Tell Real Stories in Your Speech and Convince Your Audience

Storytelling is a wonderful technique for the modern public speaker or presenter. As a technique, it works because it allows you to identify the fundamental points that are important within your presentation. And importantly, it enables you to become closer to your audience with the subject, the theme, and the history that's involved in the story. Plus, when you tell real stories in your speech you will make an even bigger impression on your audience. That's because when you tell the real story, your audience will warm to the characters and their plight or otherwise. Storytelling works.

We thought about this last week when we heard the storytelling from Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the prospective mayor of New York, where the 2025 elections to succeed the incumbent, Eric Adams, are due in a week.

Win over Your Audience when You Tell Real Stories

Now, on the face of it, his speech outside a New York mosque concerned Islamophobia or a fear of Islam. And, of course, its consequent effect upon Muslims in New York City. So far so good. And incidentally, well done on the emblematic speech backdrop.

However, when he told a story, many people wondered about its veracity? Did this happen? Is this a fact? Because, let's get real, this is a political speech. And politicians will always dig for the untruths and constructs of their opponents. It's what they do!

I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11 because she did not feel safe in a hijab.

So, they started some investigations. And they discovered that, lo and behold, the story didn't ring true. Key elements of the story were missing, most notably, an aunt, who was the central character of the story, did not live in New York, and certainly did not live in New York in 2001. This was a central element of the story.

Truthful Storytelling is Key

And more importantly, the said aunt in question also doesn't and probably didn't, wear a hijab. Of course, this was another central element of the story.

Now, is that a problem? Well, yes, it is. If you are going to tell a story to reinforce a point or several points within the main block of your speech or your presentation, then it's best to make sure that the story is true or that it rings true. Since there's always going to be a question or two about such matters.

Tell Real Stories and Succeed with Your Speeches/ Presentations

Because if ever there's a moment of doubt as people suspect that the story isn't quite as true, as it should be, then they are going to research your story and discover the truth. In the case of this Zohran Mamdani speech the corrected story now refers to the deceased cousin of his father.

The truth will always out.

So, storytelling remains a fine technique to reinforce the points within your speech or your presentation. It's served many politicians very well in their speech efforts. Plus it's also popular wider afield, such as this Ian Chappell speech. Just make sure that you tell real stories in front of your audience. Especially if you do politics.

When you need some insights into the craft of giving a speech or a presentation, you'll find plenty of public speaking tips and presentation tips on this site. Because with more than 100 top tips for speakers, there's something for every public speaking occasion. And when you are ready to take your own skills that bit further, you're welcome to enroll on an online public speaking course at your convenience.