The best keynote speakers use stories to teach. Stories are powerful and they keep your audience engaged and interested in what you have to say. The most memorable keynotes speak to the audience’s hearts as well as their minds, and that can only be done through the magic of storytelling. In this article, we will discuss how to choose the right stories for your presentation and how to ensure you deliver them effectively!
If you’re giving a presentation, stories are a great way to engage your audience. In fact, even if you’re just pitching an idea, stories are essential. When you tell a story about how a certain problem occurred and how that spurred you to find a solution for it (or vice versa), people will be able to relate their own experiences with yours. This makes it much easier for them to understand your concept. Find out more about The Science of Story Telling Here.
Life lessons can come from just about anywhere, but one of our favorite places to get them is from books. Reading an inspiring novel or nonfiction book and applying its wisdom to your own life can be a rewarding way to learn how to live better. Reading gives you a new perspective on life and allows you to gain knowledge that may not have been accessible before. Whenever possible, try to read as many different types of books as you can—they all have something different (and valuable) for you to learn!
The language of business is littered with buzzwords and jargon. But if your audience doesn’t understand what you’re saying, you won’t make an impact. So, ask yourself: If I were a keynote speaker, could I give a speech using these terms? Could my audience understand them? If not, replace them with plain-language alternatives that still get your point across. There are plenty of good synonyms to choose from; use them.
A lot of people make one huge mistake when it comes to public speaking: they over-share. In an effort to make a good impression, they tell their audience too much about themselves and their company. In turn, nobody cares about anything that’s being said because it all sounds like a cliche or self-promotion. The first rule of storytelling is that less is more—which means you should carefully evaluate each piece of your story before sharing it with others.
When you’re deciding which stories to use in your presentation, it’s crucial that you select ones that prove your point and are relevant to what you want to teach. Think of each story as its own learning point—or lesson—that builds on a larger theme. If a particular story doesn’t prove anything or isn’t relevant, it shouldn’t be included in your speech. The more valuable and specific each story is, the stronger your keynote will be.
A keynote speaker doesn’t read from a script. They get in front of a crowd and they start telling stories. These stories serve as examples to illustrate lessons, and help people see how these lessons apply to their own lives. And while you may not be talking in front of thousands, that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from using stories to teach others your expertise—and establish yourself as an expert in your field.
When it comes down to it, stories are powerful. If you are looking for a keynote speaker that tells engaging stories, I would love to chat! Reach out to our team here.