What are the benefits of using your personal experiences to develop a unique and authentic speaking style?

People don't want knowledge (exclusively). You can Google knowledge. They want your wisdom and insight. That's why personal stories are so important. They are relatable, engaging and unique to you. Craft and deliver them as if your life depends on it. Test, experiment and continually improve them and they will be your differentiator in the market

Your personal experiences create your "Category of 1" mentality when it comes to speaking, full stop. Stories and experiences make us who we are and give us our own perspective that no one else can replicate. No one has truly walked in your shoes, but the beauty of the experience is that it has an emotion, a story, a lesson, a pain point, and resolution. This is where you can absolutely shine in your delivery. Talk about things like: - How you felt - Your thought process in the experience - What you learned - How it applies to the larger picture of work or life (or both) Take any topic in the world and there are tons of speakers who talk about each, but no one can tell it like you can and we all need your story.

Learning to harness the power of storytelling is an art that takes some time and practice. It is imperative to be able to understand and engage the audience by weaving in stories that are relatable and evoke an emotional response. This establishes credibility, likability, and leaves them feeling like they deeply connected with you and your experiences.

Your personal experiences bridge the gap between what people hear in your bio or introduction and how people feel as you build a RELATIONSHIP with your audience. When people read my educational or professional accomplishments they have a preconceived notion of who I am. When I share that I was a divorced mom of 2 elementary school-aged children when I attended community college part-time for a decade, then full-time university followed by law school, their preconceived notions of who I am change. Sharing shows your layers and helps others to appreciate their own. Showing your scars--not your wounds or scabs--gained from your journey also draws your listener near and builds trust. Years later they will remember how you made them feel.

The usual sequence is that people initially connect with a person's individuality, and later become interested in what they do. By starting with a personal story, you establish this connection. Why is it that we remember books we've read so vividly, while often forgetting factual articles? The answer lies in the power of storytelling, the characters, and the emotional resonance conveyed through personal narratives. Personal anecdotes evoke emotions that pique curiosity and foster a deeper connection with the subject matter. Therefore, don't hesitate to share personal experiences, as it's precisely what will inspire people to want to learn more.

Sometimes the simplest story can have the most impact. I encourage my clients to develop a story journal that they can add to for their speeches. No story is too small or insignificant. You’ll never know which one will fit your audience and the theme. Sometimes stories show up when you least expect and can have the most impact. The vital thing is to make the stories relevant and relatable. The audience need to be able to see themselves in your stories.

So here's a problem I faced when I first started speaking. I had a collection of my best stories. I had refined and polished these stories and audiences loved them but... They weren't the right stories. I was trying to fit my best stories into the theme/topic and you know what? They didn't fit. The audience could sense it. I started to add my other stories. Lesser stories. Not as exciting or interesting or so I thought. When the story was the right fit for the theme, the audience began to lean in. Why? Because there was real value for them in what I was saying. So don't discount your personal experiences that you think are uneventful. For others, through their eyes, in their situation, your trash could be their treasure.

Be sure to make a singular point at the end of the story. I usually begin by talking about a challenge that everyone has. Then I talk about the consequences of that challenge. Then you tell the story, and finally you make the point of the story.

If you get a chance, before presenting, ask, ask and ask some more. Do your research on the organisation, your audience, their goals and what they want their people to get out of the event. Then talk about the stories that are more likely to resonate. During this research phase you can even ask your clients what their stories are - and if you can share them while on stage (anonymously, if necessary). The more questions you ask before you present, the more likely you are to get to the heart of the issue. And that means people are more likely to trust you and engage with your message.

1. Connect to the theme of the event 2. Meet with the org or person hiring you and go deeper them to understand the problems or challenges 3. Compile a list of all the stories and the lessons learned. 4. Find some humour 5. Remember it is about the learning for the audience that is your objective. 6. Have stories of different lengths, locations, industries, people you meet, etc. 7. Remember you are many ways crafting a short movie.

Creating stories that get audiences to lean, that land with a *BANG* is a never-ending process. You can always make your stories stronger. So just know that this is an imperfect process. We all start messy. But start we must. S*T*A*R as mentioned already is a good way to start Here are 3 more formulas. 1. Past Present Future What it was we used to do This is what we do know This is what we’ll be doing in the future 2. Problem Cause Solution The problem is this The cause of that is this The solution is this 3. The Tell 'Em Tell them what you’re going to tell them Tell them Tell them what you told them The perfect talk doesn't exist so don't fool yourself into thinking you have to create a masterpiece first up.

You are always defining, refining and practicing. There are lots of great ways to create stories. Have a read of Joseph Campbell’s book ‘ The Hero’s Journey’ and it will share with you what creates impactful storytelling. This book is bible for storytelling.

It should be remembered while structuring experience that the story must be engaging and interesting to the audience. Establishing connectivity to the audience is the ultimate game everytime.

Stories need to illustrate your message, be relevant to the audience's needs and then provide the lesson they can take way and implement. Message - Relevance - Lesson. Hit those marks and you half way there.

Practice, practice, PRACTICE! It takes time to become comfortable, and confident to effectively share your experiences, quotes, questions, and jokes in a manner that amplifies audience engagement. Aligning your stories with the audience's needs and interests, and back them up with facts, statistics, or research will boost your credibility. Remember the importance of maintaining focus on your main message. Using personal experiences is meant to enhance your message not to dominate it. There is truly something special about you that will create a compelling speaking style that resonates with your audience while conveying an inspiring and insightful message.

A motivational talk is really a show. You have to be able to entertain, inform and inspire an audience. Why? Because we are all competing with entertaining, informing and inspiring content at our fingertips. Yes, on our smartphones. The stakes to keep people's attention are now much higher. But you don't have to be -an entertainer to entertain. -a guru to inform -Tony Robbins to inspire You just have to be willing to be vulnerable and speak with honesty. Take to the stage with the intent to serve and help the audience, not to gratify yourself (I was once guilty of this). Then use all the tools available to us - funny images, funny videos, music and much more - to strengthen and bring your topic to life. You can do this.

Yes it is to use all the content possibilities as possible. Most of all be curious! Curious about, your audience, the organisation, the events, cultures, then get into the arts. There is so much info out there. However to be impactful don’t share all stuff that is not your stories or research - you must own your speech, because it must come from you! People are listening to you! Be unique - ie I now speak barefoot because i speak about lessons from my research with nomads. find your uniqueness. one event was for woulf be writers so i nade it more like a drama, with a desk and computer and other props. Find what is your message and design all around you!

Motivational speech should be always logical and close to reality. People really get motivated when they see practical examples. Personal experience sharing is no doubt a part of that practical examples.

This is a critical point. While opening up about your personal journey allows you to better connect with your audience, the purpose of your talk should be to add value to your audience and you need to be mindful of that in ensuring that not too much of your time is spent talking about yourself.

Think you are boring or average and not exciting enough to be a motivational speaker. Wrong. You are sitting on a gold mine. Really. Here's why. Because all we have left to differentiate ourselves is our unique life journey. Everything else can be Googled. There is no information you can tell that can't be found by searching online... except for your stories. They are yours. They are gold. So learn how to polish them into stories that get people to lean in. These are all skills. Skills can be learned. I know. I wasn't a good storyteller but I am now now. I worked at it. Believe me, I am living proof that you can do this too. Your work and your life benefit if you do.

Great article and contributions. Lately, I've noticed a lot of people are overdoing sharing personal stories on LinkedIn. No matter how gripping the personal story is, if it is force fitted into a formula, it comes across as inauthentic. Relevance matters, so does vulnerability with appropriate boundaries. If every piece of content you share includes a sympathy seeking story that is far too vulnerable for the topic at hand, you risk losing credibility and genuineness.

To motivate the audience, personal experience has to be encouraging. So, to improve the experience, one should set his speech with best suitable words and flow of direction. A solid and thoughtful presentation of speech enhances the connectivity to the audience.

Over time, you develop the skill of self-assessment, connecting with the audience for feedback and watching recordings of your work to improve your presentation, but an agent/coach is invaluable to accelerating this process. I've found the money and time invested in an expert has launched my speaking faster than anything.

I view talks as products and audience members as customers. They need to feel understood and to receive tangible value from what you share with them. Sharing relevant personal stories demonstrates empathy and creates connection. That connection builds trust, and trust enables an audience to be more open to your ideas - more open to the value that you are attempting to provide - more willing to engage. Feels like a win-win to me!

Humanization: When you talk about your experiences, you humanize yourself in the eyes of your audience. This can break down the barriers between you and your listeners, making them more receptive to your message. Inspiration: Sharing your personal journey, including your challenges and how you overcame them, can be a source of inspiration for your audience. People often look to real-life examples for motivation and guidance. Uniqueness: Your personal experiences are unique to you, and no one can duplicate them. This distinctiveness sets you apart from other speakers and makes your style and message one-of-a-kind.

Personal stories give flavor, uniqueness and relatability to your speech. That said, it is helpful to balance them with stories others have experienced (your clients, authors you've read, etc.) to show that there is more than one way to look at or solve a problem. If an entire speech is only about you, it can leave the audience with the impression that somebody with their background can not solve a similar situation. Sharing stories of a variety of people can help offer additional solutions, relatability and hope to the audience.

A key thing to overcome is the vulnerability and you must push through any insecurities you have about your appearance etc. I am a very animated speaker, it's who I am but the pictures that are taken at my speaking engagements are meme worthy and make me cringe a little. BUT, that's what the audience appreciates, authenticity and vulnerability. That's the lesson within the larger lesson you are offering.