1. Tips & Techniques for Storytelling & more
“Storytelling, analogies and contrast help create memorable messages that audiences believe, understand and share.”
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2. Table of Contents Orientation Storytelling Analogies
The Power of Contrast
Verbal & Non-verbal Communications
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3. Orientation
Good presenters use certain techniques to strengthen their message and help listeners understand and remember key concepts. For example, a well told story, analogy or idiom will be remembered and shared more than a list of data and statistics.
If you want your listeners to understand, remember and buy into your message, try some of the techniques we explore in this slideshow.
Orientation

4. “What do you think makes stories and analogies effective?”
Consider...
How often during a day do you:
Tell a story to emphasize a point?
Use an analogy to help people understand your message clearly?
Use contrast to get your point across clearly?
“What do you think makes stories and analogies effective?”
Orientation

5. Storytelling
Storytelling is effective for establishing common ground with your audience and adding the human touch to your presentation. If you take your audience on a very visual trip that reflects your data, you will help them remember your message.
To be effective, your story needs to be:
Relevant to your topic and to your audience
Short, to the point and in good taste
Not offensive to anyone in your audience
Easy to understand and self-explanatory
Told sincerely
Rehearsed, but delivered in a spontaneous way.
Storytelling

6. Two must do’s... 1. Choose a story that you can connect with
Choose a story that is relevant to your message and connects with your emotions. You need to feel a story – and rehearse it – if you want to deliver it well and with credibility. Your story can come from almost anywhere – e.g. personal experiences, history, current business or world events, a variety of media, children’s literature, etc.
2. Choose words that paint a picture
Use picture nouns* and active verbs to help you paint a visual trip for your audience
Use descriptive words to help your characters come alive
Use the “human” voice to help your audience experience your story firsthand, understand its impact and how it relates to your message
* See explanation and example of picture nouns on the next slide.
Storytelling

7. What are picture nouns?
Picture nouns are words that paint a clear picture for your audience. A picture noun names something that has mass and occupies space. You could take a picture of it!
When choosing your words, select words that carry their own image rather than words that name concepts or vague ideas.
Example of picture nouns vs. vague nouns:
“When I say the word St. Bernard, what do you see? Right…a big brown and white dog, drooling profusely and carrying a keg of brandy around its neck as it gallops through the Swiss Alps to rescue someone from an avalanche. Pretty clear picture? Now, when I say the word ‘aspect’, what do you see? Right…nothing at all.”
Storytelling

8. Analogies
Analogies are another powerful and effective tool for helping your audience grasp your message. They can help you make an abstract idea more concrete or a complex idea seem simple. The more complex your topic, the more you need to use analogies.
Examples of analogies:
“Your white blood cells are like guard dogs. They are ferocious and attack any foreign substance that threatens your body.”
“A computer has a memory just like your brain. You can expand both types of memory. A computer relies on computer chips to expand its memory. The human brain expands memory through strengthening synaptic connections.”
Analogies

9. The Power of Contrast
Contrast can help you persuade your audience by effectively emphasizing how things are different. Use it to influence how your audience interprets the facts you present.
Example of contrast:
“Comparing these two situations would be like comparing the severity of treating a cold to that of performing heart surgery.”
Power of Contrast

10. The key to getting your message across is alignment
The key to getting your message across is alignment. Your words, your voice and tone, and your body language need to send the same message. So let’s look at some verbal and non-verbal ways to help you communicate…
Power of Contrast

11. Verbal & Non-verbal Communications
To help you align and enhance your message, try some of the following tips for using voice and non-verbal communications.
Put your voice to work
Enhance your presentation by speaking loudly and enunciating clearly. Create interest by varying the pitch and the pace of your voice.
Speak loudly enough so that you can be heard by the person furthest away from you
Project your voice by inhaling all the way to the bottom of your lungs, then exhaling as you speak (diaphragmatic breathing)
Avoid drop-off and up-talk by maintaining enough volume throughout each statement you make
Verbal & Non-verbal Communications

12. Vary the pace as you talk, for example:
Use a silent pause to add variety
Speak more slowly when you are making an emphatic point or want to convey fear, anger, disbelief, wonder
Speak more quickly when you want to build energy, excitement, surprise
Use inflection to avoid sounding monotone, for example:
Emphasize certain words/phrases to create interest and a clear message
Add highs and lows to the flow of your voice (vary the pitch)
Avoid unnecessary filler words (ex. um, er, okay, like, etc.) that will distract from your message
Enunciate clearly so that you are not asked to repeat what you just said
Verbal & Non-verbal Communications

13. Non-verbal ways to communicate
Your non-verbal language has a dramatic effect on how you are perceived by your audience. Let’s take a look at some non-verbal tools you may use:
Eye Contact. Try to avoid scanning the room. A good rule of thumb is to focus on each person for about 2-3 seconds before moving on.
Facial Expression. Check that your facial expression is aligned with your message (e.g. smile when delivering good news).
Posture. Stand (or sit) up straight, relax your shoulders, plant your feet about shoulder width apart and unlock your knees.
Gestures. Use large gestures to make the most of your open stance towards your audience. Move your arms from your shoulders.
Movement. The key to movement is moderation. If used sparingly, it can help you make good eye contact with the audience and add interest. It also can help you burn off nervous energy.
Verbal & Non-verbal Communications

14. Becoming a credible presenter.
By applying the tips and techniques you have learned in this slideshow, you will be well on your way to:
Becoming a credible presenter.
Creating a memorable message that your audience believes, understands and shares.
“Storytelling, analogies and contrast help create memorable messages that audiences believe, understand and share.”