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I'm helping my client Barbara get ready for one of the biggest Talks of her career. She's preparing to stand on stage in front of thousands of people (with even more watching live online).
She shares her draft with me. It's meticulous and packed with very specific, insightful information. Yet, there's no sense of urgency or consequence. It's just data, so I don't feel anything.
I point this out to her gently, and I can sense her reluctance to dive deeper and reveal something personal, vulnerable even. However, I know her message won't resonate with the audience if they can't truly feel what's on the line.
So I ask her, "Barbara, what's at stake here? What will it mean for you, your team, or even your vision if this Talk goes well… or if it doesn't?" She starts opening up and admits that this Talk is a critical moment for her in her business, leadership, and potentially her legacy.
That's all I need to hear! With that information, I help her weave those stakes into her message through stories so that it gives the audience a reason to care and feel connected to her.
Fast forward to the moment when she steps up to the mic. The difference is undeniable! Not only does she deliver a polished speech; she's sharing a story with everything on the line! I watch as the audience is drawn in, invested in her outcome, and hanging on every word… and all because she chose to add stakes.
In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you'll learn about the power of stakes in storytelling. I'll dive into why stakes are the heartbeat of stories, three ways to categorize them, and how you can use them right away to transform your message. I'll answer questions such as:
What is an example of a story with stakes versus one without? How can adding stakes bridge the gap between the story of the product or service you're selling and the consumers you want to sell it to? And how do you add stakes to your story so that your audience feels a connection to you?
What you will learn in this episode:
A little about me:
Hi there. I'm Kymberlee.
As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I've had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I've seen what works when influencing change and what doesn't. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That's why I'm building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people's lives.
Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You'll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.
If you think business owners can't tell stories or don't have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There's no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.
Now it's your turn... If you're ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you've come to the right place.
Links and Resources: