How to Be a Great Storyteller and Captivate Your Audience
It won’t come as a shock when I say that stories are one of the most important elements of presentations and communication in general.
They help us connect with our audience, keep them engaged, share parts of ourselves that wouldn’t otherwise be known, be seen as a leader, drive home the points we want to make in our communication, the list goes on.
I happen to come from a long line of storytellers. Growing up visiting my grandparents farm in Michigan, my family members were constantly telling stories to pass the time especially while working, because there were no iPods or anything else to pass the time.
I was enchanted by the stories they would tell. If you’re anything like me at the beginning of my communication journey, I always wondered how to be a great storyteller.
I would hear the word storytelling all the time, and I would listen to my family and friends recount fascinating stories, so I knew that the topic was important. And it was also a challenge to know what steps I could take to be the kind of person who engages an audience with a compelling story.
Communication is a broad enough topic as it is, so let’s cut the fluff. Here are the strategies that I’ve implemented into my own communication practice to tell engaging stories and deliver impactful presentations.
Keep a running list of ideas
The first thing I’d recommend when beginning your journey to becoming a storyteller is to keep an active list of ideas.
I’ve learned over the years that life provides you with a bottomless pit of experiences that can be used as content in so many communication situations. I’ll often jot down things I’ve experienced in the day before going to sleep at night as a way of clearing my mind, or in the morning after I meditate. Not only has this enabled me to look back at some incredible experiences in my life – I’m also never at a shortage for stories.
This is my top tip for getting in the habit of remembering details about the things that happen to me, and to get in the habit of viewing myself as a storyteller.
Next, let’s dive into the elements for telling great stories within your communication.
Know who you’re speaking to
Seems obvious right? If you’re actively engaged in the Connect To The Core blog or have attended one of our programs, you’re probably rolling your eyes right now. In order to tell an engaging story (or any piece of communication for that matter), get clear on who the story is for (1).
Once you have a strong understanding of who your audience is, you’re able to add in details and create a beautiful mirage that’s relevant to them.
While the audience may be there to hear you speak, they’re even more concerned with themselves and how they fit into the experience. So, before you begin preparing a story, take some time to figure out who the story is intended for. As someone who’s been delivering presentations for 30+ years, I can guarantee this will make your delivery that much stronger.
Have a key takeaway
There’s nothing worse than sitting through an entire story that has no point in the end. Especially if it’s a lengthy one.
To avoid this, make sure that your key takeaway is crystal clear before diving into crafting your story. It’s best if you can articulate your message in a short sentence. What do you really want your audience to know?
Having a clear takeaway will also help you come back to your story if you happen to go off on a tangent as you’re telling it. Hey, it happens.
By the end of your story, it’s ideal if your audience can answer these three questions: What? So what? Now what? (2)
Don’t be afraid to get personal
People love when other people get vulnerable. It’s just a fact. Getting personal is ultimately what connects us to others because it reiterates that we’re all human with real and raw experiences.
Whatever your ‘getting personal’ looks like, it’s most important to be your authentic self, all the while ensuring that the vulnerable experiences you choose to include are relevant to your audience and help drive home the main point of your story.
I came across an excerpt from an article on masterclass.com that articulates this ‘don’t be afraid to get personal’ argument perfectly. It said, which speech would move you more: A climate scientist talking about how her team developed a computer algorithm to measure particulate matter, or a scientist talking about how her personal experience with asthma inspired her to dedicate her life to clean air? (3)
Bottom line: you can never go wrong with including relevant, personal details into your stories. These are ultimately what will make your stories unique, memorable and impactful.
Practice, practice, practice
You can read tips on storytelling until the cows come home, and I can tell you from experience that the thing that will expedite your storytelling abilities is practice (4). This is also the secret to communication and public speaking in general.
Along with verbally practicing your stories out loud, I’d also recommend creating an outline of your story before you tell it. Engaging in this kind of preparation will help keep your story on track for time-sake, make you more aware when you’re jumping around, and will help you give just the right amount of details to where it keeps things interesting, and doesn’t bore your audience.
Practice is the secret to every communication and public speaking success I’ve ever had, and it’s what I always recommend to my clients and students.
If you’re looking to gain more insight into where you fall when preparing for your communication, head to this link to download our signature scorecard – totally complimentary.
Conclusion
Storytelling can be a pretty nuanced topic, and this post gives you some inspiration and actionable steps you can take to story-tell like a pro. Keeping a running list of story ideas, knowing who you’re speaking to, having a key takeaway, getting personal, and practicing are the main things that will contribute to your growth and success as a storyteller.
For more tips on storytelling and communication, make sure you’re following us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook so you never miss any insights. And if you’re looking to assess your current communication skillset, download our signature scorecard here.
Happy storytelling!
Sources