Memorable communicator 🪄 magic: storytelling

Public speaking doesn’t just make people nervous—it terrifies them.

The sweaty palms, the shaky voice, the mild existential dread.

Whether you’re speaking to a live audience or a Brady Bunch of faces on Zoom, that “all eyes on me” moment can feel like standing on a tightrope with no net.

Nerves usually hit hardest right at the beginning—which...yikes!—is exactly when you need to establish yourself as a confident communicator. You know what they say about first impressions...

So what helps settle those jitters and create a genuine connection fast? 

A story.

Telling a story early in a presentation doesn’t just engage the audience. It anchors you. It gets you out of your head and into a rhythm. It shifts the energy away from “performing” and toward sharing. And when it’s done well, it turns passive listeners into active participants who actually care about what you’re saying.

And research suggests that people are up to 20 times more likely to remember information when it's delivered through a story. Wowza.

Want to use the unique power of storytelling to connect with your audience and feel more confident while doing it? Try the skill-building tips below.

Quick Confidence Tips to Tell Memorable Stories

1. Embodied: Use your body. Your body is one of your most powerful storytelling tools. It can emphasize your message, add humor, act something out, and help people feel the moment you’re describing. No need to channel your inner Oscar winner or break into full-blown theatre mode—small gestures go a long way. For instance, if you’re telling a story about jotting something down, use one hand to mime holding paper and the other to scribble. Or, if you’re describing something a child did, mirror their energy: a dramatic arm cross, a full-body pout, a little shrug that says, “What did I do?!” These movements don’t just illustrate your words. They invite the audience in and help them experience the story with you.

   
   

2. Mindset: You’re more interesting than you think. For years, I held back on sharing personal stories in my talks because I thought they weren’t substantial or impressive enough to be helpful. But something funny happened. When I casually shared those same stories in one-on-one conversations, people lit up. “That’s a great story!” they’d say. So, I started including more of them in my presentations. Turns out they resonated more deeply than the polished examples I’d worked so hard to craft. Think about stories that reflect your values, showcase a mistake you’ve grown from, reveal a shift in perspective, or tie something from your personal life to your professional topic. When you share a story upfront, it sparks curiosity and delivers something your audience didn’t see coming. The only catch? YOU have to be willing to share it.

   
   

3. Interpersonal: Decide how you want your audience to feel. Do you want to surprise them? Make 'em laugh? Get them reflecting? Feel fired up to act? Knowing the emotional goal of your story helps you shape not only the content but the delivery, and it gives you more creative control. Let’s say you’re telling a story about an exceptional customer service moment and you want people to feel joy or connection. You could pause and ask, “Has anyone else had a moment like that?” Then follow up: “Tell me about yours—what made it stand out? How did that make you feel?” That's not just engaging them, it's getting the audience to inhabit that emotion with you. So, be clear about the feeling you’re aiming for, and build the story around it.

We're natural storytellers. We share stories daily when discussing our day, our plans, or our experiences. So, use that everyday ability to bolster your confidence as a communicator. All it takes is practice.

Just remember: the best thing about a good story is authenticity, not perfection.

If you’re not already using storytelling in your presentations, I challenge you to try it in your next one. Already know which story you want to share? Drop it in the comments—practicing it here can help you refine it for the real thing!