A good conversationalist will always be a good storyteller.
A good public speaker will always be a good storyteller.
A good storyteller does not just have a bagful of interesting, insightful stories to share, but also knows HOW to narrate the stories for maximum impact.
So here’s a little nugget from me to help you narrate a story better.
Always be aware and cognizant of your audience reaction. A good storyteller is never so consumed by his own narration that he misses cues from the audience.
Unfortunately, we make the mistake of either becoming nervous, or consumed with importance when we take centre stage and are narrating a story.
What we need to remember is that any story, presentation or public speaking is about the audience and not about us – the storyteller.
There will be a wealth of cues that the audience will throw at you. Polite laughter where you expected a barrel of laughs. Or interrupting as a hint to wind up fast. Or restless shifting signalling boredom.
A good storyteller will use these cues to moderate the narration and use them also as a tool to refine the story so that his narration will be sharper and even more impactful next time.
Storytelling is an art. But there is a science to it.
Go ahead, sparkle and shine at your next conversation. Or next presentation.