From the moment you take to the stage, you have a few minutes to set the tone for your talk. During this time you will also get a feel for what type of audience you will be engaging with. How can you ensure that your audience will pay attention? With all the distractions that could occur, your biggest competition is the smartphone. We are all glued to them throughout the day, and they provide us with constant information. They keep us connected to what is going on in the world. But the biggest reason the smartphone is your competition while you are on the stage is due to the stories they tell. 

From popular social media sites such as Instagram or Twitter to long-time established news outlets such as CNN and Business Insider, millions of stories that occur outside of our world are always available at our fingertips. Storytelling was one of the first forms of communication long before the array of technology we have available to us today. With that said, the question lies: What must you do to compete with this constantly evolving competition? You must tell a story that is so relatable and honest that your audience has no choice but to pay attention. It must paint a picture and invoke feelings of happiness and sadness. There also needs to be a lesson that stems from your story. Upon first look, this may seem challenging, but the best part is that we are all capable of telling a great and impactful story. 

The art of storytelling has been around for centuries. It can be traced back to as early as 17,000 B.C. when hunters who lived during the Late Stone Age drew animals that they encountered on the cave walls. Over 19,000 years later, the fact remains that if you can entertain with a great story and it is purposeful, then you will be able to leave a massive influence on anybody that listens. One would be a fool not to incorporate a story, especially since we all have a ton of personal ones at our disposal. It is one of the easiest ways to keep an audience's attention and leave room for you to be memorable long after you have left the stage. 

 Think about when you were a child and someone read you a story. Or, think about a time when you read a story to a younger loved one. Do you remember the look of intrigue in their eyes as they listened to your every word? Story-time is probably the one occasion in which you can get a child to be as still as possible because they are not only focused on your words, but they are even more focus on the picture you are painting for them. As adults, the majority of us still go back to that child-like mentality when it comes to listening to a great story. That human instinct never leaves us. It is your responsibility to tap into that instinct while you are on the stage. 

 The greatest comedians have used storytelling in its rawest form by talking about their life or what is happening around them. Their stories are relatable because they connect with your emotions. The late-great Robin Williams made his audiences practically cry tears of joy through his many unique improv skills. You may not be as funny as Robin Williams, but you can employ a tactic that he always used: "Show it, don't just tell it." Highly considered as the top improv comedian of his time, Robin Williams would act out the stories he would tell. The life he possessed on stage helped him to keep everyone's attention. 

 You can bring your words to life as well. If you are talking about how you use to love playing on your grandmother's farm, then create that scene for your audience. If you are describing the time you broke your mother's favorite vase, then show the audience your facial expression the moment you got caught. You don’t have to be a comedian, but you do need to bring the audience into your world. It will require charisma and risk-taking. You have to be willing to put yourself out there. When telling a story, you should be willing to give the audience all of you.

Make your next presentation, your best presentation!

Sincerely,

Julian A. Leonard
(Founder of The JLeonard Group LLC)

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