3 THINGS SPEAKERS CAN LEARN FROM ‘WIRED FOR STORY’ BY LISA CRON

There is lots of advice out there encouraging speakers to use stories in their talks.

I think it’s useful to consider why we might want to include them, and how we might go about this, in order for them to be truly effective.

Lisa Cron’s ‘Wired for Story’ provides a clear examination of both context and construct.
Here are 3 out of the many things worth considering:

1) ‘We think in story, which allows us to envision the future.’
‘Stories allow us to simulate intense experiences without actually having to live through them.’  – Lisa Cron
So for speakers, there is huge power in translating abstract concepts into the language of story if we want our audience to fully engage, imagine and feel them.

2) ‘The story is in the specifics.’  -Lisa Cron
What are the details that will really help us picture and understand your story? Without specifics we are in the world of generalities, and these wash over us.

3) ‘To hold the brain’s attention, everything in a story must be there on a need-to-know basis.’ – Lisa Cron
This is where there is a balance to be struck. Enough details to make the story come to life – but chosen purposefully so that they don’t become overwhelming or a distraction. What is relevant to the telling?