The Pitfalls of “Tell Them What You’re Going to Tell Them; Tell Them; Tell Them What You Told Them”

In the world of speaking, just as in other industries, some clichés are valuable. Others are outdated. One such clichéd speaking admonition is: “Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them.” On the surface, this makes sense. It’s...
Here’s One Reason Why Stories Fail To Connect

Here’s One Reason Why Stories Fail To Connect

Have you ever listened to a story that left you feeling…. Meh? There are several reasons why stories don’t create an emotional connection. One of the most common is lack of motivation for your main character. Consider this story: A prospective client wants to give...

Public Speaking Is Your Number One Fear… Or Is It?

Look at any list of fears and phobias. You’ll find public speaking listed at or near the top. This makes sense, right? Everybody knows public speaking is a terrifying experience. Why is this activity considered our #1 fear? There are various opinions. For years,...

One Simple Rule To Avoid Presenting Too Much Information In Your Speeches

Pick up insights into presenting with more impact and influence. Listen to this engaging and informative clip from the interview between Michael Davis and Captain Jim Palmer of Dream Business Radio. You’ll pick up a simple rule that keeps you from over-stuffing your...

Why Your Story Doesn’t Need To Be One Hundred Percent Factual

A question I often hear about storytelling is, “Does my story have to be true?” What is your knee-jerk reaction to this question? The first time I heard this question, my emotional response was, “Yes! Anything else would be a lie.” I had plenty of ‘proof’ to back this...

What Your Audience Really Wants — And How To Leave Them On A High

(This is the last post in our storytelling Brain CODE series. If you missed the post about the importance of creating stress in your story, you can read it by CLICKING HERE) It’s good to create tension in your listener. It’s NOT OK to leave them feeling that way by...