🤫 Untold Stories: How to become an extraordinary storyteller

You’re about to watch one of the most extraordinary clips I have ever seen.

Angelo Badalamenti is the mastermind behind the Twin Peaks soundtrack. Widely considered to be one of the greatest scores of all time. Turns out he was also an outstanding storyteller. Why? Because he understands that…

The single biggest reason a story fails to land is because the speaker fails to connect with it themselves.

It’s why stories are often rushed, lack depth and ultimately, feel… meh 🫤.

The best storytellers take themselves back to the start so they can re-experience the journey with their audience.

Five things to look out for when you watch this clip 🕵️:

1. Body language 🙆: Angelo uses his arms to help us visualise who is in the room with him.

2. Light and Dark 🌗: Stories need both light and dark to create tension. Tension keeps us engaged and great storytellers adjust their tone to embody how they want the listener to feel.

3. Dynamic dialogue 🗣️: While most people gloss over the conversation, Angelo actually has it. He plays both characters and makes us feel like we are there when it happened.

4. Pace change 🐌: Angelo slows down the speed of the story to create a dramatic climax. This is known as the hourglass technique.

5. Full vocal range 🔊: He starts conversational, then gets louder and louder, before dropping back down to a whisper.
   
   Enjoy… 🍿

It all sounds wishy-washy doesn’t it?!

So let’s make this apply to real life…

Scenario 1: You’re the CEO and you have a critical announcement to make to your team.

❌ Tell the team you’ve ‘thought long and hard about X but ultimately have decided Y.’
✅ Take your team back to the moment you realised something needed to change and walk them through the decision making process.

It will help them see they announcement from your point of view.

Scenario 2: You’ve just written a book and you want everyone to buy it.

❌ Tell everyone you’ve written a book and you want them to buy it!
✅ Take your audience through the messy reality of writing a book actually entailed.

It will increase their curiosity and deepen their respect for what you’ve created.

Scenario 3: You’re introducing a new team member.

❌ Announce their role and background.
✅ Share the story of how you met (you’re first conversation perhaps?!) and why their vision aligns with yours.

Help the newbie feel instantly at home. Get your team excited to meet their new colleague.

These scenarios might seem tenuous link, but they’re not; because they all tell the same story…

It’s the most neglected story type; yet one of the most effective ways to persuade, build trust and loyalty.

Provided your delivery style stays true to you and the moment. Angelo’s delivery style isn’t going to be appropriate in the everyday, but it’s certainly something we call all learn from in our journey.

I wonder, what untold stories do you need to start sharing?

Alex