Communication & The Art of Storytelling
How to embrace The Art of Storytelling to become a powerful communicator and grow as a leader
Every topic has a story in it it’s up to you to find and share it
Think about a time you saw a compelling or inspirational presentation. What do you recall about it? What was most memorable? It is likely that it was less about the content and more about what it made you feel.
As a leader, it is critical that we are able to illuminate a new perspective, ignite an opportunity, or simply unite a team. This can be an intimidating venture, but we are here to help! We discussed communication and how the art of storytelling this week in the live discussion on clubhouse, including where to start, what to do when things go wrong, and why this is so important for leaders. Here are 10 highlights:
Know Your Audience - do your research and homework. What does your audience care about? What’s important to them? Make sure your presentation speaks to them and is crafted to reach them where they are.
Know Your Content - fight the urge to use a script or text-heavy presentation. Instead, get so comfortable with your content that you can speak to it naturally. This prepares you to be able to read the room, respond to spontaneous questions, and actively listen to your audience.
Practice, Practice, Practice - everyone needs to practice. Find many opportunities to present. Try forums like clubhouse, clubs outside of work, or communities at work that are not directly tied to your day-to-day. Get out there are practice public speaking a lot and it will continue to get easier.
Say Yes! - embrace the opportunity to present when asked (or volunteer). This provides meaningful practice, but also provides important visibility as you establish yourself as a leader and grow in your career.
Have Fun! - find ways to make your presentation fun (especially large presentations). Engage the audience with questions, give away swag or candy, add humor. It’s okay to have fun at work!
Know Your Style - embrace who you are authentically. Don’t try to be someone else or mirror their style. It will always be more impactful if you show up as yourself, even if that means no slides and just a discussion or handout if that’s what works for you.
Prepare for Issues - technology will fail so know your content so you can move forward anyway; questions will be asked that you may not know the answer to, embrace saying I don’t know but I will find out. Be vulnerable and real, and the audience will always be on your side.
Welcome Pauses - as the presenter, you drive the pacing. Make sure you take a moment to breathe and re-center yourself when needed. If you want to shift the pace, take a pause. It will feel really long, but it naturally draws your audience in as they anticipate what will happen next.
Believe in Yourself - everyone experiences imposter syndrome and doubts themselves. Try positive affirmations that resonate with you and physical power poses before your presentation. It may sound silly, but they work!
Experience Life and Share that with your Audience - Some of the most memorable presentations are woven with real-life experiences. This connects the audience with the speaker. Don’t shy away from sharing your own stories, and if you need more stories, maybe that’s a sign you need to get out and experience more life!
Quote of the Week
Storytelling is about connecting to other people and helping people see what you see. - Michael Margolis
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Resources
The Compelling Communicator by Tim Pollard - shares how presentation issues are often about design and logic and how to shift your approach
The Secret Structure of Great Talks by Nancy Duarte - unpacks some of the most inspirational presentations and demonstrates how to make a call to action
Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds - inspiration and guidance to change the way you think about creating presentations
10 20 30 Rule by Guy Kawasaki - learn about the 10 20 30 Rule from a renowned designer
Pixar Story Rules by David A. Price - 22 basic rules of storytelling
Toastmasters - a community for learning and practicing the art of presenting
7 Pubic Speaking Tips to Hook Any Audience by Dan Lok - tips and online training on public speaking
Storyworthy by Matthew Dick - learn how storytelling can engage, teach, persuade and change your life
Stories for Work by Gabrielle Dolan - a guide to business storytelling
Improv Classes - find local classes or look on clubhouse for regular forums to get comfortable with the spontaneity of public speaking
Grammarly - a fantastic online writing tool that checks basic grammar and spelling, while also analysing word choice and sentiment
Listen to the Full Replay
Next Week on Learning to Lead: Communication & the Art of Storytelling
Join us LIVE in the official Learning to Lead Clubhouse every Saturday from 9:30-10:30 am PT.
Is there a topic you’d like us to cover? Do you have any questions for the Learning to Lead team? Comment or DM me.