This Key Skill Turns a Good Conversation to an Effective One
In the world of information, use this skill to become memorable
In school, teachers would share stories concluding with a moral.
Do you remember the story of the hare and the tortoise? “Slow and steady wins the race,” as the story teaches us.
At work, my colleagues and I often share funny, everyday personal stories during lunch.
Some of these stories stick, some invoke thoughts, while others make us laugh. (I found myself chuckling at a few of these memories as I wrote this.)
A few days back, my senior cracked a presentation for a new product idea. He began by telling a story of how a conversation with his friends over drinks sparked the idea. This resonated with the leadership because it had a story picturing the problem.
Now, what do these examples have in common?
It’s not the information or the data. It’s the story that made an impression.
- Would you remember “slow and steady wins the race” if your teacher hadn’t told you the hare and the tortoise story?
- Or would you recall your colleague’s humorous stories if they only shared work-related details with you?
- Can you sit through a presentation with only stats and data, without any story to tie them together?
You wouldn’t. And neither will anyone else.
So, here’s a skill you can use to make your conversations memorable; to make you stand out from the crowd, appear trustworthy and make you memorable.
The art of storytelling.
Stories are the heart of conversation. Stories build trust. Stories bring credibility.
Whether you’re meeting over for coffee, or sharing a presentation, using stories adds value.
Try this: Recall a funny story you’ve heard or read. Now remember how you shared it with others because it was amusing. Notice how you’re still chuckling over it.
That’s the power of stories.
You’ll never remember a statistic or a fact with the same emotional connection. But you’ll do so with a story.
So, here’s your cue:
Weave stories into your conversations. They add warmth and make interactions more pleasant.
They also make you more approachable and memorable.
I write about self-improvement, books & tech.
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