CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – August 18, 2020

CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – August 18, 2020
The Value of Storytelling (Pt. 1)
Research has shown that messages delivered through a story can be as much as 22 times more memorable than facts alone. That’s because wrapping facts and figures in a story makes the listener hear your message in a more meaningful way.
When you use storytelling in your business presentations, you tap into the natural way humans communicate. We’re inclined to act on messages that appeal to our emotions: fear, anger, sadness, frustration, and joy. Delivering statistics on their own doesn’t elicit any emotional responses. Tying those statistics to something that matters to your listener does.
The fact that storytelling has been around since humans first walked the earth is proof that storytelling is important. Even before the invention of any alphabet, humans have been verbally telling stories or using images to tell them. It’s how we relate to each other and the world around us.
Why is Storytelling Important?
Research has shown stories persuade others and shape how they see you. Using storytelling in your business is the single greatest tool you have to win over others.
A well-told story can move people to take action or even further your career. With one story, your audience can tell what you value, the customs you engage in, and how knowledgeable you are on a subject.
The value of storytelling is immeasurable when you consider how far it goes to show how passionate you are about a topic and how genuine you are.

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All of this feeds into what your audience is really after: something meaningful to them.
When you build a connection with your listeners through storytelling, they’re willing to accept the facts you present because they see how those facts play out in relatable scenarios. They see how and why it matters to them.
There’s an Anecdote in Your Pocket
Stories are all around us. But the best stories are the ones from within us.
Using a personal anecdote is a clever and effective way to use storytelling in your business presentations. An anecdote is a short story with a point about a real person or event that you can use to entertain or to launch into something deeper.
Like any great story, your anecdote has to be relevant to your topic. For example, you wouldn’t step on stage and start talking about your latest visit to the doctor unless there was something about the visit that related to your presentation.
You would, however, use an anecdote to introduce a thought, concept, or fact. This could mean talking about a time you struggled and persevered, or talking about a time you tried and failed. Audiences love to hear stories they can relate to, and who among us hasn’t tried and failed at one time or another?
The beautiful thing about anecdotes is that they pop up all the time, everywhere you go. Think back to the last time you ventured out with your kids or had a funny mishap at work.
Your entire day is made up of anecdotes and stories. You just have to figure out how you can use them in your presentations to bring your message to life.