Three Fundamental Components Every Story Should Have

Whether it’s to give a speech, pitch to a client, or just to make a point, your presentation needs a story at its very core. An engaging and effective story shares an experience with your audience that creates a connection that taps into their emotions. It ripples through their hearts and minds, leaving them feeling inspired and motivated to act.

An engaging and effective story should have credibility, conviction and authenticity.

Credibility. Your story and the way you share it must be credible. You must showcase your expertise in the area, and through the story show that you have been there and done that. You are not just preaching and giving your opinion, but you have experienced it and are able to showcase your credibility in the area. For example, ‘After 15 years of working in this field I …’ or ‘After experiencing this first hand — not once, but twice …’

Conviction. To convince your audience, you must believe in your content, message or product, and speak with conviction. Conviction showcases that you have not only experienced something first hand, but you are convinced that this actually is the right thing at this moment. It comes from your bones, from the pit of your stomach. You believe it without a doubt. True conviction comes from that feeling and a sense of total strength and authority. For example, ‘I’m totally convinced that this is the only …’ or ‘I’m absolutely certain of this …’

Authenticity. Build trust with your audience. Respect them and create and deliver your story with honesty and integrity. Your story is unique so be yourself; don’t feel you should be or act like someone else. Be authentic to yourself and your message. This is something that I like to call being ‘unapologetically you’. Authenticity is impossible to fake. It’s a sense of congruency and being raw: not worrying about what people think, but standing in a place of total surrender.

Reinforcing what you’ve got to say with these three components has a much better chance of resonating with your listeners and making your presentation stand out.