Telling stories, not making presentations
How to shed the pressure of the powerpoint and rediscover the power of the story
You share challenges you’ve faced with your loved ones. You make your friends laugh recounting a shared memory, and you spin tales of bravery and kindness to your little ones at bedtime. When you were young, you wrote postcards to family or letters to Santa, making the case for how good you were that year. You’ve always been a storyteller.
But that isn’t who you are at work. At work you “make presentations,” “write emails,” or “send messages” — there’s procrastination, pain and powerpoint involved. But what if you could reframe those communications into a source of pride for you, and joy for your reader?
It’s been a personal mission of mine to help people exercise their storytelling muscle. My journey began a few years ago as part of a team driving the global digital transformation at McDonald’s. I would have frequent internal monologues, questioning why an iconic American brand should listen to an immigrant who didn’t have fond childhood memories of a Happy Meal. But as I walked the hallways in Oakbrook, Illinois, and tried, failed and tried yet again, I discovered two things:
- If I took the time to read, listen and observe, I had the context I needed to tell the story.
- For people to believe me, I needed to believe my story first. I had to get back to the basics — and that meant not hiding behind a deck.
Since that time, I’ve worked with people in operations, IT, product, sales and design roles to help them shed the pressure of the powerpoint and embrace the power of the story told. I share with you the basics and some tips to help you rediscover the storyteller in you.
Read, listen and observe
You might think stories are dreamt, created and contained in books, movies and plays, but in fact they are all around us — even at work. In the context of work, a story can be any form of communication, from an email to a report to a presentation. To become a better storyteller in an age where our instinct is rapid response, we need to slow it down. We need to remember to read, listen and observe the stories around us.
To become a better storyteller in an age where our instinct is rapid response, we need to slow it down. We need to remember to read, listen and observe the stories around us.
In the name of “efficiency,” we tend to skim messages, emails, and documents. Truly reading and comprehending is a thing of the past. To build your storytelling muscles, start with intentional focus on reading, not skimming, others’ stories. Block 30 minutes of your day to read, absorb and prepare for how you respond to these stories, and you will find both clarity in thought and action the next day.
Practice this kind of focus with all your senses. Listen, don’t just hear. Every person has a story to tell, they just need someone to listen. Set your stopwatch for 3 minutes, and listen to what someone says before responding. Really listen, not just to the words, but to the tone and rhythm of delivery in order to understand the intent and emotion in the story told.
Truly listening means observing, too. Observe, don’t just see. We often focus so much on the spoken word that we forget that 70 percent of our communication is non-verbal. Learning to observe and read that 70 percent is critical to comprehending the story. A tilt of the head, a turn of the shoulder or a furrowed brow can tell you so much about what is left unsaid.
Creating an intentional practice of absorbing others’ stories will give you the creative capital to share your own compelling stories with confidence, no matter the medium.
Share your stories with confidence
When you write
Write your outline in one page in bullets and words. It will force you to have a clear sense of the beginning, middle and end of your story. Do it rapidly and then leave it alone for 24 hours. You will be amazed by the clarity of thought that comes from being away from your story. Your story could be a presentation, a report, or even an email.
With a strong outline in place, you can now fill in the details. The key is not to hold back — write until you can’t think of another thought to put down on paper. Remember you are doing this for yourself, and no one is watching. Don’t strive for perfection. Resist the desire to edit, as that will come in time. Take a break. Then edit yourself ruthlessly. Look at how language flows from one sentence to the next, from one paragraph to the next. Keep your sentences 25 words or less, and write for the comprehension of a 9 year old.
And if you’re starting with a slide deck, don’t. Start in your notebook, with Post-its, or if you prefer a digital tool, a Google doc or Word doc. The reason is simple — presentation tools give you a place to hide. The fonts, colors, and images can distract you from getting your story straight.
For each slide, really think about a thought and write it on a Post-it. You will automatically get judicious in what you will decide deserves its own note. Challenge yourself to sort and resort your notes. Like Scrabble tiles that can make many words, your story can be told many ways.
When you move to a presentation tool, think of each slide as being part of a large canvas. Bring each thought to life on a slide using images, words and shapes. All these elements carry emotion and tone. While it is a canvas, strive to create coherence across the slides. Your story will develop a beautiful rhythm to it.
When you speak
If you are presenting or speaking in a meeting, don’t be afraid to bring your truth to your story. People fall in love with storytellers as much as with stories told. One exercise to know what kind of storyteller you are is to assign a two-word descriptor to yourself. You could be a “persistent hustler,” a “frank idealist,” or perhaps an “observant compass.” This will be the voice you will bring to every story you tell.
And don’t underestimate the power of your physical voice in telling a story. Practice speaking dynamically by reciting poetry, singing songs, etc. to get into the habit of understanding the rhythm in words. If you’re brave, record yourself and listen back. You’ll be a powerful critic of your own work and make small shifts.
Finally: practice, practice, practice. There’s no shame in preparation, and the best storytellers practice extensively. It’s not about memorizing the words or the flow, it’s about knowing the story in your head and heart, both intent and meaning. We all have filler words, such as “um”, “uh”, or “like”. Listen for those as you practice, and the more aware you become, the less they will be a part of your speech pattern.
The road ahead
As you rediscover the storyteller in you, remember you’re building up the stamina to do it with speed, ease and most importantly, joy. The more you write and speak, the more you will find you in your stories. Remember the power in preparation, and be patient with yourself. As Margaret Atwood said, “You’re never going to kill storytelling, because it’s built into the human plan. We come with it.”
Reema’s love for stories began as a child listening to the tales her Grand Aunt Ella told. Edited by Erin Peace. Artwork courtesy of budding storytellers Ayaan Pinto [age 7] and Vihaan Pinto [age 10].
