Want To Be A Great Storyteller? First, Break These Habits

THE STORY YOU DECIDE TO TELL MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS HOW YOU DECIDE TO TELL IT.
BY ANETT GRANT

You’ve heard dozens of times that you’re more likely to engage your audience when you tell a story in your presentation. A story that’s powerful and relevant can galvanize people and inspire action. But even otherwise great stories can be told badly. Here are few pitfalls you’ll need to avoid to make sure you don’t sabotage your own storytelling.

Bad Habit No. 1: Giving Too Much Background

Your audience won’t understand your story without at least some background information. But that doesn’t mean they need to know every little thing, so drop the big wind-up. Instead, set the scene for your audience in the most concise way possible, telling them only what they need to know to comprehend your key takeaway.

If you find yourself struggling with this, state the point of the story first (yes, give it away!), and then explain the context. Not only will listeners know where you’re heading, it will also prevent you from running out of time before getting to your main message. No one likes an unfinished narrative.

Bad Habit No. 2: Telling, Not Showing

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Show, don’t tell.” This classic piece of advice for fiction writing also applies to storytelling for public speakers. No one wants to hear you spout facts for half an hour—they want action and dialogue (more on that later). For example, I was recently working with a client who told a story about visiting a few of her company’s facilities and being struck by how engaged everyone was. I asked her, “How did you know they were engaged?” She replied, “Everywhere I went, they asked me, ‘Why are we doing x?’ ‘What could we do to improve y?'” It was a helpful example to support her assertion, and as simple as it was, it let me visualize her interactions with employees. Even small doses of narrative evidence can go a long way to backing up the point you want your story to make.

Show, don’t tell. No one wants to hear you spout facts—they want action and dialogue.

Bad Habit No. 3: Taking Too Much Time

Humans have a short attention span—frequently a matter of mere seconds before losing focus. If your story is too drawn out, you risk losing your audience’s attention. But how long is too long? Think of it like a basketball shot clock, which gives players just 24 seconds to get the ball in the basket to keep the game moving. Then apply that logic to storytelling.

I know it sounds brief, but an ideal length is between 1:30 and 1:45. That’s all you really need to get in a good anecdote before moving on to the next piece of your message. When you start getting close to that two-minute mark, you need to start wrapping up your narrative. In public speaking contexts, anyhow, effective storytelling is brief storytelling.

The Path Forward

Breaking these habits takes practice and self-awareness. The next time you prepare a presentation, record yourself telling your story. Listen back and ask: Did I give too much background? Did I show or just tell? Did I keep it tight and focused? With each iteration, you’ll get better at crafting narratives that captivate rather than lose your audience.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to tell a story—it’s to tell a story so well that your audience can’t help but be moved by it. Master these fundamentals, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming the kind of storyteller people remember long after your presentation ends.