Personal stories are an excellent way for leaders to forge connections with listeners, but even though it may seem easy to craft narratives drawn from real life, it often is not, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Here are three keys for creating an engaging personal narrative speech:
Trigger memory recall. The best way to draw out the most honest memories is to sit down with pen and paper and think of the people, places and objects that have the most emotional significance and describe them in depth. This will bring back vivid details that will truly revive the spirit of the memory.
Create a story catalog. Once a few stories have been conjured up, a catalog that summarizes and categorizes stories by situation, mood, moral or whatever makes the most sense should be created. Once this is done, a speech that hits all the desired points, illustrated by the appropriate stories, can be put together.
Choose stories with your audience in mind. Different themes resonate with different audiences. Consult your catalog every time you have to give a speech to a different audience to make sure your stories fit the general mood of the audience.