by Gilda Bonanno LLC www.gildabonanno.com
As
we got older, many of us stopped liking stories because “stories are just for
kids.” We don’t realize (or admit) that we spend time watching soap operas,
medical dramas or reality shows because they are interesting stories and we
feel connected to them in some way.
Gilda Bonanno's blog www.gildabonanno.blogspot.com
When
we were children, we loved stories. If somebody said, “Once upon a time…,” you snuggled
into your bed or into a comfy chair with your blanket or your teddy bear and
got ready to listen.
As
we got older, many of us stopped liking stories because “stories are just for
kids.” We don’t realize (or admit) that we spend time watching soap operas,
medical dramas or reality shows because they are interesting stories and we
feel connected to them in some way.
And
in business, we definitely forget about stories. We think, “well, this is
business. I have to be serious” and so that’s what we become – we put on
serious clothes, wear a serious face and use serious body language (and
sometimes seriously bad slides with lots of serious bullet points!).
But
somewhere, deep down inside, the child with the blanket and the teddy bear
still likes to hear stories.
Stories
are not childish. Yes, they work for children, but they also work for adults,
even in business.
Many
cultures around the world transfer knowledge through stories. In our families,
we share family history through the stories we tell about Great Aunt Betty or
Uncle Sam in the old county or Mom before she got married.
Stories
help us connect and remember information and I encourage you to try out
storytelling in your business presentations.
Outline Your Presentation Like a Story
You
do not have to start out with “Once upon a time” - just think about your presentation as a
story. If we take the elements of storytelling and make the language business
appropriate, we can tell the story of our project or of our company and why it
is important or useful and how it is going to make life better.
Your
presentation should follow the standard story outline:
·
Introduction:
give the audience a preview of what’s coming, introduce your message and let
them know how long you are going to speak
·
Body:
your supporting points, which may include some characters
·
Conclusion:
wrap it all up neatly with a bow: “Here is what I told you. Here is a reminder
of my points. Here is one last restatement of my message” (or in other words, “and
they lived happily ever after…”)
Tell Real Stories
And
in addition to thinking of your presentation as a story, tell real stories, no
matter what your field. Craft a story
using a real example of how you solved a problem, or how a customer used your
product. If you make sure the story is
relevant and practice telling it clearly and concisely, people will remember it
and the message you are communicating.
Effective
presenters know the power of stories. So
the next time you have to give a presentation, think of it like a story and
also include real stories.