How can you use storytelling to handle sensitive topics?

1 Know your purpose

Before you start crafting your story, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with it. What is the main message or takeaway that you want your audience to remember? How do you want them to feel or act after hearing your story? Having a clear purpose will help you choose the right story, structure it effectively, and align it with your presentation goals.

2 Choose your story wisely

Not every story is suitable for every topic or audience. When you deal with sensitive topics, you need to be careful about the tone, content, and relevance of your story. You want to avoid stories that are too personal, controversial, or irrelevant to your topic. You also want to avoid stories that are too complex, vague, or boring. Instead, look for stories that are simple, clear, and engaging. Stories that illustrate a problem, a solution, or a lesson learned. Stories that show empathy, respect, and authenticity.

3 Structure your story well

A good story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. It also has a plot, characters, and conflict. To structure your story well, you need to follow a simple formula: set the scene, introduce the challenge, describe the action, and reveal the outcome. This will help you create a logical flow, build suspense, and deliver a satisfying resolution. You also need to use transitions, signposts, and summaries to connect your story to your main points and guide your audience along the way.

4 Deliver your story with confidence

The way you deliver your story can make or break its impact. You need to use your voice, body language, and facial expressions to convey emotion, enthusiasm, and credibility. You also need to use pauses, variations, and emphasis to create interest, contrast, and clarity. And you need to use eye contact, gestures, and humor to connect with your audience, invite feedback, and lighten the mood. Remember to practice your story beforehand, but don't memorize it word for word. Instead, focus on the key elements and improvise the details.

5 Invite your audience to participate

One of the benefits of storytelling is that it can spark conversations, questions, and opinions. You can use this to your advantage by inviting your audience to participate in your story. You can do this by asking them to share their own experiences, perspectives, or suggestions related to your topic. You can also do this by encouraging them to imagine themselves in your story, or to think about how they would react or behave in a similar situation. This will help you create a dialogue, build rapport, and increase engagement.

6 Learn from feedback

The last tip is to learn from feedback. Storytelling is a skill that can be improved with practice and reflection. After you deliver your story, ask for feedback from your audience, your peers, or your mentors. Find out what worked well, what didn't, and what you can do better next time. Use the feedback to refine your story, your delivery, and your presentation skills. And don't be afraid to try new stories, new topics, or new audiences. The more you experiment, the more you will learn and grow as a storyteller and a presenter.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?