What are the storytelling techniques that create impactful messages?

1 Use the hero's journey

The hero's journey is a classic narrative structure that follows a protagonist who faces a challenge, overcomes obstacles, and returns with a transformation. You can use this framework to structure your own stories, or to relate your audience's experiences to a larger theme. For example, you can show how your personal journey of overcoming a fear, a failure, or a setback led you to discover a valuable lesson, or how your audience can follow a similar path to achieve their goals.

3 Have a clear point

Every story you tell should have a clear point that supports your main message and reinforces your purpose. You don't want to confuse or bore your audience with irrelevant or vague stories that don't have a clear takeaway. You can make your point clear by using a catchy hook, a strong climax, and a concise conclusion. You can also use transitions, summaries, or questions to link your stories to your main message and highlight the key lessons or actions you want your audience to take.

5 Use feedback loops

Feedback loops are a way of gauging your audience's reactions and adjusting your stories accordingly. You can use feedback loops to improve your storytelling skills, to tailor your stories to different audiences, and to create more interactive and engaging speeches. You can use various methods to get feedback on your stories, such as asking questions, observing body language, soliciting comments, or conducting surveys. You can also use feedback loops to test different versions of your stories, to experiment with different elements, and to refine your message.

6 Learn from the masters

One of the best ways to learn storytelling techniques is to learn from the masters. You can study the speeches of successful motivational speakers, such as Tony Robbins, Les Brown, or Simon Sinek, and analyze how they use stories to deliver impactful messages. You can also read books, watch movies, or listen to podcasts that feature compelling stories, and identify the techniques that make them effective. By learning from the masters, you can expand your repertoire of stories, and develop your own unique style and voice.