Giving memorable speeches has a lot in common with good storytelling. A good storyteller captivates his audience with a story. A good speaker captivates his business audience with a good speech. In the world of business, speeches are the art of telling a persuasive, yet informative and entertaining story. The craft is in the writing and the art is in the storytelling.
Instructions
1. Watch good storytellers and look for the elements of good storytelling. What is it that you like about their performance? What elements do you think work well and that also suit your style and delivery of a good story? How is a topic delivered and how does the speaker carry herself. All of these elements can be drawn upon when creating your message and speaking strategy.
2. Determine exactly what it is you want your listeners to get from your speech. Business leaders speak to audiences to motivate them, as well as to inform and entertain them. Business people do not attend the keynote speech at a conference just to be entertained. They expect to get something out of the speech, as well. They expect information and motivation that will improve their sales skills or other skills important to business.
3. Be clear on the answers to these three key questions as you prepare "your story" or speech for a business audience: Who is your audience? Why are you giving this speech? What do you expect to accomplish in your speech? Your answers to these questions will guide you through the process of preparing and delivering the message in your speech.
4. Put together your skills to deliver your insight into some aspect of business whether it is finance, banking, investments or sales. Good storytelling is powerful and can motivate people, as well as entertain them. Your influence as a speaker is powerful. It is your words, body language, facial expressions and interpretations that can take a hum-drum speech and make it meaningful to your target audiences.
5. Incorporate an effective, purposeful story into your speech. Select stories that are a good match for your storytelling skills. Be selective in your choice of stories and then put yourself into the mix by practicing your delivery so that it is woven into the purpose or objective of your speech.
6. Demonstrate your experience and expertise through the course of your story. Mention your background or reason for being there, but show them in the crafting and delivery of your speech.
7. Show them you are happy to be there to deliver your speech. Be engaging, animated and use facial expressions and body language to emphasize the content of your speech in an entertaining way.
8. Emphasize the points you want to make as though you are revealing the plot of a fascinating story. Sequence your points so that they are right there with you through the unveiling of your message.
9. Watch your audience so that you can gauge their comprehension and enjoyment of your speech
10. Practice your pacing: your words, movement and facial expressions so that they work for you, resulting in an artful blend of storytelling elements.
