When’s the last time you watched a movie that had you thinking hours after the end credits?
Do you remember the last book you read that had you thinking for weeks after you finished the last page?
Humans use metaphors to communicate ideas, concepts, and theories; it’s how we’re able to relate and connect to one another.
This is why it’s so important to understand that keynote speakers who use story are more likely to impact their audience at a deeper level than those who do not.
So, when you’re searching for a keynote speaker, make sure you’re checking to see if your speaking prospects have a story to tell along with their presentation.
Here are 4 ways a great keynote speaker can use story to impact their audience.
4 Ways Keynote Speakers Use Story
Know The Audience
Will your speaker be addressing a corporate, start-up, or small-business workforce? Does your conference have a specific theme or message that you want delivered? Knowing your audience can be leverage to tell stories that actually matter to those listening.
A keynote speaker who uses story can show the information or advice they have in action. You see, when humans encounter story, they project themselves into the story. They imagine themselves going through the trials and victories of the main character.
This means that when a great keynote speaker tells a story that represents the lessons being communicated, it will impact the audience on a deeper level.
Determine the Purpose
As mentioned above, the theme and message of your event is important to the speaker. When utilizing story, there is a purpose to telling the story. Without a purpose, the story becomes a documentation of events that don’t really connect to anything.
The purpose of your event tied into thte story being told can be super powerful in impacting and influencing those listening.
Engage the Audience
Have you ever heard of “breaking the fourth wall”? In theatre, the fourth wall is the invisible curtain between the audience and those on stage. A speaker has a unique opportunity to tell stories and address the audience. When one breaks the fourth wall, the suspended belief in the crowd evaporates, and the story is revealed as a tool to influence thinking.
Great keynote speakers break the fourth wall with intent and purpose. They’ve mastered when they can and cannot bring the audience into the story so that they can increase impact and influence.
A great story will entertain and educate, but engaging the audience directly will create an experience they’ll remember for a long time — especially is the story is a compelling one.
Evoke Emotion
You may have heard in some capacity that a speaker needs to evoke emotion from their audience to make their message stick. While this is true, the great keynote speakers will do this and make it look effortless. How do they do it? Well, the get specific. The specifics of any situation allow for the audience to go deeper into their own experiences and relate to what’s being told in the story.
Listen to potential speakers stories. If they get specific with details, their stories are more likely to resonate with the audience.
How to Find Great Storytellers
When you’re in search of a great speaker, listen to their stories. Look for specifics. See if they make you feel something in your gut.
Humans are hardwired for story, and we’re intuitively searching for meaning. Stories give us the opportunity to understand the world around them. Here are the key factors you want to look for in speakers who use storytelling:
- They have a theme
- They have a purpose
- They get specific
- They involve the audience
If you’re looking for keynote speakers who use story to engage and connect with their audiences, let Platinum Speakers Agency know! We have a roster of some of the best keynote speakers in the industry.