October 30, 2024
If you want to tell incredible stories but your stories are not landing, it’s because of one crucial mistake.
In this article, you’ll discover what that mistake is and three proven storytelling tips to fix it and tell better stories than 99% of people.
So, what’s the mistake?
Imagine you wanted to tell a story to a friend about a recent presentation you gave.
Here’s how most people tell their story:
“I had a presentation, and I was super nervous. And I really struggled to start because I couldn’t think of my words. But in the end, I got through it and did well.”
So, how did you feel in that story?
Not too excited, right?
But this is how 99% of people tell their stories. So freaking boring.
The problem with those stories is that they’re too generic, too abstract. They give a summary instead of sharing a real story.
So, what’s the alternative?
Let me show you how the same story could look, but this time using the three storytelling skills you’ll learn shortly:
“New York, two weeks ago, I’m standing outside this massive classroom door. All I can think is, ‘Philipp, don’t screw this up.’ But I have a plan. As soon as that bell rings, I’ll walk in with my head high, shoulders back, like I own the place. I’ll make my way to the center of the room, stop, and ground myself with a smile. I’ll then go straight into my opening, leaving no time for nerves to kick in. It’s the perfect plan.
Well, the bell rings, and I cautiously open the door.”
See the difference?
The second example is an experience. It’s a movie playing in your head. You can see the scene, the character, the actions.
And you can do the same.
You can become a much more captivating storyteller simply by following these next three storytelling tips:
Say where you are. Name the location.
Examples:
As soon as the audience knows where the story takes place, a movie starts playing in their heads. They hear ‘living room’ or ‘conference room,’ and they start to visualize it. Maybe it’s their own living room or a conference room they’ve been in.
The moment your audience doesn’t know where the story takes place, the movie stops. And that’s when you lose them—that’s when you fail as a storyteller.
Let them see the location at all times.
But to be clear: You don’t have to describe every detail of the location.
“The conference room had a big table, a whiteboard, and a screen for the presentation.”
You don’t have to do that. No one cares. Everyone knows what a conference room looks like. Only share those details if they’re important for the story later on. Keep it simple.
Think of any successful movie in the world. The moment it starts, the character is doing something—walking, driving, arguing—any action.
Not a single movie begins with a long explanation of the scene.
But this is exactly what most people do in their stories.
They somehow think they need to give context about themselves, their work, and the history of the earth.
Don’t do that.
Instead, just dive into the action.
Examples:
To make it more vivid, use the present tense. Instead of saying, “I was looking at my phone,” say, “I am looking at my phone.”
This makes the story feel like it’s happening right now.
This was the hardest lesson for me to learn.
For years, I told stories at an intellectual level. I focused on storytelling skills to make them more interesting. I’d think, “Let me insert dialogue here,” or “Let me share my feelings to make it more emotional.”
Sure, those techniques help. But if you want your story to be unforgettable, you need more than that. You need to relive the moment.
Instead of just talking about what happened, close your eyes and see it again. Relive it as if it were happening right now.
What did you see? How did you feel? What were you thinking in that moment?
No need for fancy techniques—just describe what’s unfolding in front of you as you remember it.
Yes, it might feel uncomfortable sometimes. It could be embarrassing, sad, or even triggering. Your mind might tell you, “Don’t go there. It’s risky.” But that’s exactly what will make your story stand out.
That level of authenticity and vulnerability is what will make your story stand out from all the others.
So, remember: People don’t want summaries. They want experiences. Relive the moment, and let your audience feel like they were right there with you.
Today, we explored three crucial storytelling techniques to create captivating storytelling. But there are a few more! To discover the storytelling secrets that the pros use, check out my next article where I share “7 years of storytelling advice in 55 minutes.“
See you there!
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
