Why do we tell stories?

Every night, after tooth brushing, my pajama-clad identical twin daughters crawl into their beds and ask, “Who is reading the story tonight?” (When you imagine this, don’t forget to image hearing the words in stereo!)

Our nightly family tradition represents the larger tradition of storytelling in our society.

We tell stories to help children and adults make sense of the world. Stories are how we experience life and each other. Each of us is the sum of the stories we tell about ourselves. It’s the same thing with companies, cultures, and even nations. Each are the sum total of a series of stories.

We tell stories to entertain, we tell stories to teach, we tell stories to elicit change. Stories help us to share our cultural expectations, to teach morals and to influence behavioral norms. Storytelling is an integral part of everyday life. Books, magazines, television, movies, the internet, or newspapers- the stories we tell maintain and perpetuate our society.

Stories evolved from a need to communicate our experience with other human beings. When we make a presentation we need to talk not only about the subject at hand, but also about our personal experience with that subject. It is how we share our emotion and passion for a topic.

When we hear a story we are transported, together, outside of the present moment, to another time and place. We live the experience of the speaker through the use of our imagination. Good stories inject emotional and meaning into the content. Stories bring the teller and listener together, making a personal connection to both the speaker and the topic.

How exactly do you incorporate stories into a presentation?

I think the best way to learn is see and hear examples, so I included three of my favorites below. Most likely you will want to listen to them each at least twice. Notice how each of the styles are quite different but each in their own way successful. As you listen, specifically, notice, the items listed below each link.

Presentation One: Hector Ruiz: The power to connect the world
Listen for how he personalizes—tells about his personal relationship with his father
Listen how he weaves a theme
Listen for his sincerity, his believability

Presentation Two: George Ayittey: Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa’s future
Watch and listen for his passion
Watch for vocal variety
Watch for facial expressions
Watch for word repetition
Listen for the use of questions
Listen for analogies

Presentation Three: Rick Warren: Living a life of purpose
Watch for his conversational style
Notice his use of storytelling that includes conversations and questions (repeated questions)
Notice how he repeats certain ideas, certain words (look for his use of stewardship)

Do you have a favorite story teller example? Tell us about it in the comments!