![]() Bezos tells a powerful story, complete with props, in three minutes. While many of us have never been in the oval office, Jeff makes it easy for us to imagine what it felt like and see why the President’s actions had such an impact on him.įor an example of storytelling within a presentation, I’d suggest looking at Mark Bezos’s 2011 TED Talk: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter. In both short examples he provides just enough detail for us to grasp the setting. ![]() One story is about his interaction with astronaut Jim Lovell while writing Apollo 13, and his second story is about meeting President Clinton in the oval office. He effectively uses these seven principles to deliver two concise stories in less than five minutes. Recently the noted author Jeffrey Kluger appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers to plug his new book on narcissism. Who is your Audience, what is your Intent, and what is your Message? Using this simple framework from Mary Munter and Lynn Russell’s book Guide to Presentations assures that the message is clear, captures the audience, and motivates your desired action.Ī leader who deploys these seven strategies will deliver a more artful and meaningful story. Intentional silence draws emphasis to what was just said or what is about to come – and allows others to contribute their own interpretations. Matt May elaborates on this point in his recent HBR post. Silence is a powerful and underutilized storytelling tool. That rest is as much a part of the music as the notes. When a composer writes the score for a symphony she places a rest in the music when silence is called for. Using just a few carefully chosen and arranged words to carry much more meaning than their usual weight.” That imagery from over three decades ago reminds me of the power of poetry. Then he concluded: “Well boys that’s what poetry is. He said “imagine if a magic truck allowed a farmer to haul seven times the amount of grain that a normal truck usually holds?” (Can you tell I grew up in Kansas?) We developed a long list of benefits such a truck would provide: fewer trips, less fuel, more free time, etc. Wessling, used the analogy of the “magic grain truck” to educate us about poetry. Consider even “casting” a member of the audience as a character in your story as you tell it.Ĭonsider the power of poetry. Don’t wash your eye contact over the crowd like a lighthouse, but actually connect with individuals. As you tell your story, try to connect with each individual if possible. If possible, test out your story with a few friends who have a similar background to your audience let them help you discern the right level of detail.įocus your delivery on “one person with one thought.” When speaking to a group, focus on one person at a time, for four to seven seconds. If you don’t give us enough detail, we may lack the context to grasp the story fully or to see ourselves inside your tale. Give us “just the right amount.” If you give too many details, we get lost, or worse, bored. Take advantage of the impact of a powerful opening and conclusion.įollow the “Goldilocks” theory of details. One needn’t memorize the story, but great leaders know the first and final words cold … and can deliver them without hesitation. We never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Avoid opening with “I’d like to tell you a story about a time when I learned…” Instead, drop us into the action and draw the lesson out later.Ĭhoose first and final words carefully. They capture our attention and set the tone for a unique audience experience. The best storytellers draw us immediately into the action. I work with future leaders at Stanford to help them develop compelling stories that achieve their management goals - and I’ve developed a seven-part formula for storytelling success in presentations and business meetings. They beg for “just one more” and then “just one more.” It seems we are wired to enjoy a well-told story.Īnd as we grow up, we do not lose our thirst for stories. ![]() At bedtime, I tell stories to my godchildren, Anna and Noah, when their parents invite me to care for them.
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