A simple but wonderfully effective trick of storytelling can help you deal with nasty surprises and come out shining...
Imagine the scenario:
You’re at a conference, and see the organisers panicking:
- The next speaker hasn’t shown up…
And they’re due on stage in half an hour. Yikes!
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There’s a 45 minute gap in the programme, and all these people in the audience.
What the hell can we do?
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Would you like to be the person who steps forward…
Cool, smiling, confident…
And says the wonderful words:
- No problem, I can do that talk.
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In other words, you’re the hero of the hour.
And who wouldn’t want that?
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At risk of being immodest (unusual for me, I know!):
It’s a scenario which has happened to me a couple of times now.
Most recently, a few weeks ago.
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I filled a half hour slot at less than an hour’s notice…
And, apparently, no one was any the wiser it was all a last minute thing.
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So, to the big question, and the point of this blog:
- How can you possibly speak for half an hour or more, with almost no preparation and practice time? Let alone any slides?
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It’s a question well-worth knowing the answer to.
Because you can use the insight in so many different ways:
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Socially, at a party, having a drink, just chatting, if you want to shine.
Professionally, at a networking event, in a job interview, talking amongst colleagues, or with your bosses…
Any time at all it might be handy to make a good impression.
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So, after all that build up, the big reveal.
This miracle of communication is…
- Your storybank of appealing anecdotes.
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Don’t worry about the clever name. That’s just me trying to be Cambridge/intellectual.
The storybank is simply a memory store of anecdotes you can tell in any given situation.
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For example, when I’m teaching it, this is the slide I use:
The 10 titles, on the left, are a selection of the stories I can tell.
I challenge the group to pick one or two, and then relate them.
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Each story has a specific lesson:
Not to rush to judgement, always to ask questions before you get yourself into a situation, apparently bad things can have good outcomes, and so on.
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Some are poignant, some humorous, some thoughtful, some a mix of insights and emotions.
Some last for just a couple of minutes, others go on longer.
But they’re all stories, and take it from me…
Audiences just love being told stories.
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So, whenever I’m in a situation where I need to impress:
For example, a work meeting, when we're discussing a new idea, and I have a thought to add…
I might tell a story to make the point.
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Or a social event, like a dinner, if I want to show myself off as a dazzling conversationist and entertainer (ahem!)…
I might tell a funny story.
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And in the case of the conferences with the missing speaker problem:
I just said…
- I’ll do half an hour on the power of storytelling.
Because everyone - just everyone - no matter their work, background, or outlook, will benefit from knowing about the wonder of stories.
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To reassure the organisers I wasn't just bluffing, I told them:
I’ll introduce the talk by briefly speaking about the remarkable impact stories can have on us and our professional worlds…
Their ability to influence and persuade, to entertain and inspire...
Then I’ll tell a few tales from my storybank of anecdotes to illustrate those points.
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Hey presto, half an hour filled.
And not just filled, but filled with education, entertainment and insights, and much appreciation for my efforts.
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So, here’s your homework:
Get yourself a treat of choice: bottle of wine, beer, some chocolates, whatever…
Sit down, put your phone away, and think of at least 10 interesting, entertaining and insightful stories you could tell for any given occasion.
And I bet you, within a few months, you'll be getting in touch to thank me, and tell me it was well worth the work.