Here's how you can assess the influence of storytelling on your public speaking delivery.

Have you ever heard a public speaker on the driest of topics, yet walked away thinking it was awesome and want to hear more? It's baffling, but that's the art of storytelling. There are a few key ingredients that make this possible. In my experience, establishing the human connection is key, with simple, relatable, and authentic stories that evoke imagination of experiences tied with our raw human emotions. That if spoken and even laughed about, creates a sense of relief, connection, and even trust that remains intact across the speech. If you establish yourself as human instead of a speaker on an elevated stage, you'll win hearts and minds. #publicspeaking #authenticity

As an international and TEDx speaker, I believe that the true power of storytelling lies in its ability to evoke emotional responses. To gauge the impact of your narrative, observe your audience closely. Look for subtle cues like facial expressions, body language, and shifts in the room's energy. Engaged listeners will often lean forward, nod in agreement, or react visibly to the emotional beats of your story. Conversely, if you see signs of disinterest or distraction, it's a clear signal to re-evaluate your narrative techniques or the stories themselves. Remember, effective storytelling creates a connection, and your audience's reactions are the most honest feedback you'll receive.

You can assess the impact of storytelling in your public speaking by paying attention to the emotions that you feel as well as the reactions of your audience. When you incorporate a story in your speech see how that story makes you feel while you deliver it- does it excite you and make you feel connected to it? These are signs that the story is meaningful to you. Similarly, watch how your audience reacts. Do they lean in, smile, or show surprise? These emotional responses indicate that your story is resonating with them. On the other hand if your audience looks disinterested and are on their phone and fidgety maybe it's time to rework your storytelling approach and delivery style.

Here's how you can assess the influence of storytelling on your public speaking delivery. By taking action. People can talk , dream , listen but only by taking action is the best way to deploy a story that you can feel inspired and you dont need to do the same but you can always tailor that story to your own life and your own aim

To gauge the impact of your storytelling, focus on the subtleties of audience engagement beyond obvious emotional cues. Listen for moments of silence or collective breaths these can signal deep absorption or tension in your narrative. You can also use strategic pauses to test engagement if the room feels electric during a pause, your story is hitting the mark. After your talk, gauge feedback through conversations or even digital responses, like social media or surveys, to understand the lasting emotional impact. Remember, sometimes the most profound reactions are not immediately visible but are reflected in how the story lingers in the minds of your audience.

Story telling recall is the foundation of ensuring your audience remembers and connects with the story. That is why it is important to ensure that your story aligns deeply with your speech. Therefore it is easy to use storytelling recall during the cause of your speech.

When messages hit multiple senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) the more senses activated the better. Are you tapping into your audience sense? Are your stories connecting them with their memories and experiences? Are you making it bolder, brighter, thus creating a full sensory experience? Do that!

The lasting impact of storytelling lies in audience recall. After your presentation, engage with listeners to see what resonates. Compelling stories, seamlessly woven into your message, should be easily recalled and frequently mentioned in discussions. If your audience can recount your narratives in detail or discuss the key takeaways, it's a testament to the effectiveness of your storytelling. This valuable feedback allows you to identify which elements of your stories connect deeply with listeners and which might need refinement. It's about understanding what sticks in their minds, not just during the presentation, but long after.

As an international and TEDx speaker, I believe that the power of storytelling is amplified by the dynamics of delivery. A captivating narrative naturally involves shifts in tone, pace, and volume, mirroring the emotional landscape of the story. To gauge the effectiveness of your delivery, record your speech and critique these elements. Are there moments where you could have infused more passion, or perhaps utilized silence for greater impact? Remember, a dynamic delivery not only captivates your audience but also accentuates the pivotal moments in your story, making them resonate more deeply. It's about bringing your narrative to life, not just through words, but through the subtle nuances of your voice and non-verbal communications.

As a storyteller with roots in photojournalism and science communication, I recently faced a challenge teaching complex topics to various groups. Despite my expertise, I found myself veering off-track when using real-world metaphors and personal experiences. My neurodivergence, including ADHD, can lead to meandering narratives that stray from the central topic. This reinforced a crucial lesson: clarity in storytelling is paramount. I've learned that a good story should illuminate, not complicate. It's essential to assess whether our narratives integrate seamlessly with main points, providing clear illustrations rather than causing confusion. Anything beyond risks becoming fluff, potentially obscuring the core message we aim to convey.

Regardless of achievements, status, or career, everyone is someone's parent, child, friend, or spouse. When you identify with this, your audience will easily identify with you. In a change management discussion, some suggested offering more rewards to increase employees engagement. I disagreed. During public speaking, I posed this question to my audience: 'Why do you love your spouse?' The answer is people become committed to relationships because they have invested in them. The more you invest and work on a relationship, the less likely you are to walk away from it. I connected this idea to a company's relationship with its employees: the more employees are involved in the organization's activities, the more engaged they will be.

Creating a connection with audience is the most important part in public speaking and making them feel connected is same as classroom teaching. Storytelling in public speaking is most effective when it forges a personal connection with the audience. Ensure your stories are relatable and reveal something genuine about you or your perspective. When listeners connect personally, they are more likely to be influenced and remember your message. Detached or irrelevant stories may fail to engage, reducing their impact.

Just like teaching in a classroom the object is to convey ideas from one mind to another so that receiving minds can play in the same intellectual space. I call it "when the light goes on." This is when the audience or individuals are excited by the presentation and take ownership of their own understanding. Beware untruth or misusing the truth. Make sure your argument is both true and valid. I have seen many students blow up teaching situations. Some see the structure of the proposal and quickly follow the clues to the conclusion. Some people connect, awake and aware of the consequences that are not spoken, yet. Sometimes you need to capitalize on the attention taken by the "lightning bolt" questions to move the whole group forward.

To assess the influence of storytelling on my public speaking, I focus on audience engagement. During a recent presentation, I noticed that when I shared personal stories related to any achievements, the audience was more attentive and responsive. Their questions and feedback afterward were directly tied to the stories, showing that storytelling made the content more relatable and memorable. Reflecting on this experience, I began incorporating more stories into my talks, observing that they not only made complex topics easier to understand but also helped build a stronger connection with the audience, enhancing the overall impact of my delivery.

Feedback is so important, yet the element that we often miss. I have a couple additional points to make. 1. Feedback can happen during the presentation. Watch your audience and their nonverbal feedback to ensure they are following your story. If they look confused, add in an additional explanation or say the same thing in a different way. 2. Stories can be confusing. When we have our own story with its own context it may be confusing to an audience without the same context. Be sure to test your story on others that do now know the situation, this will help the ultimate feedback loop when you go to share.