Developing Storytelling Techniques

After decades of working with leaders at companies like Apple, Salesforce, and Cisco, we've identified 4 storytelling techniques that consistently work to deliver important messages in high-stakes settings: 1. Start with the unexpected Don’t begin your presentation with context. Instead, begin with the moment that makes people think, “Wait…what?” Instead of something like: “Here’s an update on our September campaign…” Try starting with the most interesting detail: “I broke our biggest marketing rule last month, and it worked.” Lead with the surprise. You can add context later. 2. Let people feel the tension After the surprise, don’t rewind to the beginning. Take your audience to the moment where things weren’t working. Flat numbers. Missed goals. Stalled progress. Instead of: “The campaign was underperforming, and our team went back to the drawing board.” Try:  "We were two weeks out from the end of the quarter. The campaign wasn’t producing results, and the team was out of ideas. That’s when I decided to take a risk...” You don’t need to explain the problem. You need to make people feel it. 3. Use real dialogue When your audience hears what was actually said, they stop listening to you and start visualizing the moment. This helps them connect emotionally with what you’re saying. Instead of: “The campaign manager said team morale was low and they were struggling to find a solution.” Try: “My campaign manager pulled me aside in the hallway and said, ‘We’ve tried everything. The team has been working overtime, and we don’t know what else to do.’” Dialogue brings listeners into the moment with you. It makes the story real. 4. Share the lesson Never assume people will infer the meaning you intended. End your story by answering: - What does this mean? - How should someone act differently now? Example: “Breaking our biggest marketing rule helped us turn this campaign around and hit our numbers. I strongly suggest we revisit our marketing guidelines. We could be leaving a ton of revenue on the table.” Without the lesson being clear, even a good story feels unfinished. These are the same techniques we teach to our clients at Duarte. Try them out during your next presentation and watch how people lean forward and tune in to your message. #ExecutivePresence #BusinessStorytelling #PresentationSkills

Are you struggling to tell stories that actually grab your audience’s attention? If you want your story to land—really land—start in the middle. In long-form improv, we don’t open with, “Hi, I’m your sister and we’re at a coffee shop.” We start mid-action: “I can’t believe you told Mom about the tattoo.” Boom. Stakes, tension, curiosity. The audience is in. Storytelling works the same way. Here’s a simple framework I use often with clients to make sure their stories connect, not just inform: 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Drop us into the scene where something is already happening. Instead of: “I had just started a new job and was trying to prove myself...” Try: “My boss stood over my desk and said, ‘If this happens again, we’re going to have a serious problem.’” We don’t need to know what led to it yet. Start where it stings. 𝟮. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁. Keep it specific, visual, and to the point. For example: “I could feel my face go hot. I nodded, but I didn’t say a word. The spreadsheet error was mine, and I knew it.” We don’t need a breakdown of every task you did that week. We just need to feel this moment with you. 𝟯. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱. What’s the takeaway? What shifted in you, or around you? “I realized I’d been so afraid of asking for help that I made it harder on myself. I started owning what I didn’t know. And guess what? My work got better. So did my relationships.” That’s what sticks. Not perfection—the transformation. So, that’s the framework: Start in the middle. Paint the next beat. Then land the insight. It’s how we do it in improv. It’s how the best storytellers do it on stage. And it’s how you can make sure your story doesn’t get lost in the noise. And here’s the real question I’ll leave you with: What’s one story you’ve been meaning to tell—but haven’t? You don’t have to share it yet. But maybe today’s the day you start shaping it. Let me know if you'd like to keep workshopping this? #Storytelling #PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #ConfidentSpeaking #Leadership 🛑 Want more content like this?  Hit the 🔔 and let’s get this party started!

I stare at the video screen in frustration. "Anna, you have a habit of telling two things in your stories. To tell an impactful story, you need to focus on one point. One story, one point," my storytelling coach, Matt, says. Matt is one of the best storytellers in the US. "Look at it this way: You can use the same story but craft it differently to make another point," he says. "That’s the beauty of storytelling." When I started my adventure in storytelling, I wanted my stories to convey multiple points. But I've learned that to tell my story with impact, I had to choose one message. We all have stories to tell, but finding the core message can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. If you've ever struggled with pinpointing the main theme of your narrative, you're not alone. Here are three techniques to help you uncover the heart of your story: 1. Begin with the End in Mind. Think about the impact you want your story to have on your audience. What do you want them to take away from it? By envisioning the result, you can work backwards to identify the key message to drive your story forward. Example: if you want your audience to feel inspired by your resilience, your core message might revolve around overcoming adversity. 2. Identify the Turning Points. Look for pivotal moments in your story where a significant change or realization occurred. These turning points often highlight the essence of your narrative and can help you zero in on the core message. Example: If a turning point in your career was realizing your passion for storytelling, your core message might be about the power of following your true calling. 3. Ask Yourself 'Why?' Repeatedly. Continuously asking "why" about different aspects of your story can peel back the layers and reveal the underlying message. This technique, often called the "Five Whys," helps you dig deeper into the reasons behind your experiences and actions. Example: Why did you start your own business? To have more control over your work. Why did you want more control? To pursue your creative ideas freely. Why is pursuing creativity important to you? Because it leads to innovation and fulfilment. Hence, your core message might be about the importance of creative freedom in achieving personal and professional satisfaction. Finding the core message in your story is about understanding the impact you want to create, identifying pivotal moments, and continuously questioning your motives. These techniques will help you craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. P.S. What's the core message of your latest story? Share below, I'd love to hear it. - Hi, I’m Anna Ong. I am the creator and host of What's Your Story Slam, an event similar to stand-up comedy, but instead of jokes, people tell stories. Our events provide a platform for people to connect and inspire each other through storytelling. Keen to learn more? DM me, and let's chat!

I've written 200+ LinkedIn posts in 10 months. Every post that hit 1K+ reactions had one thing in common: It told a story. When I started, I was scared to write. I thought: "My experience is too small. Who wants to hear from a teacher with 0 followers?" I forgot that people in the same phase as me were looking for content they could relate to. Storytelling made my content human. It's how I built trust, engagement, and landed clients. If you're stuck on what to write, Here are 5 storytelling frameworks I use in every high-performing post 👇 1. The "Before and After" Story → Share what you once believed (that turned out wrong) → Reveal how you discovered the truth → Show your transformation Example: "I thought posting 3x a day was the only way to grow. Then I posted 5x a week with a system and grew faster. Here's how I did it." 2. The "I Almost Quit" Story → Describe a moment you nearly gave up → Explain what stopped you → Share what happened when you pushed through Example: "My posts dropped from 9K reactions to 500. I almost quit. Then I asked: Am I here to be popular or valuable? I chose value. Growth became steady again." 3. The "Hard Lesson" Story → Confess a mistake or failure → Share what it taught you → End with a takeaway they can apply Example: "I applied to 200 jobs with a generic resume. Zero responses. Then I customized 10 applications. Got 3 interviews in one week." 4. The "Origin Story." → Why did you start? → What problem were you trying to solve? → What have you learned so far? 5. The "Problem → Solution" Story → Start with the problem you faced → Describe how it affected you → Offer the solution that worked → End with encouragement. People don't just want information. They want emotion. They remember your stories. Every post I write starts with one question: "What story can I tell that proves this point?" That's the difference between a post someone scrolls past and a post they save. Which of these story frameworks have you used before or want to try next?

As an ESL teacher, storytelling is one of my favorite ways to introduce both speaking and writing to my students. Stories give students a structure that helps them organize ideas, use academic language, and build confidence in English. Before asking students to write, I begin with oral storytelling, because language grows through conversation first. In my classroom, especially with 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade students, I start by teaching the basic elements of a story. We explore characters, setting, the problem, events, solution, and ending. I model how stories move using time sequence language such as first, next, then, and last, and I introduce story connectors like suddenly, meanwhile, because, so, and but. Students also learn how to strengthen their stories with describing language that helps readers visualize feelings and actions such as happy, scared, excited, bright, dark, or quickly. Before writing, students practice telling their story orally with a partner. This step is essential for multilingual learners because speaking allows them to rehearse vocabulary and organize their thoughts. Students also use a graphic organizer with beginning, middle, and end to plan their ideas. Drawing pictures of their story helps many learners clarify their thinking before they begin writing. I also guide students through the writing stages so they understand that good writing is a process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Each step helps them improve their ideas and language. The level of support changes depending on the grade level. With 2nd grade students, storytelling begins with strong visual scaffolds. I provide sentence frames, picture prompts, and story sequence cards. A typical sentence might look like: "First I found a lost dog. Then I helped the dog. Last I felt happy." By 4th grade, students begin expanding their stories with more details and feelings. I encourage them to describe actions and emotions. For example: "First we walked into the forest. Suddenly we heard a loud noise. We felt scared, but we kept walking." With 5th grade students, storytelling becomes more detailed and structured. Students develop longer narratives, include stronger descriptions, and explain the problem and solution more clearly. For example: "At the beginning of our hike, everything was quiet. Suddenly we heard a strange sound in the dark forest. Although we were nervous, we continued walking until we discovered a small injured bird." When multilingual learners are supported with visual tools, oral practice, and clear writing stages, storytelling becomes much more than a writing activity. It becomes a way for students to develop language, creativity, and confidence in expressing their ideas. Mariel Gómez de la Torre

Storytelling is a powerful tool in leadership, communication, and influence. Here’s how it can be utilized effectively in different scenarios: 1. Inspiring Teams with Vision Instead of saying: “We need to improve customer service by 20% this year.” Try this: “Last month, a customer wrote to us about how our support team turned their frustrating experience into a moment of delight. They went from being a critic to our biggest advocate. Imagine if every customer felt that way—we wouldn’t just hit a number, we’d build loyalty that lasts forever.” 2. Driving Change and Overcoming Resistance Instead of saying: “We need to embrace digital transformation.” Try this: “Years ago, Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for $50M. They laughed at the idea. Today, Netflix is a $200B company, and Blockbuster is gone. The lesson? Companies that resist change don’t survive. Digital transformation isn’t an option—it’s survival.” 3. Coaching and Developing Employees Instead of saying: “You should always take ownership.” Try this: “When I was an intern, I made a mistake that could have cost my team a major deal. Instead of hiding it, I owned up and worked overnight to fix it. Not only did we save the deal, but that moment taught me that accountability isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being responsible.” 4. Influencing Senior Stakeholders Instead of saying: “We should invest in AI because it’s the future.” Try this: “A competitor just automated their customer onboarding using AI, reducing errors by 40% and speeding up service by 60%. Their CEO said this change saved them $10M in lost revenue. If we act now, we can stay ahead—if we wait, we’ll be playing catch-up.” 5. Strengthening Personal Brand and Leadership Presence Instead of saying: “Leaders should be resilient.” Try this: “Steve Jobs was fired from Apple, the company he founded. Instead of quitting, he built Pixar and Next, revolutionizing two industries. Years later, Apple begged him to return, and he turned it into the world’s most valuable company. True leadership isn’t about never failing—it’s about rising every time you do.” Key Takeaways for Effective Storytelling in Leadership: ✅ Make it relatable – People connect with human experiences, not abstract ideas. ✅ Use emotion – Facts inform, but emotions drive action. ✅ Keep it simple – The best stories are easy to remember and retell. ✅ End with impact – A good story leaves a lasting message. Want to be a better leader? Start by telling better stories.

The art of storytelling in LinkedIn posts. Storytelling isn't just for novelists or filmmakers—it's a powerful tool for professionals on LinkedIn. Why? Because stories resonate. They engage, inspire, and convert. Stories convey values, build connections, and make your message memorable. On LinkedIn, this translates to posts that catch attention and drive action. Examples of Compelling Stories ➡️ The Problem-Solver: Share a challenge you faced with a client or a common pain point for your audience and how you overcame it. Detail the problem, the steps you took, and the outcome. This showcases your problem-solving skills and builds trust with your audience. ➡️ The Customer Success Story: Highlight a client’s journey from struggle to success with your help. Focus on their initial problem, your solution, and their success. This positions you as a reliable expert who delivers results. ➡️ The Personal Anecdote: Relate a personal story that ties into a professional lesson. For example, how your experience in the army taught you resilience that now benefits your project management. This humanizes you and makes your profile more relatable. Tips for Effective Storytelling ~ Be Authentic: Authenticity builds trust. Share real stories and genuine experiences. ~ Engage Emotions: Emotions drive decisions. Tap into your audience’s feelings. ~ Keep it Relevant: Ensure your story aligns with your professional brand and message. ~ Conclude with a Call to Action: Guide your audience on what to do next—whether it’s engaging with your content, connecting with you, or sharing their own stories. In the sea of content on LinkedIn, a compelling story stands out. It cuts through the noise, creating a lasting impression and fostering deeper connections. How are you using storytelling in your content? #storytelling #contentmarketing #linkedinposts

As a 2x Emmy Award-winning journalist, I've learned the profound power of storytelling. When I left for tech, this became one of my most valuable skills as a leader. Here are 4 simple storytelling tips to help you craft a strategy announcement that captivates and motivates your employees. 💖 Create a Relatable Character: When discussing the strategy, frame it in terms of how it will directly impact your customers or clients. This makes the strategy more than just a plan; it becomes a narrative where the customer is a central character. 🎯 Define the Challenge: Clearly outline the challenges your company or team faces. This sets the stage for the 'journey' for your strategy. 🦸♂️ Make Your Employees the Heroes: Position your employees as the story's protagonists. Highlight their roles and contributions in implementing the new strategy and overcoming the challenge. Show how their actions and efforts will drive the company towards success, making them integral to the company's journey. 🏆 Provide a Vision of Success: End with a vivid description of what success looks like with this new strategy. This is the potential 'happily ever after' will motivate and inspire your employees to make it happen. Leverage these storytelling techniques to make your next strategy announcement not just heard, but felt and acted upon.

Great storytelling is clear thinking + emotional resonance. Eliminate the emotional appeal and it's dry logic. Eliminate the clear thinking and it's bullshit. So much of what I do with South Park Commons members boils down to asking "what do you mean?" and "why should your audience care?" over and over until they have both. It seems way too simple but honestly just try sitting with someone who will ask you those two questions about what you're building until it feels obvious. Especially when being asked those questions forces you to go off script. The response you give to someone looking confused and asking "wait, what do you mean?" will almost always be better than whatever you came up with before that. Why? Because an in-the-moment answer forces you to rely on actual expertise. Puzzled looks reveal empty rhetoric. Losing someone's attention shows you haven't connected with what they care about. So seek out people who are confused by your narrative, not people who nod along automatically. Practice live, then write it down, then practice live again, until your story is clear, logical, and compelling.

I was packing for an upcoming trip, pulling out summer clothes amidst “Feels like -9°” temps at home, when my phone rang. It was a childhood friend—such a surprise, given how rare unscheduled calls are these days. (To be fair, she was returning my unscheduled call from a week ago.) For the next hour, we swapped funny, relatable stories about our parents—wondering aloud if we’ll become like them as we age. It wasn’t a rundown of life updates; it was storytelling. The kind that made me laugh out loud and later share a few highlights with my 20-year-old son because they were that memorable. That’s the power of stories: they make you want to share them, shift your perspective, or even inspire action. One of the leaders I worked with years ago excelled at this. He didn’t just run meetings—he shared stories. Tales of awkward but transformative moments working with a board or navigating life with his college-aged son. Those stories didn’t just entertain; they connected us, built trust, and shaped a loyal team culture. But many leaders shy away from storytelling because they don’t see its value—or they don’t feel equipped to do it well. Matthew Dicks, author of Storyworthy and Stories Sell, offers practical advice for storytelling: ✅ Recognize “storyworthy” moments. They don’t have to be extraordinary; everyday experiences can hold deep meaning or lessons. ✅ Be authentic and vulnerable. Sharing personal challenges or failures make stories more relatable, helping to build connection and trust. ✅ Know your destination. Start with the end in mind– what’s the key message or insight you want to stock with your audience?   ✅ Create stakes, suspense or surprise. Without change–whether it’s an insight, resolution, or a-ha moment – your story becomes just a list of events or facts. One tool he advocates–and one I plan to try– is “Homework for Life.” It’s a simple daily practice—jotting down one storyworthy moment each day in a spreadsheet. Over time, it builds a bank of stories, sharpens your ability to spot meaningful moments, and makes your life more memorable. And here’s a shortcut for sharing stories: start with location and action. Set the scene and engage your audience by creating a vivid image in their minds. For professionals, storytelling isn’t just a skill—it’s a competitive advantage. Stories build trust, foster connections, and strengthen culture. Want your meetings to matter more? Share a real moment instead of just delivering facts.