How can you use storytelling to engage auditory learners on your team?

2 How to craft a good story

A good story has three essential elements: a clear structure, a compelling character, and a relevant message. A clear structure helps the listeners to follow the plot, the logic, and the outcome of the story. A compelling character helps the listeners to relate to the story, to feel the emotions, and to care about the outcome. A relevant message helps the listeners to grasp the main point, the purpose, and the value of the story. To craft a good story, you need to have a clear goal, a target audience, and a key takeaway. You also need to use vivid details, sensory language, and emotional appeal to make your story engaging and memorable.

3 How to deliver a good story

A good story is not enough if you don't deliver it well. You need to use your voice, your body, and your tools to enhance your storytelling. Your voice is your main instrument to convey the tone, the mood, and the emotion of your story. You need to use variations in volume, pitch, pace, and pause to create interest, suspense, and impact. Your body is your secondary instrument to reinforce your voice, to express your personality, and to connect with your listeners. You need to use gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and movement to add energy, clarity, and rapport. Your tools are your aids to support your story, to illustrate your points, and to increase your credibility. You need to use visuals, sounds, props, or quotes to add variety, evidence, and appeal.

4 How to adapt your story

A good story is not static. It is dynamic and flexible. You need to adapt your story to different situations, audiences, and objectives. You need to consider the context, the purpose, and the feedback of your storytelling. The context is the setting, the time, and the occasion of your storytelling. You need to adjust your story to fit the environment, the duration, and the expectations of your storytelling. The purpose is the goal, the outcome, and the action of your storytelling. You need to align your story with the objective, the benefit, and the call to action of your storytelling. The feedback is the response, the reaction, and the evaluation of your storytelling. You need to monitor your story to gauge the interest, the engagement, and the impact of your storytelling.

5 How to practice your story

A good story is not improvised. It is rehearsed and refined. You need to practice your story to improve your confidence, your delivery, and your effectiveness. You need to use three types of practice: solo, peer, and live. Solo practice is when you practice your story by yourself, using a recorder, a mirror, or a camera. You need to use solo practice to polish your content, your voice, and your body. Peer practice is when you practice your story with a colleague, a friend, or a mentor. You need to use peer practice to get feedback, suggestions, and support. Live practice is when you practice your story with a real or a simulated audience. You need to use live practice to test your story, your adaptation, and your impact.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?