What are some examples of persuasive speeches that use storytelling?

In my experience, how you say things is just as important as what you say. A wise woman shared with me recently that there is energy in words. Words are powerful, and when expressed with passion, what is said and how it is received can ignite change. My wish for everyone is that our words are expressed with love - that is where the magic happens.

The story has to be genuine and relevant so you can capture the audience and they can on thier own understand what is meant by it in the context of the topic shared

Let’s talk a little about “vivid imagery.” Start teaching the way your 11 grade teacher tried to teach you. We’ve got to do a better job of examples. Do any of you know the Figures of Speech besides metaphor. There are 80 of them. Google it! Oxymoron: He is a frozen flame. Give it some time. Anaphora: Of the people. By the people. For the people. Polyptoton: When good teams are built, we’ll be the ones building them. Throwing out phrases like vivid imagery is a waste of space. OK. Got that off my mind.

In a room filled with people, all eager to address the critical issue of climate change. A speaker steps up, but instead of drowning the audience in a sea of statistics and jargon, they begin with a story. He paint a picture of a coastal community. They introduce us to a local fisherman, a father struggling to make ends meet as the encroaching ocean disrupts his way of life. The room falls silent, captivated by the unfolding human drama. You can almost smell the saltwater, feel the tension in the air, and hear the cries of seabirds overhead. The audience becomes emotionally invested. In a masterful pivot, the speaker shifts from this intimate tale to the global stage. He connect the living struggle to climate change, a call for action.

This is such a great topic because many persons are now going back to their own stories to inspire others. Sheryl Sandberg's TED Talk, "Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders" (2010): She uses her personal experiences climbing the corporate ladder to discuss gender inequality in the workplace, blending personal narrative with data to advocate for change.

Commencement speeches are excellent sources of inspiration for public speakers whether you are experienced or just starting out - enjoy watching and sharing them, identifying what speaks most to you

He also uses the power of 3 in this speech, which is a writing principle that states a trio of events is more memorable than any other number. Basically, people better understand, digest, and remember three concepts at a time so when writing an article or a speech sharing three lessons/stories/ideas/etc. makes a bigger impact on your audience. It also follows the arc of your speech, which should have a beginning, middle, and end.

With great story - comes great emotions. You can feeeel the anger and frustatrion in her voice. ?? Also if you have powerful emotional story in your speech, repeating that speech a hundred time, you are still able to relive and express those emotions. ??

Simon Sinek's "Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe" talk is a masterclass in using storytelling to drive home the concept of leadership. He conveys through compelling narratives that the essence of leadership is creating a circle of safety. This approach resonates because it goes beyond the abstract, using real-life examples to reveal how such an environment can lead to thriving organizations. It’s a poignant reminder of the power of storytelling in reinforcing the human aspects of leadership, something that’s as instructive as it is persuasive.

Creating a genuine human connection is crucial in persuasive speaking. Here’s the thing, it might seem easy to engage an audience with authentic emotions, but what you might find out, is that it’s not. Winning over your audience involves not just speaking, but truly connecting — feeling the energy reciprocated. When it comes to persuading through storytelling, it really boils down to two things. You have to be able to connect by being relevant and empathetic, as well as genuinely believing in your audience. This means empowering them with the courage and confidence needed for the journey you share or even their own path that they choose to take.

Sharing stories is an ancient tradition that we have lost over time. We are just now rediscovering their value. Stories can be used to inspire and teach, but most of to help others see and understand that we all have challenges, hills and valleys to travel on our journey. Stories help us know we are not alone. They have power and impact.

Take your audience from worst case scenario to best case scenario to inspire them as did Churchill's WW II speech: "Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail...We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets... and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

Story telling is a powerful way to connect with the audience. What works for me is starting off with things that didn’t work. I love talking about my failures as failures and showing when you failed and what you learnt from it.. is the most effective way to connect and add value.

Let go of who you think you are supposed to be, embrace who you are. This is from Brene Brown. I like to use this when speaking about Gratitude, as we often forget the gems within ourselves, and we get overworked with we think/assume, others want from us. When we look within, we too have our own greatness. Its time to embrace us and I really love using this in some of my speaking sessions.