UCanMakeItIfYouTry – Tell Better Stories
TOP TIPS
Do you know how to tell a story? Not enough people know how to tell a good one. People often stumble over their words or, worse yet, never get to the point. Being a good storyteller takes some work, but it pays off! Here are some tips to help you tell better stories.
1 – Know Your Audience
Telling a good story is much easier when you know your audience well. It allows you to deliver your story more meaningfully and connectedly. You know what people will want to hear – and just as importantly – what they don’t want to hear.
2 – Grab Their Attention with a Hook
Telling your story chronologically with a detailed backstory will likely elicit some yawns. Start your story by grabbing people’s attention. Think about an exciting opening that will get people hooked. Once they are hooked, you can fill in the details.
3 – Keep It Simple and Concise
The longer you draw out a story, the more people will tune you out. When preparing your story, consider how you can get the most impact with the least amount of words. This can be accomplished by choosing strong adjectives and inflecting your voice.
4 – Know What Emotions You What to Evoke
You draw the listener into the scene before them by including emotional elements in your storytelling. They should feel what you felt at that moment! This will keep them more engaged and eager to hear more.
5 – Avoid Speaking in a Monotone
No one wants to listen to a story told in a monotone voice. Vary the volume and cadence of your speech. Don’t be afraid to get animated. Speed up for the exciting parts and slow down for the dramatic ones.
6 – Don’t Rush the Delivery
You may feel a little anxious when delivering your story. That’s natural. You should be sure to slow down your speaking tempo, so you don’t rush through your story. People will either tune out or miss something important if you speak too fast.
7 – Make Eye Contact and Use Your Hands
You may lose your audience if you never look at them. By making eye contact, you bring them into your story. They become part of the process and will trust what you share more than if you don’t look at them.
8 – Practice Is Key
Athletes and musicians will tell you that the key to their success has little to do with talent and much to do with practice. They spend hours practicing moves, scales, or whatever else they need to perfect. Storytelling is no different. You will get better at telling stories the more you practice Get out there and start telling more stories!
9 – It Is All About Connecting with Others
Telling a story is not about placing yourself in the spotlight. It is about engaging others around you. No one enjoys listening to a self-serving story at a dinner party. Others want to share stories, too, and yours can be a great starting point for others.
FAST-ACTION STEPS
1 – For the next ten days, write down one thing that happened to you during the day. It doesn’t have to be extraordinary. Try to jot down the memorable things.
2 – Research talks and speeches online. Apply what you learn. Note the differences between those who keep your attention and those who don’t.
3 – Record yourself practicing your storytelling. Replay it and look for areas to approve upon. For example, were you rushing through the delivery? Was your tone engaging?
- About the Author
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James Donaldson
Former Owner and Director of The Donaldson Clinic (an outpatient physical therapy clinic)
James completed a 20 year professional basketball career in the spring of 2000. James established The Donaldson Clinic in (January 1990 – 2018) (shortly after a career threatening knee injury) with an idea that he would eventually become a physical therapist. He is a strong advocate for Women & Minority owned businesses and is very involved with various Chambers of Commerce. He understands what it takes to sustain a strong business environment that is conducive to the success of businesses overall.
James is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the N.B.A. with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Utah Jazz. He also played for several in Spain, Italy and Greece of the European Leagues plus toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an N.B.A. All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac – 10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
He now devotes the majority of his time to various community activities, and toward the Gift of Life Foundation, speaking on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, youth groups and is the author of the published “Standing Above the Crowd” of which you can learn more about at www.standingabovethecrowd.com and is available for sale now.
In 2021, James published Celebrating Your Gift of Life: From the Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy. www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
James is a 40+ year resident of Seattle. He believes in being a role model of success and professionalism for the scores of young people that he devotes so much of his time to. He currently serves on several Boards and/or committees and is a member of many organizations. (Please see complete listing on back)
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win – Win” environment for everyone involved, and being the best he can be!
