How to choose the right story for your storytelling?

Storytelling is an amazing tool that can turn any presentation, pitch, or data transfer into an engaging, memorable experience worth listening to because it provides value. So how do you choose the right story? Here’s the answer.

What is not said about storytelling?

They claim it’s the art of message delivery (not me), that it can rescue any presentation. I argue that when there’s good storytelling, you don’t even need a presentation.

But how will you know to choose and use storytelling correctly?

There are two answers to that: the outcome you want to achieve and your personality.

What? How is my personality related to storytelling?

We each have a distinct speaking style, expressions, and energy that light up the room. To find the storytelling style that suits you best, it’s crucial to understand your strengths.

During my undergraduate degree, I had an incredible philosophy lecturer. He could weave engaging stories about Kant and Adam Smith, effortlessly injecting humor. Anyone who has studied philosophy, ethics, or political science knows these subjects aren’t easy. Yet, my lecturer tackled them with a smile, seasoned with wit and sprinkled with humor.

In my master’s degree, I was fortunate to have a remarkable lecturer for strategy. She spoke about her clients and the solutions she found for them with determination and strength, captivating me with her descriptions. It’s hard for me to even imagine her incorporating humor and jokes into her lectures, and she truly didn’t need to.

Know yourself—your strengths, your personality structure—and understand what suits you. Are you witty? Dramatic? Compelling? Or perhaps calm waters run deep?

It’s crucial to align the way you tell a story with your personality. Without this correlation, it just won’t work.

The worst thing you can do is tell a story in a style that doesn’t suit you; it becomes awkward and ineffective.

Let’s think about the desired outcome in advance.

Understanding what suits our personality is crucial, but let’s not forget the importance of our target audience. Regardless of my seriousness, adapting my presentation is essential. For instance, when speaking to children, I must lighten my tone. Conversely, addressing a community of doctors calls for a more professional language, depending on the topic. Do you see where I’m coming from?

Firstly, let’s define the results we aim for and identify our main messages. Then, we can consider how to structure our story effectively to capture everyone’s attention.

I encourage you to think about your target audience’s ‘pain points’—why they seek your expertise—and how you can effectively deliver your message while providing solutions.

Most people enjoy when you make them laugh, but there are other emotions too.

Don’t forget that people also love to get excited, intrigued, and learn about unique things. Understand which of these elements suits your style and aligns with the goals of your story.

Prepare a matrix

A matrix is a funny word, so I used it – but seriously, work with a table in which each step is written, what happens in your story.

Stick to the structure of storytelling and remember that sometimes less is actually much more.