By this point, just about everyone has been told to use stories or examples of some kind in their speeches and presentations. We know that stories are memorable, they engage the audience, they make us relatable, and they make more of an impact than data alone. But sometimes we don’t know what “telling a story” really means.
Recently, I was fortunate to get to watch a group of phenomenal leaders tell stories that were connected to their business. In each case, the story was something that had happened to them personally. They were using the stories to make a larger point about facing obstacles, or teams, or mentoring younger leaders. The stories were wonderful; rich in detail and moving. And in almost every case, I saw a common thread.
When you’re talking about something that happened to you, it becomes difficult to identify which details are important and which aren’t needed at all. Each story could have been edited to make three or four stories, each illustrating a different point; instead, while we were moved by the events of the stories, we were left to create our own meaning.
When you’re using a story, begin with the end in mind. What effect are you hoping to have on your audience? What do you want them to walk away thinking and talking about? That’s your message. Then, figure out which elements and details of your story support, and lead inevitably to, that message. Leave everything else out.
