Would you rather hear a speech or listen to a story? The fact is – whether you are 6 or 60 – you’d probably rather hear a story than a speech. When I think of a speech the first word that pops into my head is “boring”. A speech feels like an event where someone is talking “at” you and “near” you, but not “to” you, and certainly not “with” you.
A story is something else entirely.
Stories speak to people on a very deep level. Stories resonate because they are one of the earliest art forms humans have created, and we can all appreciate the way that stories are something we have been familiar with our entire lives. One of the earliest things most of us can remember is one of our parents reading to us from a book while we looked at the pictures. Our families may be full of humorous, talkative types that used to love telling ridiculous stories over and over again when we were kids. As presenters, when we choose to tell stories, we connect the audience to our information, but – more importantly – we connect directly into each audience member’s deepest understanding of themselves.
Of course, it’s not quite so simple.
In order to make the most of your storytelling, you have to understand how the deeper levels of the story allow you to reach your audience in a complex way. You have to recognize the true strengths of storytelling and find a way to make the most of the form while also making your story your own.
Let’s get started!
Feel Your Way
When we’re telling our stories, it’s helpful to think of ourselves as actors playing a role – not some wizened, bearded twisters of tales. Simply telling our story is really not enough. The reason for this is simple: If we don’t feel our stories, our audiences won’t feel them either. We’ve got to get deep inside our stories and actually live them in the moment as we tell them.
Give the Gift of the Present
When we give our audience the gift of the present – when we stay in the moment – they repay us with their attention and their empathy. They will walk through our story with us. Don’t tell stories in the past tense: “I walked through the kitchen and saw the dog as it jumped out of the window.” Tell it in the present: “I am walking through the kitchen. Suddenly, I see the dog leaping from the window!” See how the present tense naturally brings the story to life? It makes the audience feel like they are right there with us!
Raise Your Voice
One of the most important weapons in our arsenal is our voice. Once we learn to marry our voice to the dynamics of the story we are telling we’ll be nearly impossible to stop. Don’t be afraid to raise your voice to a shout – or lower it to a whisper. Don’t be self-conscious. Make your story great and you’ll be able to rely on it all the way.
Body Talking
The other great tool we have are our bodies. Again – just like using our voices – we need to match our body language to the ups-and-downs of the story we are telling. Don’t be shy about practicing in front of a mirror. Pick exactly the right gestures to convey the nuances of your story to a room full of strangers. Again, let the story lead the way!
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