Earlier this year, I polled my LinkedIn connections on the presentation skills they would like to improve this year. The majority of the voters wanted to learn to use storytelling in presentations.
You may be thinking ‘why should I tell stories in my presentations’? Well, do you know that humans have less attention span than goldfish? Did you know that as time passes, people tend to remember less and less of what they heard or learnt?
Considering these two factors, you must do 3 important things the next time you have a chance to present:
- Gain your audiences’ attention
- Keep their attention
- Be memorable
That’s where storytelling helps you shine.
So, what are the best ways to weave stories into your presentation?
The first is to choose a story that conveys your main idea. What is the most important thing that you want your audience to know at the end of your presentation? Convey that through a story.
Start and close your presentation with a story. Consider the time you have to give your presentation. How much of the story can you fit into that time? What part do you need to cut out and what part do you need to keep?
Use stories as examples. Storytelling in presentations is powerful because it helps you connect with your audience better.
Watch the video below.
Free Gift: Download a copy of my Story Vault to document your stories for use during your presentations.
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How have you used storytelling in presentations in the past? Leave a comment below