I was on a video chat with Paul Slattery, iSpeak Certified Master Instructor based in Dublin, Ireland, and he told me about the sparkler and the comet. He said, “Russ, did you use any sparklers when you celebrated American Independence Day on the 4th of July?” With my two kids at college-age now, the answer was “No, but we’ve definitely used them in the past. Why do you ask?”

“They’re brilliant for a short time, but then they’re gone and soon forgotten. Now have you ever seen a comet?” I couldn’t see where my Irish friend was going with this, so I had to ask him another question. “Yes, I’ve seen pictures of comets but where are you going with all this?”

Comets Have a Big Impact

Paul continued, “The comet will have a much stronger impact. It stays with you. It is extremely memorable. Comets are so amazing that some are expected for years before they reach earth. Others are given names because of their significance. People want to see the comets because they’re brilliant, they travel the galaxies, they fade from us, but they carry their brilliance to other parts of the universe…

The stories we tell to our audiences… those are comets.”

There are other ways of engaging an audience like using a catchy quote, a startling statistic, or asking them a thought provoking question. They’ll all get the audience’s attention, but they’re just sparklers compared the comet!

How can we tell better stories?

Here are 5 tips I’ve learned from others on how to bring your stories to life.

1. Have a Point

If the point is to make us laugh and that’s it, then we better be at a comedy club and not a business presentation. Your audiences may enjoy a humorous story, but they value their time at work even more. If they feel like you wasted it with a story with no point, they won’t be happy. How will you relate the story back to the business point you want to make?

2. Use Dialogue

This is simple to do but it has a profound effect on your audience. Instead of just telling us about the information you obtained from a character in the story, why not become the character and speak the information to us just the way you originally heard it from them? Don’t be unprofessional and turn this into over acting, but you might be shocked to hear… using dialogue is one of the most engaging things to any audience!

3. Name your Characters

We don’t relate to something without a name. Think about it! If you work for a corporate company I bet you even name your projects! Apple names their operating systems, Dell names their projects, you name your dog. We relate to characters with names, so name them! If you need to change a name to protect the innocent, then do so, but the audience won’t connect without a name.

4. Get your Timing Right

You’ve heard this before and probably associated with comedians on stage… and it’s true. But it’s also true for anyone in public speaking. I’ve got a line I deliver from one story I’ve told hundreds of times and I’ve recently started playing with the timing for the delivery of that line. It’s amazing when I add a subtle extra long pause before the line it gets a much bigger laugh. Timing is not just for comedy. It could be used to create intrigue, anxiety, tension, or anticipation.

5. Use your Body Language

We are visual creatures and we interpret what we see in conjunction with the words we are hearing. We want everything to have meaning because it makes it easier for us to understand. Think about how you will use your stance, hands and your facial expressions to tell the parts of the story that aren’t in the words. Your audience will love it!

If you want some great advice on storytelling, follow Craig Valentine on social media. He’s a master of telling stories. Someone else I enjoy listening to is John C. Maxwell. He has an amazing way of pulling you in with his conversational tone and infectious smile.

And if you ever get to see my friend Paul Slattery on stage… get ready for a comet!

You know we’re all waiting to hear from you… so go rehearse that story and we’ll be ready the next time you and your comet come to town. I know it’ll be brilliant!

All the best,
Russ