Jim Key, DTM, 2003 World Champion of Public Speaking
One of the delivery techniques I frequently use to incorporate a story into a presentation is what I refer to as the dissociative (or “step away”) storytelling technique. This is where the speaker tells part of the story, then pauses the story (and frequently moves away from the physical spot where they were telling it) to make some outside-the-story observations or to draw focus to a certain part of their message. This might be something very brief, or it can be something that takes a larger portion of time. Following this, the speaker resumes the story from the point at which they had previously paused it and continues.
Anita Fain Taylor, DTM, 3rd place in 2018 World Championship of Public Speaking
Storytelling can be therapeutic for the speaker and the audience. Most recently, I shared a personal challenge I’m experiencing. Through self-reflection, I turned a negative situation into something positive simply by putting myself (and the audience) in someone else’s shoes. I wanted the audience to reflect on themselves and (hopefully) approach life differently. They were listening to my speech, and so was I, because I needed to hear it for myself, from myself to myself.
Mas Mahathir Mohamad, 3rd place in 2022 World Championship of Public Speaking
Powerful stories come from describing a struggle or talking about an aspiration. Think about it: If someone told you a story of how they got up, got dressed, got to work, came home, slept, and repeat … would you feel excited or hooked by the narrative? Probably not. But when a storyteller shares a story about something difficult they want to overcome or a goal that they want to achieve, it keeps us on our toes wanting to know what’s next.
Editor’s Note: Find additional storytelling advice from these contest winners and more in this September 2023 article.
—Toastmaster magazine staff
