Storyteller Tactics in use
Your Voice Will be Heard!
How to use storyteller tactics to make people listen
Do you ever wish that people would listen carefully when you have something important to say? You talk about some matter of fairness or urgency, some clever idea, a plan to make life better, a solution to a problem, a blessing, a request, a declaration of love.
Things that come from somewhere deep and you look around and they are checking their phones, whispering to their neighbour, gazing out the window, or just thinking what they want to say as soon as you give up the microphone.
Sound familiar?
What if I told you that there was a solution?
How would you feel if I told you that you could capture the attention of others and hold it?
That your audience could and would listen to you with their focus on every word you say like the audience at a TED talk: attentive, receptive, persuaded and finally inspired.
Here’s an example. She’s not famous, she’s a little nervous and stiff to begin with, but we can feel her heart beating and we respond as she tells story after story, explaining why and how they work.
Telling a story begins with listening. Listening with attention, the same way we want people to listen to us. Understand your audience, build a connection, craft your message in a way that works for them.
Let me tell you a story
I was once at a conference in Toronto. Nothing fancy, nothing professional. Just a bunch of book club people talking about running a book club.
One presenter had a problem.
Big problem; she couldn’t speak. She could open her mouth but nothing came out but squeaks, she was so nervous. The more she obsessed over giving the talk that she had lovingly prepared, the worse she got.
Someone offered to be a backup and read her notes but she whispered that she could maybe make a start, smile at the audience, croak out “Hello”.
And she did. We all strained to hear and understand her, leaning forward and willing her to speak louder and more confidently about a topic we — and she — cared about.
She paused, looked around a room so quiet you could hear the breathing of a hundred anxious people, and her voice became stronger, more natural, more powerful and by the end of the session the difficulty was getting her to stop so the next speaker could have their turn.
It was love that did it
Her love of her topic, the love of the audience, the connection. Once she realised that everyone in the room was on her side, she relaxed, the words flowed out, and there was no need for me to stand up and read her notes.
I stood up with everyone else to clap and smile and cheer her off the stage. What a moment!
Is there something close to your heart that you’d like to share with others? Something you love talking about?
Here’s the solution
Storytelling is as old as time. Our ancestors sat around a fire at night and told stories. Some stories — and some storytellers — were better than others and some of those ancient stories survive to this day.
There are ways of crafting and telling a story. Principles, plots, memory tricks, little hooks on which to arrange the story, the setting, the characters, so that the listeners feel that they are a part of it and want to hear more, want a good ending.
You can read books and take courses about how to tell stories.
You can gain confidence, know that you are using proven tactics, following in the mindsteps of great storytellers, building your skills, feeling the love.
And maybe making a difference in the world. Persuading others to a better way. Helping them. Lifting them up. Watching as they make a decision that will change their lives and the lives of those around them.
The best solution I have found is something that fits in the palm of my hand.
A box of cards.
Each one gives a single storytelling tactic, explaining it, illustrating it, giving examples, and linking it to other tactics.
The cards are the highlights from out of all those books and courses, distilled into a system of colour-coded, plain English instructions.
You still have to do the work, use your own creativity
It’s the difference between setting off on a journey to a point beyond the horizon through forests and mountains and rivers without knowing exactly where you are going and what difficulties you will meet along the way, and setting off with a map and instructions on where to find guides and shelter and companions.
You have to make the journey yourself — nobody can do that for you — but you have confidence and knowledge and the voices of all those greats from the past telling you that you can do it, you are good enough, you will prevail.
I recently discovered these cards and it has made a world of difference for me. I’ve been telling stories all my life, even published a few books, but never had any great success. Never enough to give up my day job.
Now, though, things have changed.
I pull out my Storyteller Tactics cards, find a few that look useful for a current project, and read through them, my mind full of ideas and possibilities.
I have a long way to go on my journey, I know, but I have the confidence of a guide to show me the best paths to take.
And I’d like to share my love of finding this useful guide with others.
I’ve written a series of stories about the system, the cards, how to use them.
Read my free reviews, beginning here:
The cards are expensive but I show you how to get them — or at least the contents — free and legally. If you want to buy them, I can offer a 15% discount just by entering my code BRITNIPEPPER at checkout.
Those boldface links are affiliate links and I receive a few dollars for each purchase, at no cost to the buyer.
I offer links to other independent reviews — both print and video — and if you want a no-strings-attached link to the maker’s website, here it is:
Look into these, make up your own mind, but always ask yourself, do I have something valuable to say and do I want people to listen to me?
The Storyteller Tactics cards are the shortest, clearest, and best path to take.
Britni
