Once you have finished organizing your story, the next step is to go out in the world and tell it. This may mean casually telling it to friends and family, or it could be in more serious situations such as a job interview or even a speech at a conference. For any of these situations, no matter how serious or casual, you should think of your story as a performance.
Although you may have your story written on paper and know it in your head, you’ll find that getting it into conversation with others is not the same. It takes a bit of practice.
With every situational telling of your story, there are several factors you need to consider. Who is the audience? What environmental factors might affect the way your story is told? What is the motive behind telling your story? Once you ask yourself these questions, you can generate a “script” for the telling of your story that is specifically catered to the situation in which you are telling it.
Your next step is rehearsal. Practice your story by yourself, in your room. Pretend you are in the situation where you will be telling it. It will probably be helpful to record yourself as you do this. Audio recording is good, but if possible, film yourself. This way, you will be able to watch your body language and adjust it as you go.
When you practice and later tell your story, think of yourself as an actor performing on stage. Even though the part you will be playing is you, treating your story as a performance will build your confidence for telling it. Remember to practice whenever you get the chance. The more you tell your story, the more comfortable you will get with it!
