How did you improve your storytelling techniques?

Storytelling is an art and we need practice to develop and build it as a skill. All understand and the know your purpose for storytelling as it implies to any profession. Tailor the story what we want to convey to the audience, do a self-analysis on different factors such as whom --- we are conveying the context? What do we trying to achieve? What message or information do you want to convey through the story? Is it to educate or information or building rapport, etc?

I have some stories that I share with very different purposes in mind: -to win over a client -to get a job offer -to charm dinner companions -to entertain audiences -to break tension in a meeting Know why you are talking, before you start talking, so you can deliver a captivating story that achieves what you're looking to do.

Arguably the most important element of storytelling. Much like anything you do, you need to know why you are doing it. This is the same with your storytelling. I call this the Impact Layer, in my unique storytelling model. Defining the impact that you wish to make upon the people that you are telling the story to, will then define how you will tell that story. Are you looking to educate, motivate, influence, inspire ... knowing this will improve outcome of your storytelling.

A melhor forma de ter um propósito claro na hora de contar uma história é pensar em qual você espera que seja a reação do seu público. O que você quer que eles sintam? Esse é o propósito de uma boa história.

Every story begins with a purpose, a guiding light that fuels its essence. When you deeply understand why you're telling a story, whether it's to entertain, educate, or inspire, your narrative gains direction and impact. Your purpose becomes the heartbeat of your tale, pulsating with passion and meaning, drawing your audience into its embrace.

The effectiveness of a good storytelling, is invariably decided by the "relevance." Can your audience relate the content?? So, know your audience well! A structure definitely helps but it shouldn't dilute the naïveté of the story. The emotion associated with the storytelling is by-far more important than the structure of it. I would prefer an honest attempt, driven by passion and letting your heart speak the story. A glitter in the eyes is more profound than the structure.

Craft your story with a proper structure. Structure helps in focusing on what matters and avoids from redundant points. Structure your story into: Context: Background Challenge: Struggle Consequence: Outcome Decorated with State: Emotion Scene: Time and Place Setting Seed: Moral and Key Takeaway

Storytelling needs a structure. I propose my unique storytelling structure - The Sprout Model. Made up of 6 layers (and 28 ingredients) .. follow them and your impact will improve significantly. In summary the 6 Layers are: 1. Impact - Define the impact that you wish your storytelling to make. 2. People - Know who you are storytelling to. 3. Start Point - Set the scene, introduce the context. 4. Main Event - showcase the event and the action. 5. End Point - Bring clarity and closure. 6. Nurture - Bring creativity and energy throughout your storytelling

Just as a sturdy framework supports a grand edifice, the classic structure provides the backbone to your story. From the exposition that sets the stage to the climax that leaves hearts racing, and the resolution that brings closure, each element serves a vital role. Embrace this timeless structure, for within its confines lies the power to captivate and enthral your audience from beginning to end.

There are so many different flavors of storytelling, it really depends on who you are, who you are speaking to, what environment you are in, and the outcome you're looking for in terms of which "structure" you use. ↳Are you in B2B sales and storytelling to a customer? ↳Are you in B2C Marketing and working on your narrative and positioning? ↳Are you an entrepreneur speaking on stage? ↳Are you a novelist? ↳Are you a film maker? ↳How about a music producer/songwriter? No matter the profession or environment, following the structure that works for YOU and YOUR AUDIENCE is all that matters. If your story is audience/customer-centric, you draw them into a story, and you drive towards your desired outcome, you've done your job!

Emotions are very important in storytelling. But the problem is that most people tell the emotion. They say something like “She’s happy, sad, disappointed, nervous,” etc. Words like these aren’t very visual. We can’t picture what it looks like to be “disappointed” or “proud.” It’s kind of abstract. Instead of telling the emotion, show the emotion. How does the body or face change when experiencing the emotion of the story? Examples: - Instead of saying “My boss was extremely pleased.”, say “My boss came up to me and patted me on my back with a big smile on his face.” - Or instead of saying “I got very nervous.”, say “I started trembling and my entire face turned red.” See the difference? Much more observable, much more visual.

Effective storytelling techniques lies in showing the facts, figures and data. It is a way to create an impact to achieve the outcome through data. Showcase and demonstrate the context as what has happened, challenges faced and multiple solutions to solve them. In recruitment, when I present any data to the business, it used to be funnel reports or talent analytics to showcase the talent availability, landscape, skills and roles perspectives to set the right expectations. The data used to talk more and it resulted in the most convincing factor.

This is one of the techniques I love the most while working on my book. I try to display the situation instead of my character directly doing that thing.

"Show, don't tell" is a mantra I embrace to make stories more immersive. Instead of stating facts or describing outcomes, I focus on creating vivid scenes, using details to evoke emotions, and letting characters' actions and dialogues reveal underlying themes and messages. This technique helps the audience to experience the story more directly, fostering a deeper connection and understanding.

A story will sound different from where you're standing. 💡 Perspective changes everything. When you're in a life moment, to you, it feels HUGE. 😳 → "My heart starting beating, my hands clammed up, my breath quickened, shallow and erratic. But then a tiny smile came across my face the moment I realized that I was strong enough and I got this." To someone else on the outside looking in, that moment may seem insignificant. → "He was worried". Don't tell that story... Tell the story from the inside.

Stories that come from the heart reach to hearts. This is the thumb rule of storytelling or story writing. Stick to your process and tell your story to the point without getting distracted. As an author, you often feel like writing and writing for a scene or incident, but you have to keep in mind that you write only what is needed. No extra. No less.

Authenticity is the cornerstone of my storytelling. I strive to be genuine in my narration, embracing my voice, experiences, and unique perspective. This sincerity helps to establish trust and relatability with the audience. Even when I'm conveying information outside my direct experience, I seek to present it in a way that is true to my understanding and respectful of its origins.

Being you when storytelling is very important. it naturally demonstrates authenticity, vulnerability and through that relatability. Retaining a consistent level of authenticity will mean that you are being true to yourself and your personal brand. Be you, be authentic and through this you will build a stronger relationship and engagement with your audience and community.

Authenticity is the cornerstone of impactful storytelling. Embrace your unique voice, quirks, and experiences, for they breathe life into your narrative. Share your truths, vulnerabilities, and triumphs unabashedly, for it is in raw authenticity that connections are forged and hearts are touched. Remember, the most compelling stories are those that ring true to the soul.

Incorporate Personal Experiences. Adding personal experiences and emotions can make stories more authentic and relatable. Drawing from real-life experiences can add depth and resonance, making the stories more engaging.

Feedback is the best way to improve as a writer or an author. Feedback is one of the precious things one can give and take. So, respect the feedback and be open to discussing it if needed.

Get feedback from a diverse audience in terms of understanding, interest in the subject, and alternative points of view. Feedback on stories can be very subjective. Ensure that you always collect some objective feedback that can be quantified and measured as well. This checks if multiple people are viewing your content the same way.

Feedback, and being continuously open to it, is crucial for improved storytelling. It can come in any form, dependant on your storytelling scenario. Be open to the engagement metrics, comments, and reviews. It may give you the chance to change your story there and then, or improve upon the next one.

Practice Regularly. Consistent practice is essential. Whether it's writing a blog, crafting social media posts, or creating short stories, regular practice helps in experimenting with new styles and techniques, ultimately leading to improvement.

When practicing a story, whether at an open mic event or during a video call with a mentor, I find it helpful to record my voice so I can listen back later and note my performance. Did people laugh? Do I flub a certain line? Is one section long-winded? Having a recording allows you to objectively listen back, revise your work, and improve upon it for next time.

Storytelling is art of telling stories, and there's a lot of effort goes in elevating this skill. Most importantly it is crucial to understand and practice tools of storytelling like Emotions, Voice Modulation, Visualisation, choosing right words to convey the message. Rehearsing the story numerous times is the most effective way to polish one's telling. The key is to internalize the story, not to say or try to learn verbatim.

Connect with your audience Like how you read a novel, the story has to have a compelling start, climax, anti-climax everything. Connect with your audience, understand their pulse and engage with them.

Resonance > Reach. How well does this RESONATE with your audience? Today we're engineered to structure our content for reach. We're so concerned with "How many people did this get in front of?" rather than "How many cared?"...and AI is only perpetuating this problem. Stop outsourcing your creativity. If you truly want to differentiate, overindex on your PERSPECTIVE. It's the human element that only you can provide, and the reason people will ultimately care. How did you personally see this experience unfold, and what did you learn from it? That's uncopyable.

Here are 4 ways I use to improve my storytelling techniques: 1. Connecting There are several talented people who I connect with on LinkedIn. Not only storytellers, but also copywriters, public speakers, coaches, just to mention a few. 2. Watching Documentaries are my go to when building my storytelling techniques. These include docs in sports, nature, environment, personal, etc. 3. Reading There are lots of insights you will get when you read books and articles that will sharpen your storytelling techniques. 4. Practicing After all these, I practice what I've learnt when sharing my own stories. With practice, I'm becoming better with each passing day.

Beyond these foundational pillars, remember that storytelling is a dynamic journey of continual learning and exploration. Experiment with different styles, genres, and mediums to expand your storytelling repertoire. Cultivate empathy to truly understand and resonate with your audience. And above all, never underestimate the transformative power of storytelling to inspire change, foster connections, and shape the world around us.