3 Storytelling Techniques Every Public Speaker Needs
Storytelling is a Skill
If you are going to tell stories from a stage, in a boardroom, or across the table, having dinner with a client, then it’s important to make sure you do it well. Storytelling may be an ancient practice, but it’s still one that you need to practice on a regular basis to become skilled.
There are three techniques that are, in my opinion, vital to great storytelling. Get these down, and get comfortable with them, and you’ll be well on your way to telling stories that will connect with your audience and leave a lasting impact.
Skill #1 - Structure Your Story
I talk a lot about this idea. So do many other great storytellers. The structure of a story matters. When we don’t have a solid structure in mind before we begin, we are more likely to wander. We chase squirrels and follow rabbit trails. Stories without structure have no clear beginning. They have a middle that is disjointed, and an ending that just doesn’t land.
No matter how much charisma you have. If you don’t structure your story, it’s not going to land. It might even detract or distract from your overall message.
So what is a good story structure? At the bare minimum, it should follow the time-honored three-act structure: Beginning, middle, end. As I have written in other places, these are tools, not fences. They help you build a great story rather than inhibit your creativity.
There is an old saying “He that is a slave to the compass has the freedom of the seas.” That’s how I want you to think about story structure. It frees you to be creative and allows you to explore the ocean of storytelling. You can dock at any harbor you choose, because you have the compass to guide you.
Skill #2 - Engage Your Audience Emotionally
Storytelling is about connection. Emotional connections are one of the strongest ones we can build. People do business based on trust. Trust is hard to build in a few short moments. But when we tell a good story that connects with our audience on an emotional level, we move the needle closer toward trust. They feel like we have shared something. We made them feel something.
When we connect emotionally, our audience will feel like they know us better. They will like us. Trust is just a step away.
This isn’t about manipulation. We are trying to make a connection with a group we want to influence. The very reason you are standing in front of them is because you want to influence them, right? Then don’t avoid this skill.
But how to do it? The best way is to craft a story where they can see themselves in it, feel the stakes, and resonate with the ending and outcome. Stories that have high emotional connection potential include some of the following:
Vulnerability
Stakes
Failure
Lessons learned
Moment of transformation
I talk about this skill in my Vowel Storytelling Workshops. It’s one of the most important skills a storyteller can possess.
Skill #3 - Deliver the Story With Clarity
We just talked about emotional connection. I have seen storytellers get people all emotionally worked up, and then whiff the ending by failing to bring them out. You can lead people into the darkness, but you need to be able to bring them into the light at the end of the story.
When I was just getting started, I often got lost in the middle of a story, adding unnecessary details, and losing the thread. My stories didn’t land because I wasn’t skilled at delivering with clarity.
Jokes are a kind of story. Think about the last time someone over-explained a punchline or dragged out the setup. The payoff probably fell flat.. That’s what happens when your story lacks clarity.
You Can Learn This Skill
Storytelling is an art form. It’s a skill. You might have a natural aptitude for it, but I promise, you still need to practice. You might think you’re no good at it, but you can develop the skill just like anyone else. Treat it like a skill. Study it and practice it. Focus on the three techniques I’ve shared here, and you’ll be telling better stories in no time.
Want help shaping your own story for a presentation, pitch, or keynote?
I offer 1-on-1 Story Strategy Sessions for leaders, coaches, and communicators.
You can find out more here! or contact me directly. We’ll tailor a solution that’s right for you.
