How to Be a Great StoryTeller

HOW TO BECOME A

GREAT STORYTELLER

Greg Thomashttp://www.rambli.com

Great storytellers are not born,They are made

ENGAGE & CAPTIVATEThese are strengths of a GREAT Storyteller.

But how?Some use…

Passion for the topicHumourIntelligenceFacts and KnowledgeHonesty

And whatever other skills they have…

But they always…

Engage and Captivate

BUT today…The Art of Storytelling has been replaced by the Art of the Presentation where the connection from a great story has been replaced by a denizen of slides that might resonate with your audience…

And we yearn…For the presentations which have a great presenter because the stories they tell motivate, engage and draw us into their worldview leaving with a neverending desire to take action based on the information we’ve just consumed.

Not buying how important storytelling is?

Check it out…Tell me you can’t recall any of these people’s stories that they have told over the years.

Steve Jobs“One More Thing…”

Martin Luther King“I have a dream…”

Gord Downie“I love my idea of this country.”

Perhaps not yours, but they are

stories that resonated with me.

Do theyBut how

Do it?

They tell a storyOne that brings you into their world, keeps you engaged all the while, you, are learning something incredible…

BUT HOW….

Start with a MessageWhat idea do I want to get across?What emotions should this conjure in my audience?What should they do when I finish?

A story without a message…

… Is powerpoint.

Wha?

How?

Know your audienceWho are they?What knowledge do they have on the subject?Are they interested?What do they want to learn?Where do they come from?Do they know you?Why are they here?What are they looking for?What should they leave with?

Ask these and more…

Its not a race

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CONTROL THE PACEThe best storytellers control the pace and flow of information to the audience. They don’t put all their content on their first slide, they let it drip out, keeping their audience awake, engaged, raptured for what is about to come next.

Control the paceIt takes patience and pauses in your delivery to wait for the reaction from the crowd and then decide which direction to go in.

Comedians do this with ease after every joke, delivering the content (the joke), waiting for the reaction, then delivering the real joke.

Wait…

Wait…

GO!

connectThe best storytellers tell the stories they are a part of, that they lived through, that shaped their own worldview.

When we are able to show our own, personal connection to the story, the audience perks up to hear more…

How did they get past that problem?

How did they overcome that obstacle?

How did they get here?

COMMIT TO ACTAnyone can do a Call to Action, but leaving your audience with the need to commit to taking action…

… that is a task worth undertaking.

No toolsPowerpoint, magic pointers, demos – these are all aids to a presentation – but not a story.

They can help you convey your message to your audience, but…

Small things…

… if your story cannot exist without these tools, then it’s not a story at all… it’s a PRESENTATION.

In Summary…Anyone can become a great Storyteller by holding focus around 4 key tenants…

The keys to great storytelling

Message

audience

pace

connection

Now go tell your story

T h e e n dGreg Thomas

http://www.rambli.com

My Other STORIES

How to Make Great EstimatesHow to understand and make software estimates

How to Build a Great TeamAll the traits you need for a great team.Making Great Performance ReviewsHow to get the most out of your reviews.

Understanding RequirementsThe components of great requirements

How to Make Great EstimatesThe Villians of an otherwise great team.