+ACUMEN Storytelling for Change

Module 4 Readings

KEEPING YOUR PRESENTATION FOCUSED

Increasingly, as the pace of business and modern life quickens, you will be asked to find ways to
get a lot of information across in a small amount of time. The challenge is to do this in such a
way that you can still maintain your passion, and leave a strong impression with your audience
so that they embrace the change you want to see.

Certain elements are vital such as:

 Including a well chosen and crafted story (or stories) (*)

 Using vocal variety

 Keeping your presentation to a maximum of three main ideas

 Using props and visuals

 Keeping in mind that it is important to relax and breathe!

 Involve your audience

 And being creative - by taking risks!

OPTIONAL: TED Talk by Tim Brown from IDEO “Tales of creativity and play” illustrates
creative ways with which he involve his audience with the talk.

(*) Examples of personal stories integrated into a business context are available in this blog
“Three Steps to Effective Business Storytelling.”

The first component of this module, we are introducing a tool, the Audience, Goal & Benefit
worksheet, to help you keep your presentation focused.

Let’s start with these questions:

• Who is your audience?

• What is your goal?

• What is your audience’s benefit?

We believe these questions help you to make sure that your key message(s) is/are on target and
that your personal story is properly integrated in your presentation.

We’ve included a list of questions on the following page so that you can use them to reflect on
the story/presentation that you have been working on.
AUDIENCE, GOAL, BENEFIT

The Context

(If you were working on a hypothetical situation, please explain that as well)

• When and where will you be making your next presentation?

• What is the situation?

Your Audience

• Who is your audience?

• Why are these people part of your change initiative?(or why did you choose these people
as your audience?)

• What do they know about the subject/topic that you will talk about?

• What do they need from you/need to know from you and why?

Your Goal

• What ‘action’ do you want your audience to take in relation

to your change initiative? (i.e. When you are finished with the presentation, your hope
that your audience will....)

• What do you want them to do, think, feel or understand?

• At what point within your presentation do you plan to tell your personal story to engage
your audience? (i.e. opening, specific point within the presentation, at the end to close
your presentation)

The Benefit

• What is the benefit your listeners will gain from taking the ‘action’ you propose? What’s
in it for them personally?

• What’s in it for you?

PROPS AND VISUAL AIDS FOR YOUR STORY
The next component of this module is the use of visual aid(s)/props. When you integrate your
story into your presentation, your message will be impacted by an appropriate visual aid, whether
it is a picture on a PowerPoint slide or a prop of some sort.

Here are some important points about the use of props and visual aids during storytelling. As you
read through it, think about examples you have seen in the past where props and/or visual aids
were effectively (or ineffectively) used during presentations. Start thinking about the type of
props and/or visual aids you would like to use in your presentation.

Using Slides

Remember that the visual you put onto a PowerPoint slide while you are telling your story
should supplement and not supplant the message. Your story is the message. The visual should
help the audience to connect emotionally with your story. Make it personal, make sure it’s
relevant and leaves your audience in no doubt as to why it’s there. Keep it simple.

Using Props

Props can be actual things referred to in the story, or can be symbols or physical metaphors used
to indicate something else.

Real: If you are talking about a knife being used in the jungle or as a deadly weapon, you can
pull one out and say “just like this.” Real actions thus create a visceral quality, making the story
immediate and hammering home an important action.
Symbolic: You could also use the knife symbolically, for example if you wanted to talk about
separation of a father and son, you could solemnly cut the air with the knife. Likewise, you could
take a picture of the father and son and rip it down between them.

Note how props can be used to enact physical actions in the story. Thus the knife can stab, cut,
slash and so on, either recreating physical acts or symbolizing change.

Now, make sure to manage the timing of your props. Props, when well-used, can have a
powerful impact on what you are saying. But they are silver bullets in that you can only use them
once, so you should think carefully and use them at the right moment. Used well, the prop acts to
ignite the imagination of the listener, bringing a sense of concrete reality into the fantasy.

Another assignment for this module is to submit your idea on what visual aid(s) or prop you
might use to support your story. Start thinking what would be most effective to use as part of the
integration of your personal story into your presentation.

Remember, either of your visual aids or props should be used to ‘support’ your story, not to
replace them. This one pager titled ‘Successful presentations – Plan your presentation to fit the
goal’ by The Ariel Group lists these components as one of the ‘Raisins to the Oatmeal’ to your
presentation.

RELAX, BREATHE, AND INVOLVE YOUR AUDIENCE

Lastly, we wanted to provide more on Relax and Breathe! as well how to involve your audience.

Often, especially when we are tight for time, we tend to rush and get ahead of ourselves. In those
circumstances, we believe that “Vertical and Horizontal moments” are a way to ensure that you
stay present and not rush.

What do we mean by “Vertical” and “Horizontal” moments?

• A vertical moment can be as simple as taking a deep belly breath and letting it out on a
small sigh, relaxing your muscles (allowing your knees to bend slightly, relaxing your
jaw)

• A horizontal moment is a chance to connect with your audience, make eye contact, while
still maintaining a connection to your own center, your own breath

• Other vertical and horizontal moments can include breathing and pausing, sipping water,
looking at notes or slides, asking questions, and taking a break

You can remind yourself to take small vertical and horizontal moments throughout a
presentation, especially if you find yourself getting stressed out or speeding up.

We will revisit this concept in the next module when you are invited to rehearse and record your
own story to be integrated into your presentation.