In this article, you will discover 7 key storytelling techniques and how to apply them.
We’ll do this by analyzing Susan Cain’s TED Talk on “The Power of Introverts”. It’s a masterclass in storytelling that engages, educates, and inspires.
If you’ve read my book, TED Talks Storytelling, you’ll know that starting with a story is one of the most powerful ways to open a presentation.
So, what makes Cain’s storytelling so riveting?
Let’s unpack the 7 key storytelling techniques and how to apply them. By exploring these storytelling tools, we can learn to captivate and influence our audiences more effectively.
Key Storytelling Technique #1:
Make it Relatable
Susan Cain’s choice to start with a personal anecdote is no accident. It’s calculated and effective.
In her talk, Cain says:
“When I was nine years old, I went off to summer camp for the first time. And my mother packed me a suitcase full of books, which to me seemed like a natural thing to do because in my family, reading was the primary group activity.”
Cain pulls us right into the heart of her nine-year-old self, alone and heading off to summer camp—not with a cool new swimsuit or a shiny flashlight, but with a suitcase heavy with books. Now, who among us hasn’t felt that pang of being on the outside, looking in? Who hasn’t felt just a tad out of sync with the crowd?
It’s this very moment of shared vulnerability, of universal out-of-placeness, that pulls us straight into the heart of her message. And just like that, we’re hooked. We’re all ears. And we’re totally ready to hear her out on this whole introversion thing.
Because now, it’s not just her story—it’s our story too.
How to Apply This Technique In Your Talk
a) Find the Universal in the Specific:
Select a story from your life that, while specific to you, touches on a universal feeling or experience. For instance, Cain’s story of feeling out of place at camp taps into the universal experience of not fitting in.
b) Detail the Context and Emotions:
Don’t just recount events; dive deep into the emotions and settings surrounding the story. Describe how you felt, what you thought, and how you reacted. These details help the audience visualize and empathize with the situation.
c) Invite the Audience to Reflect on Their Own Experiences
Encourage the audience to think back to their own similar experiences. This can increase engagement and make the message more impactful. You can use phrases like, “Think back to a time when you felt…” or “Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?”
Key Storytelling Technique #2:
Turn Your Audience Into A Character in Your Story
In her TED Talk, Susan Cain doesn’t just talk at her audience; she makes them a part of the story by using a you-focus.
For example, she says:
“You have the animal warmth of your family sitting right next to you, but you are also free to go roaming around the adventureland inside your own mind. And I had this idea that camp was going to be just like this, but better.”
Here, Cain isn’t merely setting a scene; she’s inviting each listener into that scene.
How to Apply This Storytelling Technique
Here’s how you might incorporate a “you-focus” into your presentation:
a) Incorporate Direct Address
Use “you” when describing scenarios or asking questions. This direct address will catch the attention of the audience and make the narrative feel like it is speaking directly to them.
Example:
“Imagine you’re walking into your first day at a place where everyone seems to know each other. You feel that flutter of anxiety and excitement. What do you do? Do you retreat, or do you dive in?”
b) Invite the Audience to Imagine
Encourage the audience to put themselves in a specific scenario. Use vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses to help them visualize and emotionally connect with the situation.
Example:
“Picture this: you’re nine years old again, and you’re standing at the edge of a bustling camp filled with new faces. What do you feel? Excitement? Nervousness? Recall that moment of anticipation.”
c) Use Reflective Questions
Pose questions that prompt personal reflection. These should be relevant to the story’s theme but open-ended enough to allow individual audience members to relate it to their own experiences.
Example:
“Have you ever found yourself in a place where you felt you didn’t quite belong? How did you navigate that? Think about that as we explore what it means to be an introvert in a world that can’t stop talking.”
By making the audience a character in the story, Susan Cain not only captures their interest but also stirs a deeper connection to the content of her talk. Implementing a “you-focus” in your storytelling can transform a simple narrative into an immersive, interactive, and impactful experience for your audience.
Key Storytelling Technique #3:
The “But” is The Engine of Conflict
Every compelling story hinges on a pivotal moment—the “but” moment. It’s what storytelling gurus and creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, describe as the essential element that drives a story forward:
Susan Cain masterfully employs this technique in her TED Talk. In her story, she goes off to summer camp with a suitcase full of books…BUT:
“But the first time that I took my book out of my suitcase, the coolest girl in the bunk came up to me and she asked me, ‘Why are you being so mellow?’ — mellow, of course, being the exact opposite of R-O-W-D-I-E. And then the second time I tried it, the counselor came up to me with a concerned expression on her face and she repeated the point about camp spirit and said we should all work very hard to be outgoing.”
Conflict is important because introduces the stakes. It’s the moment the audience perks up, recognizing a shift from the norm, a challenge to overcome. Conflict not only captivates attention but also amplifies the emotional investment of the audience.
Without this “but,” there’s no struggle, and without struggle, there’s no triumph.
Now, because this is an article on 7 key storytelling techniques and how to apply them, I’m obviously not going to leave you empty-handed. So let’s look at the application:
How To Apply This Technique To Your Presentation
Here’s how you might develop the conflict in your story:
a) Set Up Expectations
Start off by painting a picture of the norm or the ideal—a scene where everything appears to be going according to plan. This is what Cain does with her first part of the story, where she heads off happily to summer camp with a suitcase full of books.
b) Introduce the “But”
This should come in just when the audience is getting comfortable with the status quo. It’s the curveball that sends the story into a new trajectory. For Cain, it’s the coolest girl in the camp ruining Cain’s idea of a reader-friendly summercamp.
c) Escalate the “But” with A Second Layer
The best storytellers layer the conflict on again. In Cain’s story, she does this by highlighting that even the camp counsellor was the “but” to Susan’s initial expectations about camp:
“And then the second time I tried it, the counselor came up to me with a concerned expression on her face and she repeated the point about camp spirit and said we should all work very hard to be outgoing.”
Key Storytelling Technique #4:
“The Reason I Tell You This…”
OK, we’re halfway through the 7 key storytelling techniques and how to apply them. Technique #4 is to make the RELEVANCE of the story you’ve told incredibly clear to your audience.
At some point, you need to transition from the story and into the message. One way to do this is to tell the audience why you’ve just told them the story you’ve told them.
When you articulate the reason behind sharing a particular story, it clarifies the purpose and reinforces the message’s relevance. This tactic turns the story from an entertaining anecdote and into a supporting argument for your message. Cain does this when she says:
“Now, I tell you this story about summer camp. I could have told you 50 others just like it — all the times that I got the message that somehow my quiet and introverted style of being was not necessarily the right way to go, that I should be trying to pass as more of an extrovert. And I always sensed deep down that this was wrong and that introverts were pretty excellent just as they were.”
How to Apply This Storytelling Technique
Here’s how you can apply this tactic:
a) Use A Transition Statement
After concluding the story, smoothly transition into explaining its purpose. This can start with phrases like “The reason I share this story with you…” or “This brings me to why I told you about…”
Example:
“The reason I share this story about my summer camp experience is to highlight how often we, especially introverts, are pressured to conform to extroverted ideals.”
b) Invite the Audience to Reflect on a Similar Experience
You could encourage the audience to think about how the story might relate to their own experiences or beliefs. This can enhance personal connection and engagement with the message.
Example:
“Think about moments in your own life when you felt similar pressures. How did they shape your actions and self-perception? Reflecting on these experiences can help us appreciate the value of our individual differences.”
Key Storytelling Technique #5:
Connect the Story A Bigger Message
The most successful presentations are those that connect individual stories to larger truths.
Susan Cain does this remarkably well. She moves from personal anecdotes to universal truths, using her own experiences as a springboard to discuss broader societal issues. For instance, she expands her camp story to discuss the broader implications for introverts in a world that can’t stop talking:
“Our most important institutions, our schools and our workplaces, they are designed mostly for extroverts, and for extroverts’ need for lots of stimulation.”
How To Apply This
Here’s how you might apply this tactic to your next speech or presentation:
a) Use the Personal as a Springboard
Start with a personal story or anecdote that is relatable and engaging. Then, use this story as a springboard to transition into the bigger message.
Example:
“Like many introverts, my experience at summer camp was a challenge, not because of the activities, but because of an environment that celebrated extroversion. This isn’t just about camp; it’s about how many of our institutions are structured in ways that favor extroversion.”
b) Encourage Reflection with a You-Focus
End with a call to reflection, asking your audience to consider how the broader message relates to their own experiences or observations.
Example:
“Consider your own environments: your workplaces, schools, and social gatherings. How often do they cater to the bold and the outspoken? How might we re-imagine these spaces to better embrace the quiet power of introverts?”
Key Storytelling Technique #6:
Add in Sensory Details
Cain’s storytelling is rich with sensory details. She doesn’t just tell us about her experience; she helps us feel it. For example, notice how she evokes three senses (sight, sound and feel) in this part of her speech:
“And so I put my books away, back in their suitcase, and I put them under my bed, and there they stayed for the rest of the summer. And I felt kind of guilty about this. I felt as if the books needed me somehow, and they were calling out to me and I was forsaking them. But I did forsake them and I didn’t open that suitcase again until I was back home with my family at the end of the summer.”
Did you catch that?
Sight – What could you see in the story? “I put them back under my bed.” This description is a visual one.
Sound – What could you hear? “The books needed me somehow, and they were calling out to me.” That’s right, by using the word “calling” she is evoking your auditory senses.
Feelings – What could you hear in the story? “I felt guilty…as if the books needed me somehow.”
In that tiny description, she’s packed in sensory details that evoke your sense of sight, sound and feel. For more on this technique, check out the book “TED Talks Storytelling”
Key Storytelling Technique #7:
Convey the Emotions With Your Tone
One of the subtler yet impactful ways Susan Cain delivers her TED Talk on introverts is through the modulation of her voice tone and inflection. This is not just about changing volume; it’s about using your voice to convey the full range of emotions your story might encompass.
For instance, when sharing a personal anecdote that might be reflective or somber, your voice should naturally soften and slow down, allowing the audience to soak in the mood. Conversely, when discussing moments of realization or epiphany, your tone might become more animated and firm.
How to Apply This Storytelling Technique
To practice this technique, consider these steps:
a) Analyze Your Content: Identify the emotional journey of your story—where should the audience feel intrigued, amused, surprised, or moved? Map out these emotions.
b) Practice Out Loud: Experiment with different tones and inflections as you narrate your story. Record yourself, if possible, to better understand how your voice carries these emotions.
c) Seek Feedback: Before your actual presentation, perform your story in front of a trusted friend or colleague. Ask for specific feedback on how your voice modulation affected their understanding and engagement with the story.
d) Use Pauses Strategically with Tone: Combining the power of pauses (as discussed earlier) with tone modulation can be particularly effective. After a significant point, a pause followed by a soft, slow, reflective tone can make the audience hang on to your every word, creating a moment of intimacy and reflection.
Wrap Up: 7 Key Storytelling Techniques and How to Apply Them
Stories do more than entertain. They’re mighty. They teach. They resonate. They connect. Dive into Cain’s TED Talk, and you find not just a presentation but a masterclass in narrative persuasion.
The storytelling strategies Cain employs — from hooking us with a compelling opener, focusing on the audience’s perspective, leveraging conflict, explaining the story’s significance, to linking personal anecdotes with universal truths — these aren’t just tactics. They’re weapons for anyone looking to leave a mark, whether on stage, in writing, or in any form of communication.
If you’re gearing up for a keynote, penning a blog post, or just sharing your journey, remember: stories are powerful. They’re a vehicle to illuminate, influence and inspire. Keep telling your stories. And use the techniques in this post to make them count.
Did you enjoy these 7 key storytelling techniques and how to apply them? Then please share the article.
Recommended Storytelling Books
How to Deliver a Great TED Talk
Storytelling Techniques for Electrifying Presentations
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