by Gilda Bonanno LLC www.gildabonanno.com
Relevant
and engaging stories can be a compelling part of your presentation – whether
you are presenting at a board meeting, an industry conference or an awards
banquet.
Here
are 7 steps to follow to make your storytelling successful:
- Pick
a relevant story.
Think about the story from the audience's point of view and make
sure it relates to your message and the point of your presentation. An irrelevant story, no matter how funny
or unusual, will only distract from your message.
- Adapt
the story to fit the audience. Customize
the telling of the story to your audience and the situation by adjusting
the language you use, the details you include and the time you take to
tell it. Your goal is to ensure
that it will pass the audience's WIIFM test, "what's in it for
me?"
- Make
the point clear.
The purpose of the story should be explicit and relevant to the
message of your presentation. Even
if you think the connection to your point is obvious, restate it just to
be sure that the audience understands it.
- Keep
it short. One
of the most memorable and effective stories that I've heard in a
presentation was at a networking meeting when a man introduced himself by
saying: "I'm a carpenter and because of my work, a disabled veteran
who uses a wheelchair is no longer a prisoner in his home because we built
him a ramp."
- Practice
telling the story.
Once you've decided which elements and details you will include to
make it relevant and memorable for the audience, practice your delivery
and body language so you can make the story as focused and powerful as
possible without taking too much time.
Practice doesn't mean you have to memorize the story; instead, your
goal is to get comfortable enough with the story that you can communicate it
effectively and have it convey your point – without having to use the
exact same words.
- Be
prepared for any reaction. Consider
the best and worst reactions that your story could get from the audience
and be ready to handle both. One of
my clients once told a story during a speech and the audience laughed
unexpectedly at one part; she wasn't prepared for that and so,
"stepped on" the laughter by continuing right on with the rest
of the story.
- Cue the audience that a story is coming. Use your voice, body language and words to prepare the audience for your story. Think of the classic "once upon a time" introduction often used with children's stories. For adults, you might pause, make your voice softer to capture their attention and lean forward into the audience as you begin your story.
Following these steps will help you use stories effectively to convey your message and connect with your audience.