As I sit here, writing this blog post about storytelling, I am smiling because Brandi Carlile’s song, The Story, just came on the radio. I love these types of serendipitous moments, especially when I am in the creative flow. Thus, I want to embrace this unexpected experience, and talk about the storytelling lessons presented in The Story.
Are you familiar with the song? The Story was released in 2007 and was played regularly on the radio for several years after the album release.
For those of you who are not familiar, The Story is a love song. However, the chorus can easily relate to storytelling for professional presentations:
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I’ve been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don’t mean anything
When you’ve got no one to tell them to
It’s true… I was made for you
The chorus of the song The Story expresses the importance of sharing stories, claiming stories don’t mean anything when you’ve got no one to tell them to.
So what does this mean for presenters delivering professional presentations?
Well, first of all, it means that you should be grateful for the opportunity to deliver a presentation. I understand that might seem ridiculous, especially if you dread public speaking, but I am serious. Presentations are an invaluable gift, not only because presentations can potentially improve your professional opportunities, but also because presentations give you the chance to add meaning to your life experiences by giving you a platform to share your stories with others.
Here are 3 ways storytelling can make your past experiences more meaningful (while also improving your presentations).
1. Stories change the world.
When shared, a story that might have only touched your life if kept secret, ripples through the hearts and minds of others, potentially changing their perspectives and lives forever.
For example, if you tell a story about how your business failed, you can save others from making the same mistakes. Similarly, if you tell a story about how you overcame obstacles, you can inspire others to conquer their problems and accomplish their dreams.
According to John F. Kennedy, the only reason to give a speech is to change the world. When you tell stories, you make your experiences more meaningful because you make life easier for others, and therefore, you also potentially change the world for the better.
If you compare the potential value of a story when it is kept private to the value of a story when it is shared with others, it is easy to get behind Brandi Carlile’s claim that stories don’t mean anything when you’ve got no one to tell them to.
2. Stories are the key to genuine realtionships.
One of the best ways to express who you are, where you have been, and why you are the way you are, is to tell your stories. I believe this is the part of storytelling that inspired Brandi Carlile’s hit song. To be understood by others, you must tell your stories.
Whether you are on a first date, at a job interview, or on a stage in front of business professionals, your stories are your best tool for being seen as a real person, in the sense that you are more than just a face and a name. When you tell stories, you activate your own emotions, and the emotions of the listeners. Thus, by sharing your stories, you lift the boundary between yourself and others to form a real connection based on the experience in your story. Stories can transform generic experiences into genuine interactions that bond you and the audience together.
3. Stories enhance self awareness.
By forcing yourself to incorporate stories into your presentations, you are creating a structure and purpose for reflecting on your own life and experiences. As you search for the perfect story to weave into your presentation, you inevitably will ponder some of the most powerful experiences that have impacted your life. This type of reminiscing can lead to fresh insights about yourself, your past, and your future. The more you understand yourself and your path in life, the easier it will be to communicate a clear message and vision.
In addition, when you share your stories with others, their reaction to your story will add depth to your understanding of the experience. If you only process your experiences privately, you will likely struggle to see the situation from a new perspective. By telling your stories, and being open to the reaction of your audience, you can continually reap the benefits of your past experiences.
Conclusion: As you go through your day, ask yourself: Will my life and presentations have more meaning if I share stories during presentations? My answer is a resounding YES. What do you think?
Resources:
The Science of Storytelling (Infographic)
Once Upon A Time…The Ethos3 Story (Award-Winning Presentation)
