Post #10.

1.6. Storytelling. Part 2.

Storytelling is a timeless skill. Today it is especially important in business and marketing, because if you tell a good story people will buy it and will buy your product. But we’re not here to talk about marketing. We’re here to talk about storytelling which is required in networking and in communicating with colleagues at a business meeting or conference.

We all know people that are great storytellers by nature. They are the life of the party and the best person to go to lunch with. They fill in an awkward silence or tell a funny story to engage people around them and create a comfortable atmosphere.

“Those who tell the stories rule the world.” - Plato

The era of PowerPoint and status updates killed our ability to tell great stories and, hence, to communicate well. Generation Z representatives (post millennials) are having the hardest time. What if we changed that and learned to share great experiences not just through video or photographs?

Let’s practice storytelling. Write down a list of great (preferably funny) stories you can come up with any time. This is what you should remember when creating your story:

1. Define the main idea/mood/atmosphere you want to create or get across. Do you want to teach a lesson, make people laugh or share something personal, to engage people around you and make them open up?
2. Learn the story. Know the first and last lines by heart. The beginning of the story should set the stage, introducing the characters. The conclusion should be the emotional peak of the story.
3. Visualize your story with sounds, tastes, scents, and colors. Think of the verbal pictures you would want your listeners to see.
4. Remember: it’s more about the audience than about the story itself. Make sure the story is relevant and your audience is listening attentively. If not, work on your story some more to make it a thriller!

Write down one story a week and very soon you’ll have enough material for any situation! More tips on creating your story here: http://www.eldrbarry.net/roos/eest.htm

#softskills@flessibilita, #communication@flessibilita