We’ve all been there: trapped in a conversation or a presentation where the storyteller drones on, losing the room one word at a time. Their story? Technically fine. Maybe even interesting on paper. But something’s missing. The spark. The pull that turns listeners into participants.
Here’s the truth: your storytelling sucks because you’re afraid to feel. You’ve convinced yourself that a good story is about having all the right details, the perfect structure, the “correct” delivery. But storytelling isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection. And connection demands vulnerability. It demands energy, emotion, and presence. If you want to fix your storytelling, it’s time to stop hiding and start showing up.
1. Your Tonality is Flat—Bring It to Life
The way you speak is the soundtrack to your story. And right now? You sound like elevator music. Flat, forgettable, and impossible to connect with. Tonality isn’t just about raising and lowering your voice; it’s about letting your energy match the emotion of your words.
When you’re telling a story, think about what you want your audience to feel. Excitement? Slow down, drop your voice to a whisper, and build suspense. Joy? Let your tone rise and carry your words like a wave. Sadness? Pause. Give your tone weight. A good storyteller is like a musician—they know when to hit the high notes and when to let the silence speak.
Without emotional shifts in your tone, your story becomes a monotonous blur. And guess what? If you sound bored, your audience will be, too.
2. Stop Overloading the Details—Get to the Point
Ever listened to someone tell a story and wondered, Where is this going? That’s what happens when you drown your narrative in unnecessary details. You think you’re painting a vivid picture, but in reality, you’re losing people.
Here’s a secret: your audience doesn’t care about the color of the car or the exact time of day. They care about why this story matters. The best storytellers leave space for the audience to fill in the gaps. Strip the details down to the essentials, and instead of cluttering your story with facts, fill it with feelings.
Instead of saying, “It was 7:45 PM, and the car was a red Honda,” try: “I was rushing to get there, heart pounding, knowing I was already late.” Feel the difference? One is a data dump. The other pulls you in.
3. Eyes Up—Engage Like You Mean It
Here’s the quickest way to kill your story: avoid eye contact. When you’re staring at your notes, the floor, or the wall, you disconnect from your audience. And storytelling is connection.
Eye contact isn’t just about looking—it’s about seeing. When you lock eyes with someone, you invite them into the moment. You say, “This story is for you.” This small act turns passive listeners into active participants. It makes them feel seen, understood, and involved.
Pro tip: when telling your story, don’t dart around the room nervously. Pick a person, connect, share a moment. Then move to another. Your audience doesn’t need perfection; they need presence.
The stories that stick with us aren’t perfect. They’re real. They’re raw. They’re human. If your storytelling feels boring, it’s not because you lack good material—it’s because you’re too focused on the wrong things.
So next time you tell a story, forget the details, lean into the emotion, and show up. Let your tonality carry the weight of your words, your eyes connect with your audience, and your vulnerability bring them closer.
Because great storytelling isn’t about telling people what happened—it’s about making them feel it.
