As a follow-up to my last post about how speakers can learn from the world of improv comedy when honing more interesting business story characters, here’s my question this week: To what extent should you use structure to ignite better stories every time you speak?

If your gut answer is ‘not much’ or ‘not at all’, could this be down to concerns that bothering with structure might get in the way of your creativity – bringing a halt to your gallop or maybe encouraging ‘cookie cutter’, ‘paint by number’ or ‘me too’ story telling?

If these or similar concerns occur to you –  at one level, you’d be right.

A fill in the blanks or formulaic approach to storytelling simply won’t set audiences on fire. Rather, it’ll lead to forgettable audience experiences.

BUT…there’s the other side of the coin (the side I’d recommend).

Why Structure Can Add Sizzle to Your Stories

Used well, structure can help you to mould and shape tighter, brighter and more engaging stories – acting as a platform that allows you to set your imagination and creativity free.

But how?

The trick, to quote the popular author of children’s novels (and my kids used to love her Roman mystery stories) Caroline Lawrence, is this:

Every story needs structure, just as everybody needs a skeleton. It is how you ‘flesh out and clothe’ your structure that makes each story unique.

Aha. It’s leveraging versus relying on structure that helps you to bring your stories to new levels.

And, to delve into this further, I was thrilled to speak with yet another queen of improv – head of advanced improv comedy at the world famous Second City of Chicago, a performer with The Second City Improv Allstars and The Boys, and an inspirational improv comedy teacher, Rachael Mason.

Lean in as we discuss how to use structure to add serious sizzle to scenes that evolve in your stories.

Public Speaking Tips – 6 Awesome Storytelling Ideas From an Improv Comedy Star

Listen is as we discuss:

• What storytellers can learn from comedy – where a small number of joke templates offer infinite possibilities to entertain audiences
• How to grab your audience from the get-go
• Why editing needs to be your go-to means of moulding better stories
• The power of active listening
• How choosing to not close off a story too soon can help you uncover and realise its true potential
• Why the notions of being smart and silly can live together and make you a better storyteller
• And more

And Speaking of Becoming a More High Impact Speaker…

I’m delighted to announce that ‘How to Make Powerful Speeches 2nd Edition – A Step-by-Step Guide to Inspiring and Memorable Speeches’ is now available on Amazon: Click Here

Photo credit for video: OC Always