How can you use storytelling in everyday life?
You might think that only salespeople need storytelling techniques. In fact, stories can help you in almost every area of life: at work, at home and even when you meet new people. So why is storytelling important, and where can you use it? Here are a few examples.
To entertain your friends
Tell them a captivating story about when you rescued a kitten from a tree. Bonus points if you include some heroic music and an over-the-top reenactment.
To convince your boss
Tell them a story about how your idea will save the company from a disastrous fate. Add some suspense and drama to keep them on the edge of their seat.
To win an argument
Use storytelling to illustrate your point. Create a colorful and relatable character who embodies your argument, and watch as your friend starts to see things from your perspective.
To get your kids to eat vegetables
Turn mealtime into storytime and create a fun and silly tale about how broccoli became the superhero of the vegetable world. Who knows? They might start requesting it for dinner every night.
To resolve a conflict
Use storytelling to show them that you understand their perspective and empathize with their feelings. Tell them a story about a time when you made a mistake and how you learned from it.
To remember people’s names
Try creating a mental story about them to help jog your memory. For example, if you meet someone named “Simone” who loves hiking, you could picture her summiting a mountain with a big “S” on her hiking boots.
Why storytelling is important?
- Storytelling is essential in public speaking because it helps you grab your audience’s attention, communicate your message effectively and make a lasting first impression.
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In sales and marketing, effective storytelling helps you connect with your customers, build brand loyalty and close more deals.
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Storytelling is also a key leadership skill. It can help you inspire your team, create a shared vision and motivate people to take action.
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By learning techniques such as the 12-step hero’s journey, framing, sequencing and emotional resonance, you can engage any audience and become an influential speaker.
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Ultimately, developing your storytelling skills is an investment that can help you succeed in your career.
How to learn storytelling?
The good news is that storytelling is not a talent you either have or don’t. It’s a skill you can learn and practise, just like any other. A good place to start is understanding the basics: what storytelling is and what rules make a story work. And if you want to use stories to make your presentations, pitches and meetings more engaging, take a look at my Storytelling in business training , where we work on your own stories and real situations from your work.
Author:
Hi, I’m Magda Kern. I’m a psychologist, the top 11 public speaking coach worldwide, a lecturer, working for companies from the Fortune 500 list, a business trainer with 12 years of experience, a TEDx coach, and an ex-vocalist based in Switzerland. I help people prepare and deliver unforgettable presentations and deal with stress.