You're starting your public speaking career. How can you effectively weave storytelling into your speeches?

Show your audience, you've been where they are today. Guide them through your journey, emphasizing on your learning and your efforts each step of the way. It is much easier to grasp baby steps, than whole leaps and bounds. Color your story with humble interactions. Being simple is so great.

When I started my public speaking journey, weaving storytelling into my speeches became a game-changer. To craft tales that resonate, I always begin by pinpointing the core message I wish to convey. For instance, when discussing leadership, I tend to draw from my experience co-organising a TEDx event praised by Anand Mahindra. This story not only highlights my organisational skills but also the importance of perseverance and teamwork. Keeping the narrative concise, I ensure that I use vivid descriptions and emotional hooks to captivate my audience. A well-structured story with a clear arc will always ensure that the message is both memorable and impactful. You can definitely model yours with Simon Sinek's Golden Circle method, super useful!

You know what you want to say. You know people and have experienced things. You know who you’re talking to. So… Craft the events you’ve experienced or heard about, weaving in elements that underscore what you want to say, and deliver them in a way that will resonate with your audience. Easy to say. Not as easy to do. It’ll take practice.

Life is about stories. What better way to elevate a public speaking engagement than by the use of stories? Key here though is to ensure the stories you use are: 1) Relevant to the topic 2) Engaging to the audience group 3) Relatable - Will your audience understand the perspective? 4) Emotive - drawing out emotion is such a powerful addition to any narrative 5) Authentic - lived experiences deliver far beyond theory or conjecture. In summary - using a clear story arc which takes the audience on your journey and hits the above 5 points will enhance any delivery in public speaking.

Think of your speech as a tapestry. Each thread of story you weave adds color and depth, making it memorable and impactful. ?? ?? Start with a personal anecdote that relates to your topic. ?? Use universal themes like triumph, friendship, or growth. ?? Paint vivid pictures with your words to captivate listeners. ?? Create a journey with a clear beginning, middle, and end. ?? Practice your delivery to ensure it's engaging and natural.

People connect with stories. Share a personal experience to show you're human, not just a talking head. Pick a story that everyone can relate to in some way. Maybe it's a fear you overcame or a lesson you learned. The best stories show a journey, a struggle, and a triumph.

I recommend using personal stories in your speeches to enhance your connection with the audience. Sharing experiences from your own life shows vulnerability & humanity. Typically, what works best is choosing anecdotes with universal appeal, resonating with your audience’s experiences or emotions, something I'd advocate for. Moreover, ensure that your story connects with your message. The best personal stories often reflect a journey or transformation that can inspire and motivate. It's advisable to keep it concise with a clear beginning, middle and end. Make use of vivid descriptions & emotional hooks to draw your audience in. The reason? This approach keeps them engaged and makes your message more memorable, something that you'd want!

You know what makes a great story in public speaking? One that actually HAPPENED to someone in the audience. So, work the room prior to your presentation. Grab a story someone tells you that relates to one of the points you want to make. Then, make the point, telling THEIR story. Maybe start with, “I was talking to Rachel Davis a few minutes ago, and she told me about a talking dog that lives in her back alley…”

It is highly beneficial to share stories that resonate with you personally, as humans are fundamentally emotional creatures. When your examples or stories are imbued with genuine emotions, they can profoundly impact your audience. It’s generally more effective to share narratives from your own experiences rather than relying on stories from others. Personal stories not only enhance authenticity but also strengthen the emotional connection with your listeners.

Use stories as a way to grab your audience’s attention. Share a story that illuminates the point or argument you’re making. Any good story has a beginning, middle and end. It weaves some level of tension, climax, problem or turn. And it’s resolved or has some closure at the end. Another way is to illustrate a point within a speech. Say you’re discussing the impact a new product or service has on customers. Sharing a specific story of how Mark, a father of 4, for instance, was able to alleviate his plantar fasciitis using Vionic shoes really highlights an impact. And often the associated emotions, characters, details are not easily forgotten. It makes the point stick. It makes the point memorable.

I'm an advocate for engaging the heart, it's essential! By doing so, you leave a lasting impression on your listeners. This makes your message memorable and moves your audience. When training TEDx speakers, I’ve seen how impactful it is to be able to connect emotionally. Stories that evoke joy, struggle, or triumph resonate deeply. Leaving messages with impact and value is crucial. When your audience feels a personal connection, they’re more likely to remember your message and act. Striking a chord encourages people to improve and align with your vision. Emotional connection drives engagement, making your message felt. Focus on emotional storytelling to ensure that your audience walks away with a memorable and meaningful experience!

The stories that land are the ones that engage the emotions of the audience. ? Kids ? Dogs ? Mean people being twarted ? Nice people overcoming odds ? Someone making a comeback ? Survivor stories. The stories that speak to the common human condition are the ones you want to glean, craft, and apply.

Especially when you’re telling emotional stories, it’s important to practice your delivery. 1. Because you don’t want to laugh or cry at your own story. Rehearsal tends to “numb” you to the emotion, putting you in control of the telling. 2. Because you want to get all the timing and nuance down, so you can land the emotion for which you have included the story. 3. So you can tell the story, including relevant details, without notes. When appealing to emotions, notes can seem false.

Practice and rehearsal are key to confidently delivering a public speaking session, not just for a polished delivery but to ensure the content is delivered with impact. True “being a natural" is a (small) part of presenting, the other 90%+ is Preparation, Practice, Rehearsal and Refinement prior to delivery. No keynote started out perfect. As my indefatigable mother (Cake-baker par excellence) once said: "you might not bake the perfect cake first time around, but by the time you've done a thousand, even your off days will look perfect to an amateur” That is the power of practice.

Here's what I've always recommended using when practicing delivery: I recommend simulating the audience’s reactions & questions. This helps you prepare for different scenarios and ensures you're ready for anything. Present to a small, trusted group and ask for constructive feedback. Different perspectives can provide valuable insights and help you improve. Practice in an environment similar to where you’ll be delivering the speech. This helps you get comfortable with the surroundings and boosts your confidence. Use a camera to record your practice sessions. Review & critique your pacing, tone & body language. Give yourself constructive feedback! The idea is for you to be introspective throughout & constructively critique, to be better!

As a presenter, remember that you are the captain of the ship from the moment you begin speaking. The flow and energy of the presentation or speech are dictated by you. Consequently, your delivery plays a crucial role in its success. It's important to gauge the room's energy and start your presentation one or two levels higher to engage your audience effectively. Practice varying your tone and volume as needed to maintain attention and dynamism throughout your speech.

Oddly enough, people understand concepts better, if you relate them using metaphors. Poetry works by talking about one thing in terms of another thing. The direct line to the emotional core that you get from poetry is exactly what you‘re going for with storytelling. Although you want the facts of the story to line up (you obviously don’t want your audience questioning your honesty), you also need to understand that the facts are not the same thing as “the truth.”? The truth reaches the emotions. The facts support the truth. It’s poetry disguised as prose.

Metaphors can be fun, here's why! I recommend using metaphors in your speeches to add depth and clarity. Metaphors simplify complex ideas, making them relatable and easier to understand. By creating vivid imagery, you help your audience grasp abstract concepts more tangibly. Choose metaphors that complement your speech's theme and resonate with your audience's experiences or cultural background. This connection enhances your message's impact. A well-placed metaphor can illuminate your points and make your speech memorable. Practicing the use of metaphors can enhance your storytelling, leaving a lasting impression. Always aim to make your metaphors relevant and easy to visualise, ensuring they reinforce your main message effectively.

Use of metaphors in public speaking are an excellent way of getting your point across in a relatable way. Here is an example from a recent conversation I had on this subject. "Hi, I tend to wave my hands about when I present and I am worried it makes me look less professional, what do you think?" Yes - don't change a thing, Embrace it. Here's the metaphor: A wise sword-master once said "a good swordsperson hides their weaknesses from the opponent, a great one uses their weaknesses as strengths".... If being animated is your style then embrace it and use it to make your points land with impact. - Need to move around the stage? Do it. by using a metaphor I helped point out the power of this persons approach.

Finding new innovative ways to share your story allows you to stay relevant and up-to date with trends. Being open to feedback and expressing your creativity within storytelling allows growth and greater opportunities.

Reflection and review are essential for improvement in any field, especially in public speaking. Most speakers have experienced moments early in their careers when things didn’t go as planned. The key is not to dwell negatively on these experiences but to reflect, review, and seek ways to enhance your skills. Observe how successful public speakers handle various situations and present their material. Incorporate what you learn into your own style without copying them directly. Remember, the journey of learning never stops; always strive to evolve and refine your approach.