How to Master The Art of Storytelling

According to a recent study, 65% of our conversations are stories and gossip. Everything’s about story, but sometimes in the world of business, we become so logical because it’s all numbers and deadlines that we must meet. We forget that so many challenges in our business can be tackled if we decide to appeal to the emotion rather than logic, and the only way to do that is through storytelling.

In this article we’re going to talk about the art of storytelling.

Everyone loves good stories; we love stories in books and we go watch movies that have great stories. If you think about historical leaders, you will often think of the great storytellers like Shakespeare, Homer, MLK JR, Lincoln, Eminem, Churchill, President Clinton, Walt Disney, Reagan, Tupac or Biggie.

Here are the five types of storytellers:

1. Those who persuade
2. Those who inspire
3. Those who launch revolutions & movements
4. Those who tap into your potential
5. Those who manipulate (con artists)

In 1450 the game was completely changed by the printing press. Stories went from word of mouth to being able to go on paper on a large scale like never seen. Now there was a way to do mass distribution of storytelling. In 1890 came the motion picture camera led by the TV in 1925. This was when storytelling started to become big business through the media, the entertainment industry and Hollywood. Now social media and blogs have become a way to spread stories and keep storytelling constantly in front of everyone. 

Here are elements of a great storyteller:

1. They create anticipation
2. They build curiosity and surprise the audience when the time is right
3. They include the right amount of details
4. They control their flow of their speech and tone of voice
5. They involve the audience in the story they are telling
6. They have the right energy while presenting the stories
7. They know the importance of timing
8. They paint a picture for the audience with help of imagination & visualization
9. They show feelings in the story they are telling
10. They use the right amount of body language
11. They end the story with a climax and a lesson given

 

“You need to be fascinated by your story and you need to go out and make sure that the world knows about it”

When are stories most effective?:

1. Moments of tension
2. When nothing else works
3. Validate your point
4. Selling
5. Raising kids
6. Coaching
7. Leadership development

We all need to tap into storytelling in our life, it is a great way to communicate and get your point across as well as it is something unique to you. In life we have a lot of stuff that we own at different stages of life, whether it be cars, clothes or property. But there are three things that stick with you for the rest of your life: YOUR signature, YOUR story and YOUR fingerprint.