Storytelling in Effective Presentations

By Jon, on October 14th, 2009
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Jumping Into Ocean As I write this I’m on my way to Las Vegas, one of my favorite places, to celebrate my one year wedding anniversary. I’m somewhere around 30,000 feet above ground, being transported from chilly, windy, slightly stressful Connecticut to a place deemed as the “Adult Disneyland.” There’s an excitement in the voyage from a homeland to a vacationland, from once place to another.

An effective presentation can do the same for its audience. Telling a story can remove the audience from the boardroom, classroom, or auditorium to another, more desirable, place. A motivational speaker can take a down-and-out soul to a place where their dreams have come true. A coach can take slumping team and envision their success.

As I fly I’m watching one of my favorite movies – “Miracle”, the story of the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team. They were tremendous underdogs. A bunch of college kids against a well oiled, dominant hockey machine. They had little shot, if any. But Herb Brooks marched into that locker room and told them the story of what was about to happen that night.

“One game. If we played ‘em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game…not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world.

You were born to be hockey players – every one of you. You were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It’s over. This is your time. Now go out there and take it.”

Even if it’s only make-believe…even if its only momentary…an effective story can have a profound effect on the audience.

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