Great stories expose our flaws and our struggles. This is what makes them inspiring, and not sharing them is such a missed opportunity to connect with your audience. When executives craft talks that will persuade and forge bonds with listeners, we often have to help them recall or dig up latent stories that come from a deep place of personal conviction.
Trigger Stories Through Memory Recall
Sit down with a notepad and think through the nouns that are important to you – the people, places, and things that have shaped your life.
- People
- Think through the relational dynamics and emotions of relationships
- Places
- Get as specific as you can in recalling places that matter to you
- Things
- Take note of objects or items that have symbolic meaning in your life
Create a Story Catalog
Take stock of the important stories in your life right now and catalog them. Having these stories easily accessible to you without an accompanying crisis can help you to live life more fully and have a greater impact on others.
- Use categories to sort by situation, theme, mood, or moral.
Choose Stories with Your Audience in Mind
The same stories will evoke a different response from different people. One story that brings awe to one person could incite rage in another.
- When choosing stories, consider who’s in your audience and what they care about. Carefully consider their values, goals, and interests, and then decide which of your stories fits them best.
