How to Tell a Story: Why is Timing So Important?

Want to know why timing is so important as you learn how to tell a story?

There are various aspects, and today you‘ll find out about the drummer’s power. That, dear one, is a metaphor example for talking to you about (drum roll please)… Timing.

If you cut the tale in the video below down to the bare bones, it’s a story about a guy who discovers that the airline has lost most of his luggage. Not much of a story when told that way.

Remember, what makes something a story. It’s not simply a string of events. (guy checks his bag in at the counter in Wales, gets on his flight, etc.). A story also must have movement and drama.

A well told tale has rhythm and timing.

As you watch this video about a baggage disaster, you will gain an appreciation for the power of timing in storytelling.

I highly recommend that you study the art of the comedian and the art of jokes to help you get the knack of storytelling.

And no, please don’t become a joke-teller. I don’t want you to end up like my friend. I’ll call him Greg.

You probably have a friend just like him. Whenever you see Greg, he’ll tell you at least two bits of trivia (many of which you’ve heard ten times or more before), and he’ll tell you his latest joke.

Oh goodie. If I could get up and go to the bathroom every time this happens, I’d be accused of developing incontenance.

And you’re duty bound to give some pretense of hahaha for him. that is the toll a friend pays so as not to be hurtful.

Storytelling will get you much more “mileage” than a joke, because of the way it draws your listener in.

A good comedian, unlike Greg the jokester, truly is a storyteller.And even though you aren’t likely to become a stand-up comedian, you can observe what makes a good routine work Go ahead and watch the bad Aussie baggage handling video again, and this time observe the development of the story.

And ask yourself why is timing so important?

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Timing is so important because it shapes the story.

Notice how he sets the scene without giving you a whole blablabla of background. You quickly get that he’s from Wales going to Australia for 2 months and excited about it. His bit about having to go to France for sunglasses is hilarious, and he doesn’t throw off the timing by explaining how little sun there is in Wales. He simply says he had to go to France for sunglasses.

Once he shows the handle, I love the bit where he waits for the laugh, and then says he laughed the first 3 times he saw it running around on the belt. Naturally, something like that is always hilarious — until it’s your problem and not a random mishap happening to someone else. But again, he doesn’t dwell on the lesson. He lets you experience along with him what happens next.

The best way to develop the skill of storytelling is, not surprisingly, to practice telling stories.

my good friend Gina Gaudio Graves tells the story about how she learned to tell stories. She practiced every night at dinner with her husband. He, being a better teller than she at the time, would help her be interesting and time her stories well. Now she is one of the best storytellers I know. She includes stories in her emails, blog posts, sales pages, products, classes – anywhere she is communicating with people.

That is what you need to do as well.

How to Tell a Story: 3 steps to improve your timing

1. Develop the eye of the storyteller. When you do, you’ll see stories EVERYWHERE! Truly you will. Today I looked at the lake and planned out tomorrow’s blog post. And though lake doesn’t seem to relate to your life, it will by the time I tell you the story of the lake and sky.

2. Study good storytelling. Listen to your favorite tellers, comedians, and songs. Listen or read three times. Once to enjoy, once to study the structure, and a third time to study the structure again AFTER you have done #3.

3. Practice telling stories. Get a buddy or a group and watch the receiver’s body language as you tell a story. That will give you real-time feedback.

Resources

I have several resources for you today.

In the upper right corner is an opt-in box, and when you fill it out, you’ll enter a new world of storytelling guidance. Please do it now.

Also, I want you to start getting the right mindset. Please accept this gift from Dr. Rick Schaefer. It is the Extreme Thought Makeover Program, a $450 value for YOU for free. You’ll have an activity to do each day for 37 days that will shift your mindset.

Develop your skills of observation and focus with the Blind Mentor audio. This was a call that international motivational speaker John Di Lemme did with me, and it will rock your world. There are several bonuses tucked inside as well.

And finally, stay tuned for several upcoming storytelling classes.

Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Discover how to explode profits, prospects and prime media opoprtuntiies with her latest book is the Instant Credibility system, which teaches any business owner, entrepreneur, coach, speaker or writer to craft a lead-generating book that grows your business.

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