Business Stories: Stories for Presentations

I've often said the difference between a key note speaker and a storyteller is how much one is paid. Good speakers, trainers, or any type of presenter needs to use stories to keep the audience engaged and learning. Stories help us learn information in context, making it far more memorable.

The New York Times interviewed Marjorie Kaplan, president of Animal Plant and Science networks. Part way through the interview Ms. Kaplan talks about the importance of stories for presentation skills. All staff were trained in storytelling techniques. An interesting note is that the training was to help in all meetings, to give confidence for staff to speak up and to help them be able to get their points across. Stories are obviously important to them because of their business but she also says "...I think storytelling gets you closer to yourself. I think the best presenters are people who are themselves."

What a great way to look at stories in presentations. It made me stop and think about my own presentations. Whenever I get to a story piece I feel far more energized and authentic. People also comment that I felt genuine to them and they liked the comfortable feeling during my presentation. On the flip side I think of presentations that have not gone as well, it is because I told fewer stories and gave more straight information. Thank you Ms. Kaplan for making me see stories in a slightly different light.

The full interview is here if you are interested in reading more. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/business/06corner.html?_r=1&ref=business