How to be a Better Storyteller

Even if you've never told a compelling story in your life, you can become a great storyteller!  With a little effort and practice, your storytelling skills will improve, and people will be drawn to your words.

Four storytelling recommendations:

1. Ensure that your presence is prominent

You must have the attention of your audience, whether it's a small group of friends or a large crowd. If you can captivate your audience, you're halfway there! To do so, you'll want to ensure you are entirely present. You should not be thinking about anything else but CONNECTING TO YOUR AUDIENCE!

2. Connect to your audience's emotions.

Relating with your audience on an emotional level is essential. If you can do this, you'll be magnetic, and your audience will be drawn to your message. This means clearly understanding who they are, their desire, why they're there, and how to speak to them effectively. SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE! 

*Check out the The Stories With Traction^_® Course for how to strategically do this!

3) Share value.

Your audience wants to learn something. They don't just want to know about you; they want to learn something they can apply in their lives. Structure your story so there's both a challenge and a solution (surrounding the main point); that way, the audience can identify with a deeper meaning associated with the story. GIVE TREMENDOUS VALUE THROUGH STORIES! When you gain the full attention of your audience, you can connect with them on an emotional level and persuade them to act!

4) Be Prepared.

Like every skilled person, excellent storytellers make it look easy. But there is always a terrific amount of unseen work that goes into skillful and compelling storytelling. We can look to great musicians to see this. Have you ever noticed how great artists like Beyoncé Knowles, Freddie Mercury, and Taylor Swift dominate the stage and hold the audience in the palm of their hand? They don't walk onto the stage with no plan. They use intentional, choreographed movements on stage--walk this way, hold the mic like this, and look out at the audience this way. It's planned. All timed. Mastered. Do you put intense preparation into presentations with your team?

Some questions to think about when preparing for a presentation, meeting, or other occasion where you will l utilize storytelling:

What stories will you tell?
How long does it take to tell each story?
How will your body language reinforce your message?

Don't be intimidated! Preparation like this will benefit both you and your audience. Preparation will lead to confidence, which will help you more effectively communicate with your audience and enjoy yourself. Like a well-orchestrated concert, the more you prepare, the more natural,
engaging, and enjoyable your storytelling will be.

Storytelling is the tool everyone should have in their communication toolkit. It has helped me connect with people and memorably communicate ideas. By reflecting on and sharing our own stories as well as hearing the stories of others, we can find new ways to connect with each other and find common ground. This camaraderie propels relationships forward and builds strong, productive teams and communities. As I did, you can look to your favorite artists or creators in any medium to find inspiration for storytelling. And remember that learning how to become a compelling storyteller takes time. Hip-hop took years to reach national popularity, but we can't imagine our music world without it. I believe that with time and practice, anyone can become a skilled storyteller and communicator, achieving greater success and fulfillment in any field.