Once upon a time there was a businessperson who had the task of convincing an audience of the need for the business to plan better for the future. Instead of starting out with a spreadsheet and a long list of numbers he started with a story we all know, "The Three Little Pigs." He engaged his audience with the brilliance of the little pig who built his house out of brick then used that metaphor to segue into his discussion of long-term planning.
There are many ways to communicate depending on the message you need to deliver, who the targeted recipient is, and the urgency of the message.
The military officer orders.
The advertiser entices.
The leader inspires.
The trainer, supervisor, or coach motivates.
Since few of us are in a position to communicate by barking orders, we have to learn to become more effective in enticing, inspiring, and motivating. Perhaps the most effective method is to think back to the days when you were a child and your parents told you a bedtime story. Many of these stories are parables ? a short tale that illustrates a lesson or moral attitude in an entertaining manner. Compare the well-known childhood favorite, "The Little Engine That Could" with a lecture on the values of "persistence." The story is really a romantic rendition that captures the imagination of a youngster so much better than a discussion of sticking to a task. But stories are not just for little kids, we all listen more intently when we are entertained.
Listeners become engaged when being told a story. Our comprehension and empathy increases as we identify with the circumstances, the people, and events that we imagine when an entertaining story is told with skill and emotion. A story is so much better than a dry, factual laundry list of "do's" and "do nots."
When you have to convince, motivate, inspire, sell, or entertain, think of preparing your communication in a form your audience will react to with enthusiasm and wonder. It will help them better prepare for the day that big bad wolf comes to huff and puff and blow the house down.
Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Whether you use a mouse or a remote control to... Read More
Media training is a 'must do' professional development program for... Read More
A major cause of trainers being unreceptive to their audience... Read More
SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATIONS: All of us have seen demonstrations in one... Read More
Allowing the audience to ask questions after your presentation is... Read More
8 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills 1. Join Toastmasters.... Read More
For communication to take place, a message must be transmitted... Read More
People remember best what you say last. In a presentation,... Read More
Summer is here! It's time to bring out your summer... Read More
Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the... Read More
Communication is a complex and often difficult process for both... Read More
Last week my husband and I attended an awesome 4... Read More
The query letter is simply a business letter that serves... Read More
Kvetching is the Yiddish word for complaining, hand to the... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
There are five key elements that can make... Read More
It is both good planning and considerate to provide auditors... Read More
Like most good achievements, a magnificent meeting depends on planning... Read More
Some speakers say, "I could never use humor in my... Read More
If you are taking your newest products to a trade... Read More
Flash chart, flash map, flash graph may be mistaken for... Read More
Regardless of the nature of our job or social standing,... Read More
I had been working on a logo idea for several... Read More
Are poor presentations costing you business?The ability to deliver a... Read More
You speak before a group. You present your message. You... Read More
Yes, there are ancient PowerPoint secrets...secrets your grandmother knows and... Read More
People take it for granted that leaders have achieved some... Read More
A client recently called to say she was going to... Read More
"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be... Read More
Once upon a time there was a businessperson who had... Read More
So you're going to have a booth at a trade... Read More
Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More
In recent years, companies have recognized the need to expand... Read More
MAKING INFORMATIVE LESSON PLANS: --The performance objectives should answer this... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
The international flavour of many people's jobs naturally means that... Read More
We all fear that moment. You look out on a... Read More
Many of us use PowerPoint to convey a message to... Read More
Flash chart, flash map, flash graph may be mistaken for... Read More
Eye contact is mandatory when giving a public presentation.The goal... Read More
Cattiness is something no one ever wants to be accused... Read More
What is stage presence? Can it be learned?There are, undoubtedly,... Read More
Once upon a time there was a businessperson who had... Read More
"I'm not an expert on this topic, but . .... Read More
Flip charts are so common that we all think we... Read More
What is it about overhead projectors that causes us to... Read More
There is an old saying: "The first thing to do... Read More
If you really aware and alert, your audience's behavior -... Read More
The most critical job of a manager, when you boil... Read More
I just got back from my whirlwind speaking engagements and... Read More
The query letter is simply a business letter that serves... Read More
A trade show is an ideal way of showcasing your... Read More
Last week my husband and I attended an awesome 4... Read More
Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
If you're ready to kick your career or business up... Read More
Communicating Bad News The Right WayIt's the rare executive who... Read More
Communication is vital for survival in an age of information... Read More
"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be... Read More
First of all, what is a bio sheet and why... Read More
As the meeting began, the project manager of the buying... Read More
The communication process can be much more difficult than a... Read More
Regardless of what response technique may be convenient in a... Read More
MORE and more corporations in Malaysia have awoken to the... Read More
ALTERNATIVES TO THE LECTURE FORMAT: How often do you use... Read More
As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More
Presentation |