and get everyone moving in the same direction. We'll show you how to take complex ideas and present them with clarity and confidence. By the end of the day, you'll transform your team meetings and presentations into moments where real change happens.

For sales professionals & teams

You'll master the art of crafting customer success stories that close deals. We'll help you build deeper connections with clients and handle objections with confidence. You'll walk away knowing how to turn every sales conversation into an opportunity to win trust and drive results.

For your whole organisation

Watch as your team becomes more confident and skilled at communication. They'll learn to coach and support each other, share ideas more effectively, and create presentations that actually inspire action. You'll build a culture where great communication drives better business results.

We’ll show you how to structure your message

You’ll learn our proven framework for building stories that resonate. It’s the same approach that helped one business owner turn a 5-minute presentation into a million-dollar deal. We’ll help you find your own powerful stories and shape them to connect with your audience.

We’ll teach you how to deliver with impact

You’ll master the 12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics used by the world’s best communicators. These aren’t just presentation tricks.

They’re science-backed techniques that help you speak with genuine confidence and authority.

Sounds great, but can you learn how to become more charismatic?

12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics
Can Charisma be taught?

That was the question that a bunch of researchers in Switzerland at the University of Lausanne asked, they asked “Can Charisma Be Taught?”

To find out they asked 41 MBA students to present a 3 to 4 minute video presentation to camera then over 6 weeks they spent around 80 - 90 hours teaching them the 12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics.

They asked the students to include as many of them into their 3 to 4 minute videos as they could. They then redelivered to camera and then both their first and last videos were reviewed and compared by 135 independent assessors.

On average they measured a staggering 60 percent increase in perceived leadership scores. They discovered that the more Charismatic Leadership Tactics they included in their presentations, the higher the score.

The StorySelling workbook

Take your learning beyond the workshop.

Every participant receives our comprehensive workbook that helps you put StorySelling principles into practice.

You'll use it during the workshop to capture your insights, craft your stories and develop your delivery style.

Then it becomes your ongoing guide for preparing presentations that move people to action.

12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics

The Confidence Coin

At the commencement of coaching, you receive a handcrafted coin.

This coin is a tactile tool that stimulates and subdues the anxious nerves that can be present in stressful situations.

As it’s used throughout coaching, while recording videos and presenting it becomes a positive anchor that can be stored in your pocket and reached for in times of need.

About Michael

Business Storytelling Expert. Keynote Speaker. Executive Speaker Coach. Former Professor of Practice at the University of Canterbury, Communications & Training Specialist.

Having spent over two and half decades working within leadership development, Michael is the sought after high-performance coach to thousands of executives and leaders. 

An expert in storytelling, stage craft, charismatic leadership, and business storyselling. He is renowned for helping people achieve powerful results from their keynotes, sales pitches, capital raises, and formal presentations. 

Michael has a resolute belief that mastery of ourselves is forged in the fiery crucible of practical application, self-analysis, self-discovery, and self-management. 

No other coach offers his credentials, experience, and singleness of purpose.

How StorySelling transforms your communication

StorySelling is a one-day workshop that teaches you how to craft stories that put your audience first and then deliver them in a way that inspires action.

Join NZ's best communicators

Our workshops are filled with energy, laughter and real connection. You'll learn powerful communication skills in a environment where trying new approaches feels enjoyable.

Barfoot & Thompson
Christchurch City Council
Christchurch NZ
Datacom
Christchurch NZ
Harvey Cameron
Jade Software
Mitre10
Public Workshop
Tradify
TREC
Christchurch City Council
Fulton Hogan
Fulton Hogan
Datacom
Fulton Hogan

Top 10 Learning Outcomes from the StorySelling Workshop

“I finally know how to structure a story that actually lands.”
Participants walk away with a clear, repeatable five-step story structure that brings clarity to what used to feel like rambling or waffle.
“I can now communicate the why behind our work – not just the what.”
Attendees say they’ve learned to elevate customer comms and internal presentations by leading with emotion and purpose instead of just facts.
“I’ve got a practical framework to turn dry content into something compelling.”
Even those dealing with technical, policy, or back-office work discovered how to humanise their message using contrasts, examples, and anecdotes.
“I’m not second-guessing myself as much when I present.”
Many describe a dramatic boost in confidence from the on-camera reps, live coaching, and feedback loop that pushes them outside their comfort zone in a supportive way.
“I understand how stories drive influence across the business.”
There’s a lightbulb moment around how storytelling isn’t fluff — it’s strategy. Attendees now use stories in stakeholder updates, staff meetings, funding proposals, and onboarding.
“I’ve learned how to tailor a message to different audiences.”
StorySelling helped participants stop presenting in a one-size-fits-all style. They now ask: “What does this audience need to feel and know to take action?”
“I’m getting better at showing, not just telling.”
There’s a new awareness of how to use vivid language, body language, and metaphor to make abstract ideas stick.
“Our team is now on the same page when it comes to how we talk about our work.”
Teams report greater alignment and cohesion in messaging — especially helpful for joint presentations or when representing their organisation externally.
“I now see where I was going wrong — too many facts, not enough feeling.”
This insight came up repeatedly: realising that previous presentations lacked emotional engagement or a clear narrative hook.
“I’ve got the tools to keep improving – not just a one-off experience.”
Between the recordings, workbook, feedback, and follow-up, participants leave with tangible artefacts and momentum to keep building their speaking skills.

Here's how we can work together

StorySelling Private Workshop
$10,200+GST
In-house StorySelling workshop delivered exclusively to your team by Michael.
Includes:
The five-step StorySelling model – learn the model that will bring you and your stories to life.
Skills and training – get skills in stage craft and six of the 12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics to become a charismatic, influencing weapon wielding a customer success story.
Comprehensive workbook – that guides you to develop your customer success story.
Video recordings – walk away with eight recordings of yourself presenting to camera.
Challenge coins and certificate – acknowledgement of achievement and a tactile learning tool that can be used for future speaking engagement
Complimentary follow-up coaching – valued at $6,000
Book a Private Workshop
StorySelling Public Workshop
$1,700+GST
26 November 2025
The Parnell, Auckland
Includes:
The five-step StorySelling model – learn the model that will bring you and your stories to life.
Skills and training – get skills in stage craft and six of the 12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics to become a charismatic, influencing weapon wielding a customer success story.
Comprehensive workbook – that guides you to develop your customer success story.
Video recordings – walk away with eight recordings of yourself presenting to camera.
Challenge coins and certificate – acknowledgement of achievement and a tactile learning tool that can be used for future speaking engagement
Catering – food and drinks will be provided for the day.
Complimentary follow-up coaching – valued at $6,000

Three simple steps to start your StorySelling journey

01

Apply now

Let's chat about your communication goals and see if StorySelling is right for you. We'll have a quick conversation about the challenges you're facing and how we can help you overcome them.

02

Choose your workshop date

Once we know StorySelling is a good fit, we'll find a workshop date that works for you. We keep our groups small to give everyone personal attention, so you'll want to book your spot early.

03

Start StorySelling

Join us for a day of practical learning where you'll discover how to craft better stories and deliver them with confidence. You'll leave with skills you can use in your very next presentation or sales conversation.

Questions about StorySelling

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is for anyone who wants to improve their public speaking, pitching, and presenting skills. It's ideal for people who demonstrate, inform, and persuade their audience whether internally, externally, in-person or to camera.

For example: A CEO who is presenting at a Senior Leaders Forum, an employee who is pitching a product or service to potential customers at a conference, Project Managers providing updates to stakeholders, or Managers translating strategy into actionable work for all staff.

What are the benefits?

Investing in your people to gain the skill and confidence of a great communicator is an investment in your company brand.

  • Confident speakers who are skilled and trained to represent your company
  • Improved internal and external communications
  • Developing a culture that promotes good communication and engagement
  • Instilling a culture of fail fast and learn fast with a growth mindset
  • Employees who can sell an idea with excitement
  • Passionate and enthusiastic communicators
  • Employees who are charismatic in their public speaking personas
  • Technically skilled in the knowledge of public speaking, pitching, and presenting
  • Communicators who can simplify communications internally and externally
What is charismatic leadership?

Until recently it was believed that charisma was a “gift” a god given talent reserved only for the few, something that people were born with.

Fortunately for leaders research and study into the “gift” of charisma demonstrates charisma as a set of skills that can be taught. The results from becoming more charismatic is that people will be drawn to another, to like another, to trust another and to respect another.

We know that the neuroscience indicates that neurotransmitters release neurochemicals that either make us feel good about someone and their intentions; to be moved towards them, or not good about someone and their intentions; to be repelled from them.

We also know that these are snap decisions made by our reptilian brain, and we know that once someone has made that unconscious decision it can be difficult to win back their trust, especially when we are either speaking to people we don’t know or speaking via a channel that puts distance between us.

In our training workshops we learn charismatic leadership skills that give us the ability to recognise firstly what repels people, and then what moves them towards us.

And then focus on developing the foundations that allow a person to build messaging that resonates at a deep level with their audiences and deliver them in a way that magnifies that resonance for lasting impact.

What research is StorySelling based on?

The StorySelling workshop is designed from research undertaken by John Antonakis, Marika Fenley, and Sue Liechti at The University of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In one study, 41 MBA students were asked to record a three to four minute video presentation. They were then trained in the 12 Charismatic Leadership Tactics (CLTs) over six weeks, averaging 80 - 90 hours of work and preparation.

They redelivered their presentations to camera, with the addition of the 12 CLTs, the videos were reviewed and compared by 135 independent assessors.

On average, they measured a 60% increase in individuals leadership scores.We’ve incorporated the following techniques and tools into out training workshop:

  • The 12 CLTs
  • Accelerated adult brain based learning techniques from extensive training in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and USA with Dr Rich Allen
  • Neurolinguistic Programming techniques and principles from practitioner level training with Dr Richard Bolstad; and
  • Marketing principles and practice from internationally renowned marketing expert Donald Miller
How much growth can I expect to see in a day?

The growth each individual will experience is relative to the degree that they are willing to push themselves to try new things and get way outside their comfort zone.

The more a person pushes themselves the more growth they will see.

Do I need to do any prep work before the workshop?

Not at all, the essence of the training workshop is for everyone to develop their talks together at the same pace and learn from each other through open dialogue that we facilitate.

The only preparation needed is to bring the essential items that you will need on the day such as headphones to listen to your video recordings privately.

Why do I need to bring headphones?

The room is usually vibrant and full of ambient noise when you’re delivering most of your customer success stories to camera, so the best way to hear your video when you review it is through headphones. That way, you can have it as loud as you desire without disturbing others who will be listening to their recordings.

What level of experience do I need to come on this training?

There is no required level of experience needed to come on the workshop.

However, it is good to have a goal in mind for where you want to use the skills you will learn and put them into practice as soon as possible.

Inspire action and close deals with confidence