Tip 60: Tell some stories
Using stories, illustrations, vignettes and anecdotes is a fantastic way of establishing a relationship with your audience. Good speakers are good storytellers and audiences can relate to them in a way they won't relate to anything else.
These are some of the benefits of using stories in your presentations:
Telling a story about something that affects you is a good way for you to relax at the start of a presentation
People are naturally drawn in by real stories. Whenever a speaker starts to tell a story, everyone in the audience immediately wakes up to hear it.
It makes your talk natural. When you tell a story, you're not “making a speech” anymore. You're simply having a conversation.
Stories are real-life examples which illustrate your point. The easiest way to explain complicated ideas is through examples or by sharing a story that underscores the point. Great speakers tell stories that support their message.
People remember stories. If you want your audience to remember your message, then find short, interesting stories or examples to support your major points.
You must be imaginative and unique when you tell your stories. Talk about your youth. Tell a story about your kids. Stories about your customers. Stories about things in the news. Even if it’s made up, it’ll keep your audience interested and keep the presentation topic grounded in something practical and realistic.
Good stories have interesting, clear beginnings, provocative, engaging content in the middle, and a clear, logical conclusion. Tell relevant stories in a clear, concise manner.
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