A good story has a beginning, middle, and end. A good story in business also must have a point and relevance to the current discussion. But on many occasions, hearing that a story is coming tends to make people tune out. That, and with limited time on a conference call, you’d think that stories had no place. Not only should stories be allowed in conference calls, it could be your most powerful tool to be heard.
Like a picture, stories illuminate a point better than rattling off numbers or details. They also make it much easier to remember the message being supported. But in addition to all that, a story can cut through tons of discussion and focus the audiences attention.
All of this is very important on a conference call. First you have limited time. Second, you can’t see anyone. Third, there are usually a plethora of distractions at hand. But when a “story” begins, people zero in and pay attention without realizing it. They want to know why it’s being told, why it matters, and how everything turns out. For the duration, you’ve got them.
But to avoid the stigma of stories being boring or long-winded, Anecdote.com has some tips for telling the perfect business conferencing story:
- Have a quick summary at the beginning. “We don’t want a fiasco like what happened in Dallas.” All you need is one or two sentences to help the participants zero in.
- Keep it short--90 seconds is a good target. This is the main way to avoid telling a long-winded story.
- Don’t say “story” or “storytelling time.” These words cue people to check out and do something else until the story has ended.
- Use time stamps. “Back in ’08” or “last tuesday” are good ways to start. It grabs their attention and orients them at the same time.
- Draw them in at the end. Use questions as the end of the story to tie it all together and bring in the listeners. “Can we avoid that this year?” “Do you think we want to do something different?”
Do you use stories in your conferences? Tell us one in a comment--remember to use these story tips!
