Harness the Power of Story in your Speaking

Stories are a form of oral communication that has been carried down through millions of generations.  People are automatically attuned to it – attuned to listen with expectation, attuned to the structures and cues, so they can move with you through your presentation and you keep their attention by using those cues. 

When you say “ I’ll tell you a story about…” your audience will immediately show interest.  They may not remember the points you made, but they will remember the stories you tell, and the points you made in using them.

Stories hold attention because the audience wants to know what happens next.  Take advantage of this by creating some suspense.  Use standard structures.  The most basic is to have the main character facing a problem and then overcoming it.  If the story is about you, the speaker, emphasise your struggles and failures so the audience relates and bonds with you.

Use stories at various points throughout your presentation.  You can use humour at the beginning to build rapport.  A story about yourself can be used to introduce yourself and your credibility, and at the end an emotional story will leave the audience with emotion to power the points you have associated with it, and to keep their attention right to the end.