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Your ability to tell meaningful stories may be your most important business skill. It can help you become known as an expert, create opportunities, save you time and make you more money. Today’s guest should know. He has used this skill to build a speaking and speech coaching business. He is the author of ‘THE Book on Storytelling’ and the Kindle series ‘Sell More With Stories.’ Additionally, he coaches TEDx speakers, CEOs and entrepreneurs, and speakers all over the world. Let’s welcome Michael Davis.
Top mistakes speakers make when telling stories
There are two main mistakes:
- Not telling the internal conflict of their stories. People might not relate to your external conflict but will definitely relate to the internal conflict: not having confidence, feeling afraid, not having the courage to take a step, etc. Those are all relatable.
- Too many stories are in monologue. Instead, use dialogue so the audience feels is in the scene with you. “Don’t retell the story, re-live it.”
Sailing the 7Cs to Sensational Storytelling
These seven steps will help you to create your best stories:
- Character
- Circumstances
- Conflict
- Cure
- Change
- Carryout Message
- Conversations
The most important is change.
How long a story can be?
A good story with these seven elements can be just 2-3 minutes long. Most business stories have to be very short.
Related: The Power of Story in Business
Favorite quotation
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” — Muhammad Ali
Recommended book
Storytelling Made Easy by Michael Hauge
Routine to Shine
Practice silence, practice pausing. The biggest contradiction of speaking is that the best speakers know how to use silence. When you ask a question in your rehearsals be silent for 5, 6, 7 seconds.
Links
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Excellent interview and loved the tips, Michael!
As a podcast guest & interview trainer, story-telling is only EVERYTHING! I have shared this show with my group/students and wanted to say THANK YOU sooo much for the valuable, and valued, content!!