How can you use storytelling to make your presentation more engaging?

Stories are an excellent medium to establish a connection. We have all heard stories when we were little and have known the power of stories that are authentic and when interwoven with a relevant context can make all the difference. Storytelling help connect , engage and convert an audience if done well and is a medium that is very effective across all age groups and genders too

Storytelling is an art by which you take the people around you into a virtual journey which they can live, breathe and connect. It's like enlightening the five senses and realizing the true value.

Story telling become a strong medium when you refer the examples from real world and from the same domain to create the impact. The audience will be more curious and become contributor as well.

Our brains are wired for stories, just observe any small child enthralled during story time. It’s a powerful medium to convey a message that will likely be received immediately by the recipient. This is especially true in business and leadership when we need to cut through the noise and make our message heard and stick. But storytelling is an art form that needs to be developed just like any other skill.

From Old ages we used to have morale of the story. Those childhood stories are carved on our mind. The everlasting impression of a story makes the person remember it easily. It makes the learning easy to understand, remember and use in practical life.

People relate to stories. They instantly grab the hearts and minds of people and gets them interested in what you have to say. The key is to go back to the story throughout the presentation and avoid the mistake of just opening the presentation with a story and then not closing the loop later on.

People remember stories better than raw data or facts. A well-crafted story sticks in the audience's mind, enhancing the chances of the message being retained. Stories captivate audiences by appealing to emotions and experiences. Engaged listeners are more likely to remember and connect with the message being conveyed.

The word “story” immediately puts you in ease. It is not about accuracy or formality or structure and factuality, it’s about observing simple patterns of nature, the minimalistic approach to conserve and progress human knowledge in generational binding. Story is about puzzles, about building suspense, experiencing drama, choosing sides and a subliminal acceptance of a moral/ethical point of view. Story is the essential of our being and becoming. Story is bringing past and future in present, hence the high level of fertility story offers in presentation.

Outside the Shakespearean three-act structure of a narrative, consider the five-act journey into the woods by John Yorke. Act 1: Status Quo - nothing changes if nothing changes. Act 2: Venture towards the Woods - familiar territory during the day. Act 3: Entering the Woods right before sunset - familiar territory starts to change and become unknown Act 4: Navigating the Woods at night - your character experiences most challenges from the unknown here. This is the most emotionally engaging part of your story. Act 5: Returning home from the Woods at sunrise, transformed. Your character is a new person, changed by the experience in the Woods. Make sure to have sentiment transitions between acts, aiming for a happy ending in act 5.

A structured format of story telling is good but keeping with the times and attention span of individuals, storytelling can be effectively conveyed as #shorts which can be equally hard hitting with the lessons which need to be imparted and assimilated.

A good way to structure a storytelling presentation is using the acronym P.R.E.P. Start with a captivating "Prelude" to grab attention—this could be a compelling anecdote or a surprising fact. Then, establish the "Relevance" by connecting your story to the main message, ensuring your audience sees its significance. Next address the "Engagement" phase, where the narrative unfolds, ideally using characters and even a plot to convey key points. Finally, conclude with a powerful "Punchline" that reinforces the core message and leaves a lasting impression. This approach ensures a well-paced, engaging narrative that captivates your audience from beginning to end.

When choosing a story, consider first who your audience is and what would likely resonate with them. There is no point telling a story that evokes little or no emotion. Remember, stories are a way of building a connection, so choose and tell a story that the audience can identify with and relate to. The context of the storytelling / presentation is also important. For example, if you are telling a story as part of implementing a change within an organisation, you will want to help the audience see the benefits or positives of the change. You'd therefore want to choose a story that helps the audience see where they could be from where they are. Lastly, ensure that your story takes the audience on a journey and ends with a call to action.

I always tell my clients that approaching your presentation is like stepping into the arena as a matador, facing a powerful, unpredictable bull. The art lies in your ability to dance with the narrative, gracefully and confidently. Just as a matador's every move captivates the audience, your storytelling should emotionally engage your listeners. Feel the narrative's pulse, and like a matador's red cape, let your words and emotions provoke a response. Only then can you guide your audience through the twists and turns, ultimately conquering the challenge of conveying new meaning on the human experience. Be the matador of your story, and your presentation will be a captivating spectacle. Invoke shared emotions intentionally.

People forget numbers. People forget data. But they remember stories. A story needs to be : a) Authentic - needs to come with conviction and if possible based on a real experience b) Less is more - verbal diarrhea stinks ! Enough said. c) Listen while you speak : I like to structure my story into a 3-8-18 structure. The first 3 minutes is where I know whether I have connected with the audience/listener or not. Based on non-verbal cues ( and verbal cues) I decide whether I have permission for the next 5 mins. At the end of that 8 minute mark, again based on non verbal and verb cues I elaborate on the story. If you force the story just because you came prepared with 40 slides you have already lost the plot !

I always start with something personal versus a quote/stat/fact. That has much more impact because starting with the former makes it seem like you are purposefully trying to convince the audience of something. It has to be real and meaningful or people will see right through it.

What I have seen as a powerful technique at work is to display the challenges first. This can be proritised in say ascending order and then an avatar or imaginary character can be assigned during narration, which the users closest to the issues identify with. Once this categorisation is done, the solution should be pitched. Then the same avatar should be used to narrate how the new solution helped the avatar eliminate the aforesaid issues.. And pictures can be used in the process ( anything but not stuffy text content that make audience doze off ! ) This has worked miracles.....

By weaving compelling story/presentations, you can create a more engaging and relatable experience for your audience, making complex medical information more accessible and memorable. This approach can help build trust, convey the value of your pharmaceutical products in a very basic and tangible way, and foster stronger connections with your stakeholders. (This is my experience form MNC pharmaceuticals)

While this 'collab article' was kickstarted with AI, movie/book/tv storytelling is different than using storytelling in business. I use storytelling in change management and the key is with honouring the past. It's important to let people have time to honour how things used to work, why they liked working that way and then accept the conditions that caused the change to happen in the first place. Once that meaningful connection happens, the change will happen. YOUR story helps created a sense of relatedness, but the people affected by the change need to internalize the change with their own story.

Stories can engage with people’s emotions and personal experiences. A chosen metaphor may include or exclude some people. The combination of those two things makes storytelling both a powerful and unpredictable tool.

Using a storytelling approach can be a great way to sell a project business case to key stakeholders or potential sponsors. Stories create an emotional connection, making the information more relatable and memorable. By weaving data and facts into a narrative, you transform complex details into a compelling journey, allowing stakeholders to envision the project's impact. This approach not only captures attention but also helps stakeholders understand the context, risks, and benefits more intuitively, increasing the likelihood of securing their support as they can easily see the project's relevance and potential success.