How to Tell Stories That Create Impact in Public Speaking and Everyday Communication
People do not remember what you say, they remember how you made them feel. This principle applies to every form of communication: one-on-one conversations, large presentations, interviews, and social media content.
Your goal as a communicator is for your audience to share your story with others. A story is more than words; it is the emotion attached to your message. When your story resonates, it stays with people long after you have spoken.
Storytelling is a superpower that most people feel they do not have. In reality, they simply do not know how to structure or deliver their stories. Every day contains small, powerful moments that can become compelling stories. The key is avoiding too much context or irrelevant detail, which can dilute your impact. Attention is the currency of communication, and capturing it is the first step in making your story unforgettable.
Start Your Story With a Bang to Capture Attention Immediately
The opening of your story is crucial. People have limited attention, and the first few seconds determine whether they will stay engaged. Think of every James Bond movie, which begins with an intense, gripping moment that pulls viewers in immediately. Your stories should start in the same way.
Open with a striking moment, a question, or an emotional hook. This initial spark ensures your audience is invested in your story and ready to follow the journey you are about to take them on.
Trigger Emotion to Make Your Story Memorable
Emotion is what makes stories unforgettable. Before you tell your story, identify which feelings you want to evoke in your audience. Some options include:
Laughter
Sadness
Happiness
Tension
Relief
Knowing the emotion allows you to tailor your story for maximum impact. Stories that connect emotionally with your audience are more likely to be remembered, shared, and acted upon. In professional settings, aligning stories with your audience’s experiences increases engagement and relevance.
Keep the Story Moving to Maintain Engagement
Boredom is the enemy of storytelling. Too much context or unnecessary detail can cause your audience to lose interest quickly. Every element of your story should either be a defining moment or lead to one.
Ask yourself with every sentence:
Is this a defining moment in the story?
Does this move the story toward the next defining moment?
If the answer is no, remove it. Efficient storytelling is about providing only the moments that matter, making your message clear and memorable. Always remember, storytelling is about your audience, not about you. Give them what they need without unnecessary filler.
Use Everyday Moments to Build Connection
The most relatable stories come from ordinary experiences. Sharing everyday moments allows your audience to see themselves in your narrative. Examples include:
Overcoming a minor challenge at work
Learning a new skill
Turning a routine situation into a meaningful experience
These relatable stories create strong connections because your audience experiences similar situations. By showing how everyday events can lead to significant outcomes, you make your message practical, engaging, and memorable.
Take Your Audience on a Journey With Your Story
Stories are compelling because they take people on a journey, allowing them to imagine themselves achieving the same results. They inspire the thought: “Maybe I could do this too.”
A well-structured story should include:
Start and finish points: Where the journey began and the outcome achieved
Struggles along the way: Challenges you faced and overcame
Defining moments and key turning points: Decisions or events that shaped the outcome
Emotional journey: How you felt at each stage
When your stories are structured as journeys, your audience gains a roadmap. They understand not only the message but also how to apply the insights to their own lives.
Make Your Story Actionable
A story without action is entertaining but forgettable. Include clear, actionable steps that your audience can take based on your story. This could be:
A small change in approach they can apply immediately
A mindset shift for problem-solving
A technique they can use in daily life
Actionable storytelling combines emotional engagement with practical value, making your story both memorable and useful.
Actionable Takeaways for Powerful Storytelling
When telling stories avoid giving too much detail, context, or waffle. You should open with a bang and capture attention from the start.
Keep the story moving — if it does not add value to the audience don’t say it.
Make your story a journey. This could be overcoming challenges, learning something new, or how you turned the ordinary into the extraordinary. The key thing is sharing some actionable items that will help your audience go on a similar journey.
When these principles are applied, your stories become tools for engagement, inspiration, and long-term impact. Master storytelling and engagement with the tips in the Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking
More from Liam Sandford
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