Become a better storyteller.
This isn’t just a challenge for preachers and teachers (although a strong case can be made for the importance of narrative preaching) but for everyone who talks to people!
When you talk and share stories or insights with others you want to leave people better than you found them. Make an impact in their lives.
That being said I’m aware the bulk of those interested in being better speakers are those who probably do it for a living including but not limited to Pastors.
Becoming a better storyteller will make you a better preacher. I love to read and I purposely throughout the year pump the brakes on reading theology or spiritual growth books in order to read a novel or biography. Reading other people’s stories makes me a better storyteller. And being a better storyteller makes me a better preacher. Sharpening the gifts that we’ve been given and multiplying them instead of burying them into the ground.
You have a gift of storytelling even if you don’t think so.
You have too much to offer to allow the attention of your audience to wander from what you are saying.
Trained professionals make what they do seem effortless.
Amateurs produce inferior products even though they work harder at it.
What makes the difference?
Those who master at some point in time made a major investment in tools and learned how to use them.
The same is true with storytelling.
When you tell stories don’t work harder and accomplish less.
Make an investment in useful tools. Here are 7 that will make you a better communicator:
Imagination
In order to properly tell a story, you have to see it in your mind.
Try picking up an imaginary object and don’t let it disappear until you let it down again.
Facial Expressions
Be quiet and let your face speak. The most important tools you have when telling a story are the ones the audience sees not hears.
Slow down your spoken words so your face can tell its part of the story.
Body Movements
Be aware of what your body is telling people. The audience is listening to what you say and comparing it to what they see. Remember don’t give nervousness the freedom to gesture.
The Voice
Slow down, control the quality, and choose your words wisely. Protect your voice never a good excuse for damaging it. Make sure you warm your voice up before publicly telling stories like a singer in a band would.
The Pause
Skillful communication requires the presenter to stop talking regularly. It gives people the opportunity to process and picture when you’re describing. Also, it takes a certain amount of confidence to stop talking when standing in front of an audience. Reduce what you’re saying with your words to make room for silent communication.
The pause:
· Encourages the painting of mental pictures
· Allows time to emphasize facial expressions
· Creates anticipation
· Gives life to the characters in the story
· Decreases the use of filler words (um… uh… so… you know…)
Nervousness
Nervousness is great. You should be happy to be nervous. When you feel your nervousness is when you’ll do a good job. When you don’t feel it is when you should begin to feel nervous. If people tell you they’re not nervous it’s because they’ve given it a different name. Perhaps they have gained control of it and are using it to their advantage.
Value nervousness because:
· It is a gift
o God made our bodies with what we need to function at our highest potential.
· It prompts us to prepare
o We don’t want to fail, this makes us nervous, which should make us well prepared.
· It activates our senses
o Nervousness pours adrenaline into your system making your mind sharp and full of ideas. Your smile is genuine and optimism takes over.
· It gives an extra surge of energy
o There are times when people suffer from headaches, sore muscles, pain, sickness, even stuttering but as soon as they starting talking all was forgotten until they walked off stage.
Confidence
The first order of business is to relax the audience they have to know they can trust you. They’re looking for confidence in your eyes, face, gestures, and mannerisms. They want to see you have made an emotional investment in your presentation. It starts to put them al ease if its clear you trust what you’re about to do.
· Confessions are rarely appropriate
o An apology before a presentation is an unrefined way of asking for reassurance.
o An apology after a presentation is a crude way of asking for a compliment.
o Neither is appropriate. Both are unprofessional.
· Practice using the microphone.
o Do a sound check
Ethel Barret author of Storytelling, It’s Easy says this:
A story, if it is to fulfill its purpose, ruthlessly demands the center of the stage, so its characters can come to life and have their being. You as a storyteller must make a choice. This, if you have followed all instructions, is not going to be easy to take… Now that you have practiced all the ways and means and know all the tricks- most of them you must forget. At least you must forget them as such. And in time, you will. They will become a part of you, and you will not be conscious of them as techniques- they are just you, but a newly developed and disciplined you, lifted to a higher plane of artistry. And the day will finally come when you realize that there is not room on the platform for both you and the story; one of you has to go. That will be the day when you forget yourself completely, lose your identity in the story. You are the story. It is the highest form of art.
For more information, tips, and knowledge read The Art of Storytelling by John Walsh.
It is a great resource for becoming a better storyteller.