We have a series of leadership training classes at the training center where I work. One of these, Speaking as a Leader, is designed to help leaders express themselves to their managers, their teams, and to their clients. What is the point of knowing tools and techniques for effective leadership if you can't effectively communicate to those you may lead? One of the modules within "Speaking as a Leader" is effective storytelling.
I am a huge fan of storytelling to set the mood, the setting, the tone and to provide an analogy or a handrail that an audience can follow for the rest of the presentation. My former boss was a master at setting a stage in even very dry, formal, meetings around finances and the state of the company with a story that made the audience want to pay attention, listen, and find out more about the rest of the presentation. Since working with him, I've always wanted to master the technique he used so effectively.
I have however had moments when my stories bombed. It's never a good feeling and usually, the presentation is doomed as soon as the story fails. It's as if with a good story that does the right job the presentation has a chance to be born and grow and mature, but with a bad story the entire presentation is undermined, the foundations cracking and crumbling, and everything comes tumbling down.
What have I learned about stories? One major rule I've learned is to keep it succinct. I've learned from several failed attempts that if you try to draw out a story, add too much exposition, provide too much detail that doesn't pertain directly to the point, or if you are too tangential, then you run the risk of losing the audiences attention and when you try to transition to the point of the presentation you will have already lost them.
I believe the point of the story should be the introduction, not the first act. A prologue, not a full scene. It should be pithy and pointed and be obvious. The last thing you want is to waste time telling a story that half the folks in the audience get bored with and the other half who listened don't understand how it relates to the point of the presentation.
I think there is no better way to engage an audience or to create a connection with those you are speaking to than telling a relevant and worthwhile story to catch their interest and allow them to see that what you are about to say may have real-world consequences.
