How to Tell Better Stories in Your Speeches By Patricia Fripp : The SLMA

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How to Tell Better Stories in Your Speeches By Patricia Fripp

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE | Articles > From the section: Presentation Skills

December, 2014 |

How to Tell Better Stories in Your Speeches

By Patricia Fripp

If you are a leader, manager, executive, sales professional, or keynote speaker, you are more effective when you tell great stories and use good examples.

These three techniques will help you turn simple stories into examples that will be remembered and repeated.

Think chronologically.
Shorter sentences or phrases.
Consider each visual scene.

In January, Mark, a District Sales Manager from a biotech company, was preparing to moderate a panel at the Las Vegas National Sales Meeting. He was nervous with his new role in front of the 100-person audience.

In our pre-coaching communications, I noticed his email signature line included a quote about “moving fast.” He explained he had a new role and was “moving fast” to understand new products, clients, and products. This panel was to encourage the audience to embrace new jobs in different areas and to appreciate they would have to “move fast” to get up to speed.

Mark did not have any idea how to set the tone for the meeting. I asked, “What experience do you have with Las Vegas?”

Mark said, “After last years’ sales meeting, my wife Tammy came in for the weekend; we went to see David Copperfield, and he made her disappear.”

The Frippnotized version… was very easy for Mark to remember and incorporated the three techniques. Notice I recommend you write your script with one short sentence or phrase going down the page, not across as in a paragraph. In your rehearsal, this makes it easier for you to internalize.

“After last years’ sales meeting,

my wife Tammy came in for the weekend.

We went to see David Copperfield’s magic show.

Three quarters of the way through his performance, Copperfield threw two dozen balls into the audience.

Tammy caught one.

David said, “If you touched a ball, please come on the stage.”

He sat 24 people on bleachers and covered them with a tarp.

Whoosh! Five seconds later, they were gone!

Suddenly, they appeared at the back of the room.

On the way out, I asked Tammy, “How did he do it?”

She said, “We are sworn to secrecy. However, we did have to move really fast!”

Remember, the sales meeting was in Las Vegas, and Mark’s theme incorporated the importance of moving fast. He reported, “The panel was a wild success, and everyone raved about my opening story!”

Patricia Fripp is the ultimate authority on powerful persuasive presentations - your competitive edge! She is a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, executive speech coach, and sales presentation skills trainer and coach. Meetings and Conventions magazine named her "One of the 10 most electrifying speakers in North America.” Kiplinger's Personal Finance wrote, "The sixth best investment in your career is to attend a Patricia Fripp speaking school."

Fripp is now virtually everywhere through her interactive virtual training www.frippvt.com. Trusted by clients such as ADP, Cisco, VMWare, IBM, VISA and Genentech.

Patricia Fripp helps individuals and companies who want the competitive edge that comes from powerful, persuasive presentations.

www.fripp.com, www.frippvt.com, [email protected], (415) 753-6556

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