Public speaker, coach, and facilitator Sheryl Dickerson, recently spoke to TNG about how to stand out in a crowd by getting personal and sharing your story.

The age of social media

These days many flock to social media and, in doing so, tend to ignore the benefits of speaking in person. Sheryl points out that while social media is an easy option because it’s safe, it actually inhibits our ability to make genuine connections with those we’re trying to reach.

She shares an anecdote in which she spent the morning checking social media but could not really latch on to anything. As anyone using social media knows, it’s difficult to grab hold of anything as hundreds of messages fly by per minute. When she checked her emails, however, she found a story waiting for her, and it left an impact. 

Sharing your story

Sheryl says that in order to leave an impact on your audience, it’s vital to share a story. She points out that great public speakers often give the impression that they’re talking off the cuff when in reality, they’ve prepared the material in advance but deliver it naturally.

In order to do this, she recommends writing a template for yourself. She provides one as follows:

• Think of a problem your audience might face.
• Recognise the negative emotions associated with it.
• Empathise with those emotions by noting similar experiences you’ve had.
• Write a success story of how you overcame the problem.
• Tie it into your niche.
• Visit the problem once more.
• Explain how you can help solve it.

Sheryl points out that this formula can be adapted for the purposes of an elevator pitch, through to a ten-minute talk, and even an hour-long presentation. The only thing that changes is how elaborate your story is. 

The core of a story

Sheryl discusses how our society has been fixated on “glossiness” for the past few years and how this has created insecurities in many who don’t feel like they can match it. This has, in turn, fostered a desire for authenticity. It is this authenticity that should be at the core of your story. 

Sheryl suggests digging back into your childhood and finding an early lesson you learned. You can then tie this to how you approach challenges today in order to give your audience a lesson that will stay with them and make an impact. It doesn’t need to be tied to your business, but you might be surprised at what you find.

The Halo Effect

While social media has been a boon to boosting reach, it has undermined personality and can lead to the false impression that no one is meeting in person anymore. Sheryl cautions against falling into that line of thinking. She says that you can bet people in your industry are still meeting face to face, in real life, or in video conferences. 

Not only does learning to speak in person let you take advantage of these opportunities but learning to speak well can improve your image. As she explains, when a person carries themselves confidently, it creates a halo effect, and with it, their audience’s confidence in them and their abilities grow. 

Conclusion

Everyone has a story to tell, and people are hungry for genuine connections. With this in mind, there’s never been a better time to look inward, find something to share, and then direct it outwards.

By learning to share your story in the most impactful way possible, you can win over clients and, most importantly, forge connections for life. 

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