How do you add stories to your speech?

Stories matter because they captivate and connect with audiences on a deeper level. They make information relatable, memorable, and emotionally engaging. Stories aren't just facts; they're vehicles for conveying experiences, values, and lessons. By weaving stories into your speech, you transform it from a monologue into a journey, holding your listeners' attention and leaving a lasting impact.

Over 20 years of speaking to all sorts of different audiences and from my experience stories matter because they can show a more human part of you, that’s something that people can connect with. If they have that connection, it usually means you’ve got their attention and stories can even help your audience remember what you were saying long after the speech or presentation is over.

When we add a story, you can take the listener on a range of emotions. The more you can make the audience laugh, cry, be furious or excited having those highs and lows the greater the stickiness of the speech will be. When I use metaphors and stories in keynotes and training years later people come back referring to that story which proves storytelling increases the memorability of your message.

Our lives are full of stories. The best kinds are the ones that we learn from. When I speak, I will find a story from my life and see what I learned from it. Then I tell it in such a way that I ask my audience to imagine themselves in that situation. I use emotive and sensory words to make it real from them.

Remember bedtime tales? I spun wild stories of kids morphing into wolves to rescue all. My grandkids loved them. You can probably recall stories from Dr. Seuss, Paddington Bear, or Thomas the Train. I can still recite a story told often by my grade school librarian about a woman who swallowed a fly. Stories have power. Stats are fine, but to captivate an audience, be open, raw—share your stories. Your own stories. Everyone's got stories. Can't think? Start at kindergarten, pen memories. School, home, journeys, holidays, biking, sleepovers. Soon, a trove of relatable tales emerges, enhancing your message. It is the stories that make you memorable.

Finding stories involves exploring your own experiences, those of others, or even fictional narratives. Start by reflecting on personal anecdotes, challenges you've overcome, or pivotal moments. Interview people, gather testimonials, or draw inspiration from books and movies. Stories are everywhere; it's about recognizing them and shaping them to suit your message. Also, consider current events or historical accounts that align with your topic, adding depth and relevance to your speech.

Always begin with your target audience. What message are you trying to convey? And what is most relevant to them? If you're talking to kindergarten children about green living, centering your speech around joining a nonprofit in your thirties may not grab them as easily. It's may be too distant. But a story about how you learned to recycle in first grade by making milk carton potted plants? That's very relevant and realistic for them. Similarly, if talking to parents about debt management, centering your speech around your college party days may not land. You'd find better results in sharing how you toiled away working against a seemingly inescapable and unfair debt, and later turned it into a profit. Think about relevance and need.

You can use AI tools such as ChatGPT or Bing Chat creative mode to craft stories. If you need multiple stories, ChatGPT 'custom instructions' feature could also come handy.

When writing a story don't cast yourself as the hero of the story Become the guide, the mentor or the facilitator. Make the audience the protagonist on the journey and the changes they will make. It's never about you, it's always about the audience and what transformation you can give them.

Usually, I do not endeavor to "find" or discover stories. Rather, I draw upon stories from my own experiences, or from those told to me my family and friends. At other times, I draw meaningful stories from articles and books I have read. In addition, I like to extract stories from everyday moments. In sharing stories with an audience, I always endeavor to make them relevant and supportive of - or persuasive regarding - the point(s) I am seeking to convey.

Crafting stories involves a structured approach. Begin with a clear message or moral you want to convey. Build a narrative arc with a beginning, middle, and end. Set the scene, introduce characters, and create tension. Use vivid descriptions and dialogue to make the story come alive. Ensure it aligns with your speech's purpose and connects with your audience. Edit ruthlessly, keeping it concise and engaging. Practice delivery to enhance your storytelling skills, making your narrative compelling and impactful.

Relevance and context. That is everything. If you do not make it relatable to the audience, you speak to, it will have no impact.

Crafting stories entails identifying the plot, timeline, message and knowing who are allies, and who are villains. The most important piece is the conflict point.Without a conflict you don't have something for the protagonist to overcome, to learn from and to transform into.

I like to think of speeches in rules of 3s. A) Components: before you draft your story, considered that it should be structured around your audience, their need, and the solution/lesson you're offering them. B) Relevance: when you draft your content, it should include what hurdles you experienced or observed that is relevant to your audience's hurdles; then, what you or the observed went through to overcome those challenges; finally, directly telling your audience what they can learn from that experience. C) Novelty: an overly detailed anecdotal story will bore your audience. Instead, cut out all by the necessary parts; then, emphasize the most poignant or unusual parts of the story; finally, edit for emotionally relevant word choice.

Many years ago I had a professor who told my class that "audiences listening to presentations will forgive you for anything, except boring them to death". With this in mind, I seek to craft the stories (which I am planning to share) that are relatively fast-moving, short in length, stoke curiousity, are captivating, and which are "clear, concise, and compelling" in support of my message(s). And I like to share the lessons learned, and direct the audience to consider taking some pertinent action based on the stories.

To deliver stories effectively, focus on these key steps: 1. Timing: Introduce stories at the right moment to emphasize your message. 2. Engagement: Use vocal variety and gestures to bring stories to life, capturing your audience's attention. 3. Connection: Relate stories to your audience's experiences and emotions for a stronger impact. 4. Clarity: Ensure your storytelling is concise, avoiding unnecessary details. 5. Practice: Rehearse your delivery to maintain a natural flow, balancing storytelling with the overall speech. By mastering these elements, you'll engage your audience and drive home the message within your speech.

To deliver stories effectively imagine you are sitting around a campfire, and this is the moment to inspire or bring great insights to the audience. When rehearsing a story make a voice note on your phone or record yourself over a zoom call. When you can review how you sound and what you look like you can correct it. There is a vast difference between the spoken and the written word. Test your story out loud to hear what it sounds like. See if you can use visual, auditory and kinaesthetic language. Engage the senses and let the audience see, hear, feel and even smell that experience, truly bring it to life!

I like to think of this in stages: If you are a nervous public speaker, focus on comfort and delivery. Don't focus on becoming a master storyteller yet. Make a polished script, rehearse, but focus most on comfort and delivery. Makes notes for pauses, for eye contact, for confidence. If you are comfortable speaking, focus on polish. Where can I add facial expressions or gestures after a joke or poignant moment? How can I manipulate the pacing, vocal cues, or word choice to make my audience hang on my every word? If you are ready for master delivery, focus on captivation. How can I own the stage so that I am as visually appealing as possible? What is my body language? How can I directly involve my audience to increase engagement?

For me, the key ingredient for story delivery is authenticity. Everyone isn’t necessarily a great orator, but every single person can be an amazing story teller. As speaker-storytellers, we should keep the delivery simple and authentic. When telling a story, it’s essential to use a more conversational tone, drop any stridency from your voice (remember, it’s a microphone, not a megaphone!), and “talk” with your audience.

Integrating stories seamlessly into your speech is crucial. Begin by introducing the story with a clear link to your speech's main point. Transition smoothly into the narrative, maintaining a logical flow. Afterward, debrief the story, connecting it explicitly to your message, emphasizing its relevance. Use transition phrases like "This illustrates..." or "In this context..." to guide your audience. This integration ensures your stories serve as valuable illustrations, supporting and enhancing your speech's core ideas.

When integrating stories, consider which parts require the most empathy. If you can easily change a mind with data, you don't need a story. But if you really need to convince someone, get them in your shoes. Share stories with vulnerabilities and turning points. Then show them where there is an alternative option. In practice, one example: start your speech with a novel hook. Grab their attention. Then, unfold the problem or challenge with your story. Switch to data to add context. Then, with your story, provide the discovery of a solution. The turning point. Reinforce it with the most interesting data and anecdotes. Show the impact of your solution. Show the audience how they can benefit. Then finish with a statement they'll never forget.

Practicing your stories is vital for a polished delivery. Start by recording yourself and reviewing for clarity and engagement. Fine-tune your timing, tone, and gestures. Seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine your storytelling skills. Practice in front of a small audience to gauge their reactions and adjust accordingly. Internalize your stories so you can deliver them confidently without memorization. Regular practice ensures your stories flow naturally, enhancing the impact of your speech and captivating your audience.

Practicing stories is helpful because you will have a file of well polished stories that you can use for your next presentation. Places where you can practice your stories include Peckhakucha, where you can share stories using slides, where the slides automatically transition within 20 seconds. What this forces you to do, is to have a clear script and to know your story exceptionally well. You can use one story for your entire presentation and then use it in a longer keynote speech. Practicing a story in front of a live audience and getting that video to review afterwards helps you to notice language, humor and pacing.

In my experience, great story tellers not only keep it simple they are incredibly engaging as well. Stay focused on the point of the story not the reaction you will get. Along the way, be brief yet descriptive on what your walking the audience through. It could be simple enough but allows the audience or team member enough to feel they are almost as if they part of your story.