Here are some key takeaways from the April 11th Zoom group call.
Topic: Storytelling
We started with group introductions (we are getting to know each member’s value, and lots of great insights were shared).
- The importance of crafting an engaging opening story for a keynote speech that connects with the audience and grabs their attention.
“It was a freezing cold Sunday morning in February. And my parents were anxious to find out whether my wife and I had been found alive.” Rob’s opener
- Tips for structuring an opening story, such as including a good setup and having the story thread throughout the talk, make sure your story does not overkill, meaning too much information, too much emotion, before they get to know you.
- Many speakers do not share their personal stories in their keynotes, but they do share clients’ or others’ stories. We discussed the value of collecting client stories and anecdotes in addition to personal stories.
- Ideas for improving storytelling skills include watching comedian performances to learn techniques.
- Discussion of ways to organize and store stories for future reference, such as notebooks, spreadsheets, or Google Docs
We will continue to have zoom calls around storytelling and your keynote.