People are wired to respond to stories.
There's a reason why so many people flock to the movies or spend hours reading novels – it's because we love to get lost in a good story. And if you ever listen to a good conversation, you'll notice that a lot of connection happens when people share stories with each other.
Unfortunately, there are good ways and bad ways to tell stories – and if you tell stories poorly, you'll lose your audience's interest. So how do you tell a good story during conversations?
Well first we need to define – what makes a story a good story? I'd argue the definition of a good story is very simple:
A good story holds the listeners' interest, builds feelings of connection between narrator and audience, and provides a satisfying conclusion
In other words, these are the three ingredients to a good story
1) Holding Interest
2) Building Connection
3) Providing a Satisfying Conclusion.
I've got lots of advice for mastering each of the three ingredients. Let's dive in!
Hold Their Interest
Choose The Right Time To Tell The Story
Use Vivid Details, Not Lots Of Facts
Please note: All of the content in "hold their interest" is totally free. If you want to read the rest, you'll need to pick up my book Improve Your Social Skills on Amazon (and read Chapter 10) or sign up for a site membership - both cost just $5!
Build A Connection
Tell Personal Stories, But Cautiously
Share Firsthand Thoughts & Feelings
