What is the difference between "There are many children in the Congo going hungry" and "I'll never forget being in war-torn Congo-witnessing firsthand the deprivation of hundreds of children, and feeding them life-nourishing food that I obtained at my own great peril"?

 

The difference is story. And the difference it makes is between something dry and airless and something compelling, electric, and laden with deep emotion

 

Drawing in Your Audience

The moment you begin to tell a story, you involve your audience--you take them on an artfully painted and controlled journey. A well-crafted story allows your audience to connect to you emotionally as well as through the sensory experiences of sight, taste, feeling and smell.

 

Storytelling is also an opportunity to build suspense. You can even play with the audience by letting them guess what happens next in your tale. Think back to the 1930s and '40s, when an entire generation of Americans sat by the radio for hours, mesmerized by the intrigue and enchantment of stories such as The Shadow and Dick Tracy.

 

The actors on those shows were not merely voices in a box-they were powerful storytellers who held their fans' attention captive solely through their ability to stoke those people's imaginations.

 

Mastering Storytelling Essentials

To be a great storyteller, you must understand the essential factors of the process. Once you've mastered these keys, you may be rewarded with the enviable ability to hold an audience breathless on the edge of their seats.

 

These essentials consist of the following:

● Describing your experience in a detailed way that entices the audience to be a part of your journey.

● Displaying appropriate and honest emotion that

underlines and illustrates your narrative.

● Using varied vocal qualities and facial expressions

(without being distracting) to augment your points.

● Honing your timing to punctuate key moments or

points.

● Weaving natural (not forced) humor into your story.

 

Whether your story is humorous or deadly serious, it must be intimate, personal, and above all honest if it is to fulfill the objective of increasing your credibility. Remember that the element of entertainment can serve a speaker very well and should not be taken lightly or dismissed as superfluous.

 

Even profound subjects may produce a listless response from an audience when they are taken up by a mediocre speaker.

 

A masterful speaker telling a greatly expressive story can rouse their listeners to respond to almost any topic at all.

 

The Bottom Line

Telling a story can breathe life into your presentation. If you practice your storytelling-perfecting your timing, letting it flow naturally, and implementing the key elements listed above-it can become your most effective means of supporting your points and your agenda

 

Joe Yazbeck,

President Prestige Leadership Advisors

Author, No Fear Speaking

 

 
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