Let Me Tell You a Story
One thing you shouldn’t do when telling a story
“Let me tell you a story,” Ryan said.
“Hold on” I said, making the time out sign with my hands and letting out a quick whistle. “Don’t start there. You don’t need to announce that you are starting with a story – just start telling it.”
I had been coaching Ryan through preparing and delivering an upcoming presentation to his business unit. New to storytelling, Ryan was unsure how to start one.
“Isn’t that awkward and confusing to start with the story?” he asked, getting flustered.
“Not at all, it is attention grabbing, which is exactly what you want.”
People often announce, "Let me tell you a story" or "Storytime!" or "Let me tell you about the time..."
Don’t do that.
Storytelling is vulnerable.
This announcement is a defensive move, almost as if we are seeking permission to tell the story. But it has the opposite effect.
"Let me tell you a story" is the fastest way to make someone stop listening in a presentation.
Storytelling is powerful because it is unexpected.
It prevents the brain from anticipating what you are going to say.
Curiosity is created and holds the listener's attention.
This "wondering what comes next" builds and releases tension, making the story engaging.
"Let me tell you a story" or "Storytime!" is predictable and often signals the brain to stop paying attention.
You do not have to announce that you are going to tell a story.
Launch right into the story.
Comedians don't announce "Now I will tell you a joke.”
They just tell the joke, and you are right there with them every step of the way.
Learn from comedians, they are some of the best storytellers.
Did you ever watch an episode of the US television show: The Golden Girls?
Sophia was famous for telling stories about her life in Sicily when the other women had a problem.
Each one started the same way:
"Picture it: Sicily. 1912..." She didn’t say, "This reminds me of a story from when I was living in Sicily."
She launched right in, and so should you.
Someone recently sent me a note about my TED talk.
He said "I've watched this TED video many times - each to watch how you masterfully wove your stories. The first were obvious. Then the stories progressed possibly into stories within the stories, and stories in those stories, happening so fast that there is hardly a break between them by the end. At that point, I wasn't aware of the stories - I couldn't distinguish them from the presentation. Together, they were the presentation."
This is what you are doing when you incorporate stories into your presentations.
Don’t announce them.
Weave them in so they become a seamless part of the presentation.
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