I recently had the honor of serving as a judge at the National Speakers Association of Michigan’s Last Story Standing competition. Eleven competitors took the stage, each putting their unique spin on the timeless art of storytelling. Their tales made us laugh, cry, think, and, above all, feel. As I watched and listened, I thought—probably for the millionth time—”Dang! There is nothing more powerful than a great story well told!”
A Legacy of Storytelling
If I love storytelling, it’s because it runs in my blood. My paternal grandmother, Yiayia Kelakos, was the designated griot—or storykeeper—in her small Greek village. She had a gift for spinning rhymed stories and was often asked to share poems at funerals that honored the life of the deceased.
Yiayia passed her storytelling passion to my father, who entertained us with riveting bedtime stories and tales from his experiences in World War II and his early career as a chemist. My mother and older brother also loved telling stories, so I quickly realized that if I wanted to be heard at the dinner table, I had to jump in with a compelling story of my own! Often, one of us would even leap out of our chair to act out parts of our story just to make it more engaging.
The Connection Between Songwriting and Storytelling
My storytelling skills were sharpened through my career as a professional singer-songwriter. I gravitated toward writing songs with a narrative arc, which taught me the art of conveying a compelling story in just three or four minutes. Writing songs made me understand that what you leave out is just as important as what you include.
How Stories Enhance Presentations and Pitches
When I transitioned into my career as a presentation coach, trainer, and speaker, my love for storytelling came along with me. Whether I’m giving a keynote, leading a training, or coaching an executive, I constantly use personal stories, client success stories, or example narratives to illustrate key points.
Why? Because stories stick. Our brains are wired to remember the arc of a story—beginning, middle, and end—more than they retain raw data or abstract concepts. A story that makes your audience feel something will stay with them far longer than statistics or bullet points.
9 Ways to Improve Your Storytelling
There’s nothing I love more than helping my clients fine-tune the stories that can make their presentations or pitches unforgettable. Here are nine principles to make your storytelling more effective:
- Ground Yourself: Don’t start speaking the moment you step on stage. Take a breath, connect with your body and the floor beneath you, and make eye contact with your audience before beginning.
- Just Dive In: Avoid announcing that you’re about to tell a story—it dilutes its impact. Instead, step right into it: “It’s 2 AM, and I’m standing in a snowdrift in front of my locked front door, holding a broken house key, wearing nothing but my tighty-whities.”
- Embrace the Pause: One of the most common critiques I gave at the storytelling competition was: pause more! Rushing through a story can make you blow past crucial moments. Well-timed pauses let your audience absorb key points and build anticipation.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of summarizing events, relive them: “I run into my neighbor, Josie. She says, ‘Guess what? I’m selling my house and moving to Australia!’ And I blurt out, ‘What?! But you just remodeled your house!’” This approach brings the moment to life.
- Engage Your Whole Body: Storytelling is a contact sport. If you stand stiffly while speaking, you’re missing an opportunity to enhance the story’s impact. Let your hands, face, and posture help bring the story to life.
- Dare to Pare: Trim unnecessary words and details. Every word should serve the story. If it doesn’t build momentum, cut it out.
- One Story, One Point: Let your story drive home a single takeaway. Trying to convey multiple lessons at once can confuse your audience.
- Be Conversational: Speak naturally, as if you’re sharing a story with friends around a dinner table. Remember, storytelling is an oral tradition—it’s meant to be heard, not read.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you rehearse your stories out loud, the more refined they become. Practicing also helps you internalize them, allowing you to be more present when delivering them.
Make Your Stories Stick
Stories can make your presentations and pitches more memorable and engaging. So, tell more stories—and tell them well!
Need help fine-tuning a signature story for your next pitch or presentation? Let’s connect and bring your stories to life!
Eleni Kelakos, CSP The Speaker Whisperer®