Improve Your Storytelling Skills (Without Overcomplicating It)

Improve Your Storytelling Skills

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By Tom Riley

Introduction to Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to capture attention and hold it. A well-told story doesn’t just inform—it pulls people in, keeps them listening, and stays with them long after the final word. It transforms complex ideas into experiences that feel personal, relatable, and memorable.

At the heart of storytelling is emotion. When a story stirs joy, fear, hope, or sadness, it creates a bond between the storyteller and the audience. That emotional connection makes the message resonate more deeply and makes the listener more receptive. People may forget facts and figures, but they remember how a story made them feel.

Stories also shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. When we hear about a character overcoming adversity, we recognize our own struggles and find motivation to keep going. When we witness acts of kindness or courage, we are inspired to act the same way. Stories turn abstract ideas into lived moments, allowing audiences to step into another life, another choice, another outcome.

Beyond inspiration, storytelling offers understanding. It helps people process their emotions, find comfort in shared experiences, and feel less alone. By inviting audiences into perspectives different from their own, stories cultivate empathy and compassion—qualities essential for meaningful human connection.

Storytelling also has the power to spark change. By illuminating injustice, challenging assumptions, and giving voice to overlooked experiences, stories can awaken awareness and move people to action. They preserve culture and history while opening space for progress, connecting generations and communities through shared truth.

On a personal level, storytelling fuels growth. As individuals engage with stories, they often discover reflections of their own values, fears, and aspirations. This reflection leads to greater self-awareness, stronger relationships, and a clearer sense of purpose. Stories don’t just entertain—they guide, heal, and empower.

In the end, storytelling is more than a skill. It’s a bridge between minds and hearts, a way to make meaning visible, and a force that can transform how people think, feel, and act.

The Hook

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to hook an audience and keep them glued to every word you say.

But here’s the problem: Most advice about storytelling makes it sound way too complicated.

Frameworks. Formulas. Endless rules.

The truth? Great storytelling is simple—if you know what actually matters.

In this post, you’ll learn practical storytelling techniques that instantly make your stories more engaging. But before we break them down, let me show you what good storytelling looks like.

A Powerful 30-Second Story (Example)

Two weeks ago, I’m standing alone in an airport at 5:12 a.m., staring at a departure board that suddenly flashes CANCELLED.

My phone is at 2%. My flight home is gone.

I remember thinking, of course this happens now. Of course.

A guy next to me laughs and says, “Guess we live here now.”

And I don’t laugh. I just sit down on my suitcase, rub my face, and realize—I have absolutely no plan.

That’s it. No summary. No backstory. Just a moment.

And that’s the key.

The Biggest Storytelling Mistake Most People Make

Good storytellers don’t summarize events.

They never get to the moments that actually matter—the moments that hold the listener’s attention—instead, they drift into phrases like:

• “So, then a lot of things happened…”

• “Long story short…”

• “Basically, it was stressful.”

Great storytellers zoom in.

They take us into one moment. They put us there at that moment. They let us experience the story from the inside.

And the good news? Doing this isn’t hard.

Here are five simple techniques you can use in any story.

Technique #1: Location — Where Are You?

Every strong story starts by grounding us in a physical place.

Not details. Not descriptions. Just location.

Examples:

• “Two weeks ago, I’m standing in an airport.”

• “September 2019, I’m outside a conference room, hand on the door.”

• “Last night, I’m sitting in my car, engine running, not going anywhere.”

Why this works

The moment you say airport, conference room, or car, your audience instantly visualizes their version of that place.

Beginner storytellers often overdo it:

“There was a large wooden table, beige carpet, a TV mounted on the wall…”

Don’t do that.

As long as your audience can picture the location, you’ve done your job.

Technique #2: Action — What Are You Doing?

Once we know where you are, tell us what you’re doing in that moment.

Focus on verbs, not explanations.

Examples:

• “I’m scrolling through my phone, refreshing my email.”

• “I’m turning the car radio up just to avoid my own thoughts.”

• “I’m standing there, reading the same email for the third time.”

Why this works

Action creates forward momentum.

It signals to your audience:

This story is going somewhere. I won’t waste your time.

Technique #3: Thoughts — What’s Going Through Your Mind?

We all have thousands of thoughts every day—hopes, fears, doubts, irrational worries.

Great storytellers let us hear them.

Weak version:

“I was excited to meet her.”

Strong version:

“I remember thinking, okay—don’t say something stupid. Just don’t blow this in the first ten seconds.”

Another example:

Instead of:

“I was disappointed after the presentation.”

Say:

“I thought that pause was too long. Everyone noticed. This is bad. This is really bad.”

Important rule

Your thoughts should sound human, not professional.

Nobody thinks:

“This represents a supreme opportunity.”

We think:

“Oh no.” “This is not good.” “Why did I say that?”

Those raw, slightly messy thoughts are what make stories relatable.

Technique #4: Emotions — Show, Don’t Label

Most people say:

• “I was nervous.”

• “I felt relieved.”

• “I was angry.”

That’s fine—but it’s not visual.

Instead, show the emotion through the body.

Weak:

“I was relieved.”

Strong:

“I leaned back, exhaled hard, and realized I’d been holding my breath the entire time.”

Weak:

“He was anxious.”

Strong:

“He kept tapping his foot, checking his watch, then checking it again like time might change.”

When you show emotions physically, your audience feels them.

Technique #5: Dialogue — What Was Said?

Dialogue is one of the fastest ways to make a story come alive.

Weak:

“My friend was disappointed.”

Strong:

“He looked at me and said, ‘What was that supposed to be?’”

Weak:

“My manager was happy with my work.”

Strong:

“She smiled and said, ‘Okay—now that is what I’m talking about.’”

Tip

Like thoughts, dialogue should be:

• Short

• Real

• A little juicy

Nobody talks like a legal document.

A Final Example (Spot the Techniques)

As you read this, notice the location, action, thoughts, emotion, and dialogue:

It’s Monday morning, and I’m standing outside a glass conference room on the thirty-second floor, my reflection staring back at me like it’s daring me to walk in. My palms are slick. My stomach is tight.

I tell myself, don’t mess this up. You don’t belong here—but you have to act like you do.

I push the door open and step inside.

The room goes quiet.

The senior partner at the head of the table doesn’t look up from his notes. He slides a folder toward me and says, casually, “Can you make copies of this for everyone? We’ll get started once you’re done.”

For half a second, my chest sinks.

Then I hear my own voice—steady, calm, not asking permission. “I’d be happy to,” I say, “right after I finish presenting the proposal you asked me to lead.”

Now he looks up.

The room feels different. Smaller. Tighter.

I sit down, open my laptop, and feel something shift—not in them, but in me. That’s the moment I stopped waiting to be invited into the room.

That’s storytelling.

Final Thought

Great storytelling isn’t about being dramatic. It’s about being specific.

Zoom into the moment. Let us hear the thoughts. Show the emotion. Use dialogue.

Master these five elements—and you’ll already be a better storyteller than most people.

And if you want to go even deeper, there are more advanced techniques out there.

But for now? It’s best to start here. I’ll put it in future posts.