Make Your Audience Drool: Engage Their Senses in Your Storytelling

I'm currently working with a client on flexing their communication style. My client wants to make his audiences feel something, to engage them, to wow them. He wants to inspire people and move people to action.

One of ways we're doing this is through developing his storytelling skills. Now we all know the power of storytelling. But there is storytelling and STORYTELLING. A neat trick to make your stories more vivid and engaging is by painting vivid pictures that engage all the senses.

When was the last time a story truly captivated you?

Chances are, it engaged more than just your sense of hearing or sight. The most memorable stories tap into all our senses, creating a rich tapestry of experience that resonates deeply.

Sensory-rich descriptions immerse audiences, making them not just listeners, but participants in the narrative.

Why Use All Your Senses?

Incorporating all five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—into your storytelling and examples can transform a good story into a great one. Here's why:

1. Enhances Engagement: Sensory details make your story more relatable and immersive.
2. Creates Vivid Imagery: Descriptive elements help your audience visualize and experience the story.
3. Evokes Emotions: Different senses can trigger emotions, creating a stronger emotional connection with your audience.
4. Improves Recall: Multisensory stories are more memorable, helping your audience retain key messages.

Practical Tips for Multisensory Storytelling

1. Visual Details

Example: Instead of saying "the room was messy," describe the scene: "Clothes were strewn across the floor, and empty coffee cups balanced precariously on the edge of the table."

Application: When preparing your speech or presentation, paint a picture with your words. Describe colours, shapes, and movements to help your audience visualize the scene.

2. Sounds

Example: "The silence was punctuated by the soft ticking of the clock and the distant hum of traffic."

Application: Use onomatopoeia or descriptive phrases to convey sounds. Think about the ambiance—what sounds are in the background? What can your audience 'hear'?

3. Smells

Example: "The kitchen was filled with the warm, inviting aroma of freshly baked bread."

Application: Smells are powerful triggers for memory and emotion. Mention specific scents that are relevant to your story to evoke a sensory reaction.

4. Tastes

Example: "She sipped the tangy lemonade, its citrus zing dancing on her tongue."

Application: When discussing food or drink, go beyond the basics. Describe the flavours and textures to make the experience come alive.

5. Touch

Example: "The velvet curtain felt smooth and cool under his fingertips."

Application: Incorporate textures and temperatures. Describe the physical sensations your characters or subjects experience.

Bringing It All Together

Imagine you're telling a story about a memorable meal. Instead of simply listing what was on the menu, you might say:

"As I stepped into the dimly lit restaurant, the rich scent of garlic and roasting meats enveloped me. The clinking of glasses and soft murmur of conversation created an intimate atmosphere. I savoured each bite of the tender steak, its juices mingling with the creamy mashed potatoes, while the crisp linen napkin brushed against my fingers. The tartness of the red wine lingered on my palate, perfectly complementing the meal."

By engaging all the senses, you've created a vivid, immersive experience for your audience.

Crafting Spoken Language

While it’s essential to incorporate sensory details, it's equally important to ensure your story sounds natural when spoken aloud. We don’t read like we speak, so write your story as if you’re having a conversation. Use contractions, simple sentences, and an informal tone to keep it relatable and engaging.

For the icing on the cake, use your voice to further infuse your language with meaning. Don't just say the words, feel the words yourself as they tumble off your tongue. Make the "crunchy" sound crunchy. Make the "awe-inspiring view" feel awe-inspiring.

Practice Makes Perfect

(actually I don't believe in perfection, but I do believe in the power of practice!)

Next time you're preparing a presentation or speech, think about how you can engage your audience's senses. Here are a few exercises to get started:

1. Sensory Brainstorming: Pick a scene or subject and write down descriptions for each of the five senses.
2. Read Aloud: Share your story with a friend or colleague and ask them what they can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.
3. Revise for Richness: Review your script or presentation and look for opportunities to add sensory details.

Remember, the goal is not to overwhelm your audience with details but to sprinkle them in just enough to create a richer, more engaging story.

My client is a natural storyteller and by adding more descriptive language, by tapping into all the senses, he's sure to truly engage and inspire his audiences, with his message being more memorable as he's provided a 360 degree experience for them.

Happy storytelling! ??

Helen von Dadelszen is on a mission to help professionals speak with more confidence. As the founder of the Present Potential Academy, she provides practical coaching and training on a range of speaking and presentation skills.

Her superpower is unlocking professionals' potential when they speak - whether it's in front on their industry, their board, their staff or a potential funder or client. She believes that finding the right words and matching that with a confident and professional delivery leads to success. She specialises in using the voice and body effectively and teaching pesky butterflies to fly in formation. Helen works mostly with non-native English speakers and those from academia, NGOs and the healthcare field.