Building a powerful presentation is a science. There’s the 6×6 rule, the 80/20 rule, the rule of thirds , the 10/20/30 rule… the list goes on. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by rules, we’re here to give you some insight on how to work smarter, not harder with your presentation storytelling. In short, the answer is in your design. There are a lot of ways that design can do the heavy lifting for you— so why not let it?
Embrace Beauty
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, in the presentation space, we know this to be true! A vital piece of presentation storytelling is the ability to evoke feelings. What better way to do this than painting a clear picture?
As a presenter, you could spend an hour talking about all of the intricacies of what makes Napa beautiful. But, wouldn’t a picture at least help? Making sure you’re using the right pictures in the right places is important, but this can be intuitive. Think hard about what kind of image would support your narrative, then go out and find it!
Have a Hero
Audience engagement starts when they relate to a person, place, or concept within a story. People want to believe in something. They want to be moved to action. A great way to move your audience to action through presentation storytelling is to skillfully define your hero.
By focusing your narrative on the hero, you and your audience are both rooting for the same thing. You get to tell them how the hero saves it all in the end, and that’s exactly what they want to hear.
Invest in Conflict
True happiness is found when pain is overcome. Don’t be afraid to lean into pain points. Spend some time dwelling in the uncomfortable. Every great story has a breaking point where the audience can do nothing but hope.
In presentation storytelling, conflict only helps your audience cling even closer to the hero. The hero/conflict story can aid in the creation of trust and the establishment of empathy—two things that can prove quite challenging on their own.
In the end, don’t short-change yourself. If you’ve weaved your narrative into your pitch just right, then your call-to-action should come naturally. Why bother with presentation storytelling if not to inform or gather information? Go for it, and give the big ask at the end. If you’re feeling stuck, reach out! We’re obsessed with presentations and would love to work on yours!
