This week, you’re going to learn why storytelling in a presentation is so important and what to include in your story to make it interesting and keep the audience’s attention.

When given a presentation topic, most people immediately think about what relevant facts they should include or how they can meet the presentation criteria. To me, that is the absolute wrong way to approach a presentation.

Want to know why and find out what to do instead? Check out the video below to learn more or skip down below and read to find out what to do.

If YouTube is unavailable in your area, click the following link to download or view the video: The secret of making people pay attention during your presentation (Length: 3:57)

Alright, so this presentation tip was inspired by Oren Klaff’s “Pitch Anything,” which I reviewed recently and highly recommend…Thanks, Oren!

Anyway, when you present the facts to your audience, the audience immediately begins to analyze your presentation content. And when a person is analyzing something they are generally not excited by that thing. What this means is that the person becomes bored almost instantly.

So what do you do?

What you should do when you are given a presentation topic and criteria for your presentation is to immediately begin thinking in terms of a story with a beginning, middle, and end and some sort of problem or situation to overcome. Even better is to make that problem or situation something that is dramatic, that has a time restriction, and where the consequences are very severe.

If you can’t do that or it’s too difficult, then tell a human story of where you were, where you wanted to go, and how you got there or are still working at getting there.

Major benefit to doing this

This type of presentation style, no matter what the topic or criteria, is definitely possible. But the major benefit of this presentation style is to draw the audience into your presentation, keep their attention, and not allow them to analyze your presentation.

I’m not suggesting that you are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of your audience, but rather to communicate with the part of their brain that is actually going to pay attention and be interested in your presentation. And then when you do have to present facts, or data, or other types of statistical information, then do so, but do it in a very simple, easy to understand way that leaves no doubt in the audience’s mind what you are trying to convey to them.

But before and after you do that, wrap that information up with a story. Then include additional information or more detailed information in the form of a handout.

Isn’t this easy?

I know that this is not easy because it’s totally different than what most people would do, but the result is going to be worth it because your presentation will be much more interesting and memorable. And you won’t have to sit there and try to memorize your presentation script or memorize every single detail of your presentation because you can just tell a story, which is much easier for you to remember.

Okay, question time…

“What do you think are the three biggest presentations people have to give in their lives?”

Please leave your answer below. Let me know if you have any questions about this particular tip or about presentations in general.

Thanks and talk to you again soon.

Carl