Stories make your message stick. But HOW and WHERE and WHY you tell the story matters.

Enjoy the next several blogs on story telling – best practices, ways to create a story, what works, what doesn’t.

You enjoy going to a spa? Getting a massage? This blog is about a SPA. Sadly, not the massage spa but the SPA Rule of all story telling.

S = Story

P = Point

A = Application

Whether you’re telling a story in a speech, at a meeting, persuading investors, networking at a convention, or over a cocktail reception (with a great single malt Scotch) you MUST have these three components: Story, Point and Application.

The order can go in any direction. Tell your story, make your point, and add a sentence or two about how this applies to your listeners. Or make your point, why it’s applicable (relevant) and then back your point up with a story that relates to your point.

Example using the S-P-A order: [Story] “I floss my teeth every day. Friends say I have such a great flossing habit because my husband is a dentist. I say, ‘No! I floss all the time because many years ago my fabulous husband the dentist discovered I had a tiny cavity in between my front teeth.’ [Point] Flossing really helps keep dental issues at bay. [Application] Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away.”

Example using the P-A-S order: [Point] “Flossing your teeth really helps keep dental issues at bay. [Application] In fact, if you ignore your teeth they’ll go away. [Story] Friends say I have great flossing habits because my husband is a dentist. I admit, ‘No! I floss all the time because many years ago my fabulous husband the dentist discovered I had a tiny cavity in between my front teeth!’”

More story telling tips to come. And keep flossing.

© 123RF Stock Photo

© Karen Cortell Reisman, M.S., author of 3 books and President of Speak For Yourself®, works with decision makers on how to speak with gravitas. It’s all in how you speak for yourself. Karen also speaks about her cousin, Albert Einstein, in a message about hope, resilience and brassieres.

Read more at www.SpeakForYourself.com/blog