How to become a better storyteller

What is the most memorable kind of communication??

A good old-fashioned story, of course!?

Whether it’s a parable, fairy-tale, or a business presentation, a good story is the deepest way to connect with others.

Storytelling is a cherished tradition and an entertaining and effective way to convey information about almost any subject.?

Analysts can share great data insights with stories.?

High profile CEOs can express facts, thoughts and opinions with stories.?

Wherever you go, storytelling is a powerful means of communication.

Why should you Tell Stories??

Research reveals that humans have a desire, if not a need, to tell and hear stories.

It’s how we connect with one another!

By sharing stories with others, and indulging in their stories, we learn to understand one another at a much deeper level.?

By creating a common level of understanding, we come together as a community of individuals – appreciating both the differences and similarities we share.?

You can convey your thoughts, feelings, and experiences through stories. By doing so, you’re verbally expressing the things you value, the ideas you want to share, and the lessons you’ve acquired in life.?

Have you ever felt that you didn’t have anything interesting to share??

Have you ever wished that you could grip audiences with the power of a good story??

If so, you’ll be happy to know that there are many stories within you, just waiting to be told!?

By learning to become a better storyteller, you can lead, motive, explain, inspire and so much more… you will basically unlock a superpower that will help you to develop stronger connections with others.

Steps to becoming a better Storyteller

So you don’t think you’re any good at telling stories - especially in business (i.e. presentations)? Well, the good news is that you can improve in the art of storytelling!?

With a little effort and practice, your storytelling skills will improve and people will be drawn to what you have to say.

1. Start with a message

Every storyteller should ask themselves these following questions:?

Who is my audience and what message do I want to share with them??

What is the core message you want to share with your audience??

How can you share your message in a compelling manner?

Each element of your story should be based on the answers to those questions.?

Once you know the key message of your story, then you can figure out the best way to illustrate and communicate it.

2. Include your own experiences

The best storytellers look to their own memories and life experiences for ways to illustrate their message.?

What events in your life make you believe in what you are trying to communicate??

Think of some of the failures you may have experienced throughout your career, did you manage to turn some of them into successes? Then you have a stories to tell.

Did you have a previous manager or mentor that helped you to achieve great things? Why not share those experiences in your stories? They may help to inspire others.

Your experiences can be interesting emotional entry points to a story.

You may not feel comfortable sharing personal anecdotes at work, but stories that illustrate your struggles, failures, and obstacles are what make you come across as authentic.?

3. Make your audience the hero

This may be hard for you to accept, but the hero of your story shouldn’t be you.?

You need to make your audience, your employees, or whoever you’re speaking to the hero.?

This will increase their engagement and willingness to buy in to your message.?

When you focus on yourself - telling them how great you are - the audience tends to shut down.

The more you celebrate your own decisions, the less likely your audience will connect with you and your message.

4. Highlight the struggle

A story without a challenge isn’t very interesting. In fact, it’s not even a story.

One thing every good story needs, is conflict.?

If you’re giving a business presentation, the conflict may be your competitors, it may be the challenges you need to overcome, it may be the changes taking place in your industry.?

Don’t be afraid to highlight the struggle you’re experiencing, even if it means highlighting that the road ahead will be difficult.

You may be surprised to find that a well-crafted story that includes a rallying call may motivate your team… all because they want to be part of your journey, part of your story.

5. Keep it simple

Relax, not every story needs to be a nail biting thriller, that keeps your audience on the edge-of-their-seats.?

Some of the most interesting and memorable stories are relatively simple and straightforward.?

Don’t let needless details and information distract from your core message.

Putting too much detail into your story, especially if it doesn’t contribute to your key message will kill a good story.?

Don’t tell your audience all the minute details, if it doesn’t advance your story in an artful way.?

Take your audience on a journey with just a few interesting, well placed details - tell them what was said, how you felt, the journey you went through - this can help you immerse your listeners and drive home your message.?

6. Practice makes perfect

Storytelling is an art form and it requires practice to get it right.

Practice with friends, family, and trusted colleagues to hone your message into the most effective and efficient story. The rewards can be great.?

If you want people to buy into your ideas, tell a compelling story.?

Once you share a compelling story, people will wonder: ‘Who else can I can tell this story to?’?

This is how your ideas can become viral.

The extra time it will take you to include a well crafted story in your business presentation, is well worth it! You’re going to see great returns that remain in the hearts and mind of your audience that will last for months, maybe even years.