EVERY GREAT SPEAKER IS A GREAT STORYTELLER
STORYTELLING- EVERY GREAT SPEAKER IS A GREAT STORYTELLER
Jack Barnard, Team member of Speaker Services
jackp.barnard@earthlink.net
Susan note: Storytelling is essential to your presentations. Stories paint a visual picture and if told properly you will attract business your way. It is called seeding. One of the ways to support your points in a presentation is by telling a story. Take it way Jack.
“Once upon a time the prince met the princess. But she was having a bad hair day, and he was interested in her brother, so they both lived somewhat happily ever after, but not with each other.”
“Stories are not just meant to make us smile. Our lives depend on them.”
Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist
Gathered around the warm fires, listening to the Wise Ones, hearing the history through the Storyteller was the way of our ancestors. It was an honor to be the Storyteller, as the Storyteller spoke the truth of the moment, sharing the wisdom and knowledge that guided the people and protected the children.
We live in a storytelling culture. Our movies are two-hour stories, our sitcoms twenty-two minute stories, our songs three-minute stories, our commercials one-minute and thirty-second stories (and lately, because our attention spans have been confiscated by Twitter, fifteen-second stories). We the people are so used to absorbing through stories that when we don’t get them, the medicine doesn’t go down as sweetly.
“The truths of how to live in harmony were kept alive by wise Storytellers.”
James Sams and Twylah Nitsch
All the great teachers — Jesus included — were great storytellers. Storytelling is an art. As a speaker you can tell us the point you are trying to make and we may understand it, but we get meaning through stories.
Jack’S TiDBIT:
1) Give me information…it’s in my head
2) Tell me a story…it’s in my heart
3) Involve me…it’s in my gut
We love stories and we learn through the telling of them. Sprinkle your message with stories, anecdotes (analogies and examples) that bring out the flavor of your theme. Stories, anecdotes, jokes and illustrations take the audience by the hand and help them understand what you’re saying. Stories deliver the salient points of wisdom. You can tell us the point you’re trying to make, and we may understand it, but we get the meaning through stories. We’re a storytelling culture.
Know this: there is seldom a reason to tell a story in a speech or presentation unless it illustrates/dramatizes/proves an important point.
CRITICAL STORYTELLING ELEMENTS
Good stories allow audiences to add visual and emotional components to their assimilation.
1) Show, don’t tell…pretty much the adage in all media forms, be the story, words are great, experiences are better
2) Sensorial language…engage the senses…how cold was it? How tall was he? What was the scent in the air?
3) 1st person present…here now, here now, as if it’s happening right this moment
4) Descriptive…don’t overdo the details, but give us what we need to co-create the experience
5) Beginning — Middle — End…structure is important, but don’t let it overtake the spirit of the talk
6) Prove point…in a speech or presentation of any kind, your stories are meant to demonstrate an aspect of your message
7) Create impact…if the story doesn’t add steam to your theme, then don’t use it
On time, on point…practice your stories based on different time frames and don’t cheat
Jack’S TiDBIT:
Keep a record of your stories, anecdotes, jokes and great quotes. Put them in a folder, journal, or computer file, so when you need them, they’re easily accessible. Practice your stories. Tell them to a friend, try them out in different ways. Eliminate superfluous parts and irrelevant details.
• 3 TYPES OF STORIES
There are 3 types of stories:
√ Personal…about you, your friends, clients and acquaintances
√ Cultural…about people in the news, celebrities, living and dead
√ Mythic…fairy tales, legends, heroes and heroines
All three have value in proving your points. If I wanted to use stories to demonstrate the value of telling the truth, I could tell a Mythic Story — The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Or I could tell a Cultural Story — Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Or a Personal Story — when I lied to mommy when I was 10, then had to cover that lie with a lie, and another lie, and eventually got grounded till I got married.
Have all three in your arsenal.
Jack Barnard is a writer, performer and presentation coach. He works with speakers, authors and entrepreneurs both one-on-one and in group settings. Jack is the author of We Get Our Cue From You: The Communion Approach to Public Speaking & Presentations and three CD’s: The Soul of Speaking, Mesmerize Your Audience and Storytelling. See: http://speakerservices.com/products
Read more about how Jack can assist you http://www.speakerservices.com/about.html
Jack and Susan celebrating a birthday
Make A Comment: ( 2 so far )
2 Responses to “EVERY GREAT SPEAKER IS A GREAT STORYTELLER”
Ward Luthi
November 12th, 2011
You guys are brilliant AND generous! Thank you for these reminders Jack!
Greg Montana
November 16th, 2011
Jack Barnard is a brilliant storyteller, song writer and coach. If you’ve ever given thought to honing your skills as a speaker, talk to Jack. He’s been more than a coach to me, offering inspiration, motivation and clarity. He’s able to quickly understand and synthesize what I’m saying and where I need to go with my thoughts and ideas. If you want the best, call Jack!