In the video above, Kelly Mcgonigal starts with an effective opener; she polls the audience, and reveals a little about herself. She uses facts well, building her thesis about stress and how we can view it constructively. Her visuals are simple and not overcrowded.

But she misses the opportunity to engage the audience with stories. Her topic lends itself to storytelling; who hasn’t faced stress before? Why not throw a personal story in the discussion section? Are there stories in the news that might fit? Stories are our most powerful weapon against boredom. Sometimes we get stuck in the habit of thinking that our lives or the lives of those around us couldn’t possibly relate to our speaking topic. There are many ways, however, to relate your life to your topic, no matter how apart they may seem.

I had a client who used a story in a presentation about a young man who became a competitive runner despite wrestling with a major respiratory disease. His goal was to motivate his team, and his story fell in line with that goal. It was extremely persuasive.

Tell your stories in your presentations, and trust your audience will connect the dots. You’ll be glad you did.

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