Stories - The Key To An Effective Presentation
 

If you are a speaker then you should be familiar with the three main speaker stances which include:  superior, equal, and inferior.  You want to employ each of these stances throughout your seminar, speech, or any speaking engagement.

Incorporating stories into your presentation are a great way to cover each speaker stance.  However, if you deliver stories improperly then you end up sounding like you are reaching.  You also run the risk of having an audience that feels like they can’t relate to you.  They may also view you as an “other” meaning that you are successful because you are “different” and that they could never do what you did to be successful.

Story tips…

In a story, start off as an equal.  “I was like a lot of you in the audience.”  Explain your story and how it relates to the situation of your audience.  This helps people to relate to you.  Ask them if they are in the same situation by having them raise their hands.

Then tell how your situation might have been worse.  This changes you into the inferior stance.  People will feel like their situation isn’t as bad as yours.  If you were able to overcome your more difficult situation then they should be able to overcome their situation.

Then go into the superior position and talk about how you successfully overcame your difficult situation.  Explain how you took the time and made the decision to believe in yourself.  You were successful so they should believe you.

Essentially, follow this speaker stance arc during your presentation, equal à inferior à superior.

Tip:  Talk about your situation in detail so people can relate.  Explain how your life has changed for the better.  Provide specific examples.

Then say that you are there to share how you did it and how they can apply it to their own situation.  This enables people to give you permission to teach you.

Marketing Tips Provided to You by:
Matt Bacak, The Powerful Promoter
Author of Powerful Promoting Tips