- Take away message: Do I have a clear, concise message/point/lesson to make from my story? After all, this is the reason for telling this specific story.
- Truthful: Is this my own true story? If I'm using a 3rd party story, am I giving credit to the original source?
- Trigger: Do I trigger curiosity, interest, mental involvement at the start of a story by asking a question, using a quotation or making a profound statement
- Tension: Do I introduce the conflict in my story early and build the tension to hold my audience’s interest, having them anxious to hear the resolution
- Timely pauses: Are they timed appropriately giving them time to ponder a point or laugh at something funny? Or do I trample on their thoughts and laughs by never pausing?
- Tone: Is my tone of voice in sync with the words I speak, my facial expressions, my body language?
- Touch base: Do I create moments to touch base with the audience through rhetorical questions?
- Touch hearts: Do I realize that people are moved to action, both intellectually and emotionally and therefore discuss the change or emotional shift that took place in the character after the resolution of the problem?
- Take, don’t tell: Do I use many of the above techniques to bring them into my story and thereby take them with me throughout the story?
- Tangible technique: Do I offer an example of a technique they can readily use to act upon your message?
Join me next month when we look at another speaking skill to enhance your own!
Until then,
Successful Speaking! ( sending this from sunny Florida!)
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