Corporate Training Partners

Tell a Story
By Peter Sprague

Time for feedback. I had been student teaching for four weeks and Rich Henderson, my supervising teacher, was talking with me about my performance. How was I doing as a high school science teacher?

"You're really good with the 3rd period class," Rich said. But then he paused. I braced myself for the "constructive criticism" that was obviously on the way. "But your Honors Biology classes, you're um…er….well, you're lectures are pretty boring."

Boring. Yep, just what I wanted to hear. But something clicked with what he said to me.

"That's because I'm really desperate with those 3rd period students," I told him. I was gaining insight as I spoke, so I went on. "I can see them getting bored, so I know I have to do something lively. Like not just tell them about worms, but actually act out the movement of a worm, clumping from desk to desk, to show them, to get their attention. To make it come to life."

Isn't that what we all want with our speeches? To make the subject come alive for our audience?

What's the diagnosis from the Speech Doctor? Our subject is a speaker experiencing these symptoms:

1. Tied to notes. Stuck behind the lectern, regularly breaking eye contact with the audience.
2. Information overload. A speaker trying to inform who does it over and over and over…wearing down the audience.
3. Not connecting with the audience. A by-product of the first two symptoms, this is the most serious problem of all. No connection means limited listening. Sure, the audience is polite (like those Honors Biology students were to me), but they're really just demonstrating their mastery of acting like they're listening.

The prescription: Tell a story.

The Speech Doctor strongly recommends this simple remedy for these problems (and others…such as nervousness, feeling the need to memorize, not knowing what to do with your hands and non-verbals, etc.). Tell a story. Relax. Invite us into to your figurative living room. Let's just have a chat.

Yes, a chat. Not "A SPEECH." Forget the formality. We're just normal folks here. We're fellow Toastmasters. We see each other every week. Don't try to make a speech AT us. Instead, just talk WITH us.

How do you use story telling within your speeches? Here's three keys:

1. Know your purpose.
2. Make a point, tell a story.
3. Be descriptive.

Know your purpose. Why are you giving this speech? What is it you want the audience to take from it? How will it help them? Get crystal clear on this in your mind. Then focus on it while you practice, write, edit, practice and deliver your speech. Put your purpose in mind when you are sitting there, moments away from being introduced. Keep it at the forefront of your thoughts. This will guide everything you say, and more importantly, how you say it. Know your purpose.

Make a point, tell a story. This is from Bill Gove, a professional speaker and one of the greatest story tellers ever. I use this when I'm developing my material. If I've got a fact I think the audience should know, I might say it out loud, then say, "for example…" and see what comes to mind.

In a recent speech I wanted to make the point that each of is responsible for our own self. I decided to make the point by using three examples of people who taught me this point. I spoke about my brother Lowell, who formed a basketball league at our condo complex when he was just in 10th grade. I spoke about my Mom, a widow raising seven boys on her own. I used these stories to make my point.

Lastly, be specific. Name names. Places. Times. Describe the scene - colors, textures, smells, whatever helps people see the story in front of them. Paint word pictures. Consider yourself the narrator, giving a play by play broadcast of your story as it unfolds, over the radio.

When you tell your audience a story from your experience, you take a huge step towards fully connecting with each individual. And that connection is the bridge for transferring your message from you to them. Isn't that why you're up there speaking?

Peter Sprague is the President of Corporate Training Partners, Inc. where he works with companies to transform potential into profits. You can contact Peter at 727.321.5077 or psprague@corporatetrainingpartners.com.