According to Chip and Dan Heath in Made To Stick (which I highly recommend), stories are one of the ways to make an idea "stickier" -- that is, more memorable. I couldn't agree more.
WHO DOESN'T LOVE A STORY?
Stories are human. They resonate with us in a way statistics and factual data can't. And for this very reason, they bring alive your message and make it stand out from all the other information your audience receives.
Stories call an audience to action and inspire change. They embolden people to take on challenges and solve problems.
Stories create context and can provide more impactful instruction than a list of how tos. According to Robert McKee, award-winning writer, director and screenwriting coach,
"In a story, you not only weave a lot of information into the telling but you also arouse your listener's emotions and energy." (Read Harvard Business School's interview with McKee here)
Ira Glass, veteran radioman of NPR's This Amercian Life, provides insight on what makes for a good story (thanks to Garr Reynolds at Presentation Zen): suspense, a destination and a clear articulation of the meaning.
INCORPORATING STORIES INTO YOUR PRESENTATIONS
Consciously craft your stories, keeping these guidelines in mind:
- the story should clearly support your objective/point/message
- don't just ramble through a series of incidents...have a clear destination in mind
- before you tell a story to your audience, do try it out a few times to get the pacing and language just right
- help your audience see the relevance of your story by clearly communicating the meaning
yeah
Posted by: Jason Stafford | September 12, 2010 at 08:19 PM