There’s always an implicit contract between the storyteller and his audience. It includes a promise that the listeners’ expectations, once aroused, will be fulfilled. Listeners give the storyteller their time, with the understanding that he will spend it wisely. For most businesspeople, time is the scarcest resource; the storyteller who doesn’t respect that will pay dearly.To meet the terms of this contract — and ideally even over-deliver on it — the great storyteller takes time to understand what his listeners know about, care about and want to hear. Then, he crafts the essential elements of the story so that they elegantly resonate with those needs. They start where the listeners are and bring them along on a satisfying emotional journey.
Most good stories follow an organizational pattern — as do effective presentations. All good stories, no matter how short or how simple, share the same elements. This story building diagram below should help you build successful stories. In addition, the entire storyline can be downloaded in PowerPoint; you can organize any story and tell it with five slides.
4028643&doc=storytellerstemplatev1-0-100509131134-phpapp02
Setting
- Where and when does the story take place?
- Did anything important happen before the story began?
- What is going on?
- Provide an initial build up to the story.
- Use concrete details.
- Create vivid image of the time, place and occasion of the story.
Main Characters
- Who is in the story?
- What are their backgrounds?
- What do they look like and sound like?
- How do you want the audience to feel about them?
- Bring them to life with colorful and captivating words.
Obstacles encountered
- What is happening?
- What did you or a character see, hear, feel, smell or taste?
- How are the characters reacting to what is happening?
- Let the action build as you tell the story.
Resolution
- What’s the turning point in the action?
- How has the situation resolved?
- How do the characters react?
- Make sure you don’t leave the audience wondering about the character’s fate.
Lesson Learned
- All action should lead to a discovery, decision or outcome.
- Show the audience how the character has grown or has responded to a situation or problem.
Keep up-to-date with Fast Track Tools by subscribing to our blog, via Twitter @fasttracktools and join our Facebook community!
After completing the Communicate to Win workshop, you will have the most compelling argument and the best ideas. With this complete package, you will gain the tools necessary to guarantee that you have the best ideas and that you can present them confidently so you will WIN. Read what participants say.
photo by to say the least
Pingback: Storytelling Multimedia, Business, Personal Narrative, Spoken Word, Anecdote & More
Great simple outline for something that takes skill and practice to deliver well. I’ll keep this!
Billy – Glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for your comment!