In the past week I’ve met with ten different people. With each one, I spent about an hour or so drinking peppermint tea, chatting, connecting and establishing new business relationships.
Two of those people I remember distinctly. Each made such an immediate and profound impression on me that I walked away thinking Wow, what an amazing guy. I feel so grateful to have just spent an hour in his presence.
It’s a feeling that’s lingered for me. And it’s because of this: Those guys told me stories. And their tales were infused with passion.
They shared stories that made me smile and laugh. They delivered anecdotes of achievements that made me feel awe. They spoke of their mission, their drive, their genuine care, all wrapped up in stories I’ll no doubt remember beyond this week and next.
Their stories allowed me to slip my feet into their comfy shoes. Their stories made them unforgettable.
Now, when someone asks me whether I know anyone who does the kind of work these guys do, guess who’ll instantly come to mind? Yes, I’ll be recommending them, without hesitation.
When you speak – in a presentation, meeting, interview or pitch – tell a story.
Crafting and delivering a story well can be so compelling that it can turn people into enthusiastic advocates for your goal.
Here’s how to do it:
- Share a story about a person or people that inspires empathy among your audience. Back in my journalist days, we called these human interest stories. They weren’t hard news, and they’d often appear at the end of the TV news bulletins. Most journos didn’t like covering these stories because they thought they were weak and not real news. But you could give me a story about a dog with cancer being “miraculously” healed by the holistic vet any day. With millions of animal lovers in the world, I always knew that those were the stories people remembered after the bulletin, and chatted about to their friends. (And I bet that holistic vet did a roaring new trade too).
- Tell stories that involve your clients. Share your success stories. Your listeners will always put themselves in your clients’ shoes, especially if they’re considering working with you or recommending you and your work.
- Use stories to demonstrate your key message. Every presentation, meeting, interview and pitch needs to be based on your key message. You want to ensure that if your audience remembers nothing else, everyone walks away knowing your key message. Stories are the best way to demonstrate your key message. And make sure you repeat that key message – not using the same words each time – during each presentation.
When you’re given the chance to speak, you have enormous power. You can inspire, motivate, persuade, influence, fascinate, and change people’s minds.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re speaking to two people or two-thousand.
Ensure you craft and deliver your stories with passion and skill.
About the author
Tricia Karp is dedicated to helping women develop their power and leadership through powerful self-expression. She’s the founder of www.triciakarp.com, where Tricia shares her strategies and wisdom for becoming a world class speaker and communicator.
To find out about Tricia’s latest Australian workshop – Unprecedented Confidence – come over here.
wow, helped me a lot