Be more memorable: Storytelling techniques for geeks, nerds, and other technology weirdos... like me.
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Storytelling techniques for geeks, nerds, and other technology weirdos... like me. Your job as a presenter is to turn data back into people, to keep your audience awake and engaged, and to make your message memorable. David gives a high level introduction to a simple method for doing just that by telling stories.
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Be more memorable: Storytelling techniques for geeks, nerds, and other technology weirdos... like me.
- 1. David Reed, chief inspiration officer david@wanted2speak.com
- 4. End with Me.
- 11. Start with why. End with me. Remember your audience needs H.E.L.P.S. to get and retain your message. http://toastmasters.org/ David Reed <david@wanted2speak.com>
Editor's Notes
- Introduction: Our speaker today is David Reed. He has been with Microsoft for nine years in a variety of roles, in the field and in product teams. In the moonlight, David is a professional speaker who has been paid to give keynote speeches as far away as Budapest, Hungary. In 2013, David placed second in the World Championship of Public Speaking Semifinals. He has been coached by Toastmasters world champions and hall of fame speakers from the National Speakers Association. Today he’s going to share with you some of what he’s learned about telling stories for fun and profit. Why are you here? What do you hope to take away? What did this guy just do that’s cause for celebration? Would you like to feel that way when your TechReady session is done?
- Raise your hand if you’re human. Ever been offered a great deal and tuned it down because it didn’t feel right? Ever buy or collect something you didn’t need because it had a great story? We think and remember in stories. We don’t tell each other facts. We tell each other stories. Data can persuade people, but it doesn’t inspire them to act. An emotional connection is required to give your audience the energy to move on a choice. We make rational decisions, but the decision is always NO unless we have an emotional reason to consider an alternative. Use stories to prepare your audience emotionally to more readily accept your message. Use stories to empower your audience to retain more of your valuable information. Don’t make presentations. Tell stories.
- Bernard’s boss is a jerk. He just assigned Bernard to give another presentation. In front of a hundred people at TechReady. Bernard wants a promotion this year and knows he needs the stage time, but the last time Bernard gave a presentation to just his small team, everybody fell asleep! Candace is one of Bernard’s co-workers who always gives rockstar presentations. She could tell that Bernard was nervous. “Bernard, let’s go get some lunch and I’ll tell you a story about my worst presentation ever!” Over lunch, Candace shares some simple secrets with Bernard to help him prepare for the best presentation he’s ever given. Would you like to hear the rest of the story? Why stories? Why are you telling this story? How does it serve your point? Why should your audience listen to you? What’s your credibility or proof? Why should you listen to me? Being introduced provides instant credibility.
- After you establish what my problems are... Give me solutions to my problems. Give me a clean, simple process to follow. Give me confidence that *I* can do it. Give me a reason to suit up and run. Tell me what to do! Why Use Storytelling in Business? Succinctly Convey a Message Garner Emotional Buy-In Deepen Esprit de Corps Develop Your Personal Brand Be Memorable…
- HELPS helps me remember the bare minimum elements I need to include in my stories to be effective. I believe that there are eight great story archetypes in historical literature. There were only seven until 1886 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sold his first Sherlock Holmes story for 25 pounds. Your stories may include elements of all of them: Monster Underdog Comedy Tragedy Mystery Quest Rebirth Escape Your story is about a hero overcoming obstacles to achieve his or her goals, whether those obstacles are portrayed as monsters, quests, or mysteries. Who’s the hero? Should you be there hero of your stories? Maybe. What’s the setting? Keep this as simple as possible and let the audience fill in the extra detail for themselves. What’s the conflict? Focus on the drama of your story. This is what gets humans to pay attention. We love to hear about other peoples’ problems. What’s the solution? Explained by a guru or earned by the hero in some way. You should never be the guru of your story.
- Your primary job is to turn DATA back into PEOPLE that we can relate to. If your story doesn’t do that, get a new story. Your hero needs to be relatable to us. We have to want him or her to win. (Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat!” moment.) You should have no more than One Big Point™ per hour. No more than one case in point every 10 minutes. All of your cases within your point, all of your stories, and all of your takeaways should support that singular message. Make sure it’s your message. If you’re not a believer, your audience won’t be either.
- “I can’t believe that @#$% jerk. Make me speak at TechReady. As if!” “Hey, Bernard, what’s the matter?” “Oh, hi, Candace. Nothing. Never mind.” “Did the boss just give you the TechReady presentation for the new product?” “Yeah, can you believe that guy? Last time I put the whole department to sleep.” “Bernard, you want that promotion, don’t you?” “Yeah, but...” “Let’s go get some lunch and I’ll tell you a story about my worst presentation ever!” Does that version of the story relate better? Have fun! If you’re not having fun, your audience won’t either. Humor: Be as funny as you can without causing an HR incident. Use relatable characters. Use dialogue as much as possible and minimize your monologue. Tempo sets the mood. Rhythm emphasizes your point. Pause heightens curiosity by increasing anticipation.
- Boldly. And softly. And quickly. And slowly. Volume elevates the excitement. Inflection delivers emotion and subtle meaning. Variation is what keeps the audience awake and interested as much as WHAT you say. Beyond your words... Facial expressions are almost everything. Body language is the rest.
- I have one more takeaway for you before we wrap up, but before I get to that let me suggest that you NEVER end your sessions with Q&A. The last thing that happens in your presentation is what your audience will remember. Make it memorable. What questions do you have?
- Only use your stories. Nobody else can tell them the way you do. Your audience can tell when you’re lying, so don’t. If you’re not using your own story, be honest and tell them why. The first time you tell a story is never as good as the hundredth time. The discipline of the performer is to be able to deliver the same level of enthusiasm and energy every single time. Newsflash: Every time you’re on stage, you are a performer. This means practice, practice, practice. Minimum rehearsal time for your stories should be about an hour for every five minutes you plan to be on stage. Minimum.
- Presentation skills are perishable. Exercise them often. Weekly at a minimum. More often if you want to improve faster. Toastmasters is an approved training program that is reimbursable as a training expense by many companies.