Storytelling Tips #1

Welcome to Storytelling Tips, edition 1.

Actionable ways to level up your storytelling, with me, Maryam Pasha.

1.

Introduce yourself with flair

Navigating the question that gives us ALL that sinking feeling...

“Hey! What do you do for work?”

Cue: cringe or awkwardness as it turns into a showboating parade or a modesty competition... we've all been there. ??

Here are three tips to help you navigate your next introduction:

1. ????????'?? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????????????? Separate yourself from the value of your experience and perspective.
2. ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????? Pay close attention to the “hat” you wear - the “job title hat” is not the same as your “personal hat”. Design your ideal “expert hat”.
3. ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????? Push your experiences through a lens – and explain how they shape your outlook.Let me know if this helps you out.

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2.

Use this one word to transform your audience engagement

Go from impersonal to personal, instantly.

I first heard this tip from my Speechless podcast co-host, Simon Bucknall .

You can engage your listener with your very first word. Really.

Just one simple word – so often underused – can make all the difference.

No matter how hard you work on a piece of spoken communication, if it's not focused on the audience, it's not gonna stick...

It's "YOU".

Research shows that the use of "YOU" increases resonance. (Source: Orvell, Kross, Gelman 2020)

You only have to look at famous quotes to see this in action...

“You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes” –Harper Lee

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." –Maya Angelou

"If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life."–Marc Anthony

As you can see, the power of 'YOU' is not to be underestimated!

The simple pronoun makes sure that you're centring your talk on your listener, their needs, an agenda rather than your own. Making your talk a million times more engaging.

Here's three ways to experiment with YOU:

1. ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? –?Why not see if you can get it into your first sentence?
2. ???????? ???? ????! See how many times you can fit it in throughout your speech?
3. ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? –?For a masterclass, watch Darren Lacroix's talk, 'Ouch'.

How often will YOU use it!?

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3.

Start appreciating the value in your life experiences (and turn these into stories!)

Public speaking has negative connotations for so many people. But what if you already had the tools you needed to get started...

We're through January (hurray), and as I'm sure we've all experienced last month, getting started can often feel like the hardest thing!

That’s why I’m thrilled to share this tip around simply. Getting. Started.

Three ideas to help you get you started in storytelling:

1. ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? –?have you perhaps been waiting for someone to allow you to speak? Next time you're out for coffee with friends, having a 1-on-1 with your manager, why not deliver your message through a story?
2. ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? –?Some of the most transformative speeches relate to childhood experiences. Think back through your own history –?what stories could you share?
3. ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? –?consider whether any bad public speaking experiences have coloured your outlook? Taking a moment to reflect on your speaking experiences to date might help you understand your current stance.

We cover all this and more in the latest Speechless Podcast episode with my co-host Simon Bucknall and guest host Zain Hussain, recorded live at The English-Speaking Union.

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"Even serious people don't like to be bored. Humans like to be told stories." –Maryam Pasha

About me

I believe in the power of storytelling: everybody can be a storyteller.

But not everybody knows how to speak, so others listen.

That’s where I can help you.

I'm Maryam Pasha, and I help take some of the world's biggest, most challenging, complex and important ideas and transform them into high-impact stories.

I work with billionaire philanthropists, award-winning academics, business leaders, activists, and students: anyone who wants to tell better stories, and tell stories better.

I’m passionate about supporting a new wave of leaders to communicate new ideas with the impact required to bring about systemic change – within organisations – and the world.

Enjoyed this month's edition of #StorytellingTips? You can sign up to my monthly newsletter to receive more storytelling insights, straight to your inbox. ?? https://maryampasha.com/