Forgotten vs Verbatim: A Storytelling Superpower! - Great Demo! and Doing Discovery

Forgotten vs Verbatim: A Storytelling Superpower!

Describe a key capability to a prospect as a “fact” or feature and it is often quickly forgotten.

Use a compelling analogy or metaphor and that capability will be remembered, and it can be recommunicated successfully.

However, when you wrap a good story around the capability, not only will retention be high, but your prospect will communicate that story to others with very high accuracy, often nearly verbatim!

What makes a story a good story?

Chip and Dan Heath in Made to Stick identified five key elements:

  • Simple Message: The concept or message needs to be clear and easy to understand
  • Real Experience: It must be believable and perceived as being true
  • Element of Surprise: An unexpected twist, event or outcome generates interest and tension
  • Evokes Emotion: The best stories are those that evoke an emotional response
  • Relevant: Good stories relate directly to the subject or key point

A story with these five elements can take a boring idea and make it delightfully sticky!

Learn more about storytelling and demos in Great Demo! Chapter 11 “Storytelling” starting on page 332.

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