I heard something that made me pause the other day:
Someone said to me, “I don’t think people have time for storytelling.”
The irony is, the exact opposite is true!
I recall working with one Fortune 100 company as we condensed down their mammoth Powerpoint deck from 20 slides to two. Yep, two slides that told their story clearly, efficiently, and effectively.
Most would say, “get rid of the fluff.” But think of the last time you had a Mallomar cookie. Or a s’more by the campfire. Or even a fluffernutter sandwich – peanut butter and marshmallow fluff on pillowy white bread. Yum.
These sweet, sticky, sensory experiences are a shortcut to instant connection with your audiences because they trigger memories in the mind and body. They literally stick to each word you share when you connect your story to one of the five senses.
When you’re tempted to “get to the point” by hitting 3 bullet points and moving on – or, worse, inundating your audience with reams of data that they need to figure out after the meeting, don’t do it.
Instead, start your presentations by considering what you want them to remember, rather than what you think you have to say.
To tell an ooey, gooey, sticky story that people will remember:
- Consider the theme or point you’re trying to make
- Identify the emotion that you want people to feel when you’re done
- Find the shift from what was to what will be – what’s coming next
- Define the action that you want them take
- Tie it to one of the 5 senses, and watch how people understand and retain your story in 5-10 easy sentences
Storytelling doesn’t have to take forever.
And it certainly doesn’t have to take any longer than necessary to communicate your message in a way your audience can quickly understand and get on board with.
If you need more help figuring out how to do this for yourself, schedule a call with me today >>
I’m here to help you tap into the time-saving power of storytelling, and get your breakthrough ideas out into the world, faster.
Let’s make the future happen, now.
– Susan.
This Week’s Best Articles on Innovation
Bullying Doesn’t Just Happen In Schools – Here’s How to Turn a Workplace Culture of Bullying to a Culture of Innovation – Entrepreneur
11 Ways To Elevate a Ho-Hum Product or Service – Fast Company
How PayPal Gets Employees Invested in Innovation – Harvard Business Review
Mastercard’s Chief Data Officer on AI Ethics, Diversity and Innovation – VentureBeat
The Best CFOs Have a Hand in Company Culture, Innovation – Industry Week
The Power of Storytelling in B2B Marketing – MarketingProfs
Six Actions CEOs Can Take Right Now To Spark An Innovation Culture –
Chief Executive
