When you hear the term corporate storytelling you probably experience the same amount of excitement as you would if someone said you were invited to their birthday party at the DMV. Most people's immediate thoughts are a cacophony of jargon like "synergy," "paradigm shift," "disruptive innovation,” words that have been sucked dry of all meaning. I can’t tell you how many meetings I’ve been in where I’m just sitting there thinking, “just say what you mean!” OR I’m just bored out of my mind and trying my damnedest to pay attention. With most people working remotely now, it’s so difficult for meetings attendees to maintain focus on the task at hand. The internet is right there…and no one will know if you are looking at TMZ….
However, if we work together we can universally change corporate storytelling and make it something exciting. Just because we’re at work doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
Here’s some ways that you can avoid the boredroom with your next presentation:
1. Ditch the jargon. Speak like a human.
Most people just use buzzwords and acronyms to make themselves seem smart. I would argue that this just creates more of a knowledge gap within your organization. In a lot of meetings you can have a mix of people who have been around the block a few times as well people just starting their careers. The people just starting their careers are going to be afraid to ask what you mean out of fear of sounding stupid. The experienced people won't ask out of fear of sounding out of touch (I know from experience). They’ll get nothing from it, regardless of how smart you sound. Which brings me to my next point…
2. Think of your audience.
They're not robots with a buzzword algorithm. They're people with emotions, desires, and a healthy dose of skepticism. So, speak to them on a human level. Make them laugh, cry, gasp in awe – anything but glaze over. Do you think what you are saying is important? I hope so. Then, make the audience think it's important too. Help them understand it.
3. Humor is your secret weapon.
A well-placed joke can break the ice, disarm your audience, and make them receptive to your message. It can even serve to make your point of view resonate with them. But remember, funny doesn't equal unprofessional. You’re at work, not doing stand-up comedy at Yuk Yuks. Focus on clever wordplay, relatable anecdotes, or just doing something different than everyone else. If you need more tips on how to use humor at word, read this article I wrote.
4. Don't be afraid to get personal.
Share stories about yourself, your employees, your customers, your journey as a company. These are the real-life narratives that connect with people on a deeper level. Plus, they're a lot more interesting than droning on about KPIs, ROI, CAC, UFC, NBA, BTW.
5. Remember, stories are powerful.
They can build trust, inspire action, and create a lasting impression. So, craft your story with care. Use even small meetings for practice. Challenge yourself to make people leave every meeting with you and say, “damn, that was a great meeting.” In your next meeting try to tell the content in a story format or try to find a relevant story that ties into what you are presenting or talking about.
I’m guessing most of you reading this are not working for a company doing something that will have a major positive impact on the human race, like curing a disease or solving world hunger. You’re probably selling sports drinks, some kind of software nobody needs, etc. Point is, we’re all stuck in soul crushing jobs. Can we just make doing the work suck a little less? I think you're smart. Jargon won't impress me.
If you do need help crafting stories or generating creative idea, reach out to Storymind! We're not just a bunch of funny people, we have techniques we’ve used for our own career success. Contact Us
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