What is storytelling?
Storytelling is the process of using fact and narrative to communicate something to your audience. Some stories are factual, and some are embellished or improvised in order to better explain the core message.
Practical every Billionaire out there is a great story teller.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs convinced most people to pay three times as much for an Apple computer than a PC, for doing practically the same thing. The one main difference is that Apple computers have an Apple logo on the back and PCs Don’t.
The same goes for smart phones. People are willing to pay up to five times as much for an iPhone than an Android phone for making the same phone call or sending the same text messages.
Jeff Bezos.
Jeff Bezos was able to convince his shareholders to be patient, for almost 14 years, before Amazon started making money.
This was one of Amazon‘s major competitor’s advantage. While most companies have to make a profit at one moment or another, Jeff Bezos was able to focus on growth, on technology improvements, and selling products at or below cost to gain market share in the hearts and minds of consumers.
Amazon was already a great company, but Jeff Bezos’s storytelling ability made it the juggernaut that it is today.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk can tell a story of science fiction to an audience, ask for money, and a few months (or years) later, make that story a reality.
Sure, he’s an amazing business person who can see decades into the future. But his vision is not worth much if he can’t share that vision with his investors.
Very few people believed that could start a car company, or that he could use re-usable rockets. Those who believed in him, are now reaping the benefits.
Tips to become a good storyteller
- Storytelling creates a connection with your audience (one person or a thousand people).
- You make yourself relatable to the public so that they can learn to trust you.
- You want to speak your audience’s language so that they can relate to how you are feeling and listen more attentively to your message.
Make it personal
Reveal how the story touches you personally or how it can touch everyone in the audience.
Many times I have told the story of how, when I came to Canada, I worked as a janitor, vacuuming office buildings at midnight and going to school during the day. This story is supposed to spread the message that anyone who has a desire to succeed, can succeed.
Prepare a roadmap
Take your audience on a journey of where you were and where you are now. Or show how is it now and how is it different to where you want to take them.
In a business scenario, be descriptive of the end goal. Also, build a bullet point list of all the necessary steps to get to your end goal.
Know your target audience
You always have to adapt your language to your audience. And for that, you have to know your audience. The way you express an idea at the kitchen table is different from the way you express a similar idea in a business meeting. Your language is different, your body language is different, and the way you react to feedback is different.
It is possible to share the same message to different audiences, as long as you know your audience and you adapt yourself to them.
Practice, practice, practice
You will never become a good story teller by reading a book or by watching YouTube videos. You have to get in front of people and share your ideas.
Maybe if you arrange for monthly get together with people who share the same interests as you. Or why not join a Toastmasters group.
I am sure that whether digitally or in person (sometime in the future), there are plenty of groups where you cold have an opportunity to tell your stories.
Book recommendation on storytelling
Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business – by Kindra Hall
A clear framework of ideals and a concise set of actions for you to take complete control of your own story, utilizing the principles behind the world’s most effective business storytelling strategies.
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