People are more likely to remember information when it’s wrapped in a story. The flow of your narrative and the strength of the images you position, will help your listener recall what has been said and remember it.
As humans we love patterns – we are pulled to them. Seeing patterns is a natural function of the human brain that helps us learn. The number three is the smallest number of factors, components or aspects that we need to create a pattern.
What does this have to do with my ability to be a memorable storyteller?
Threes let you shape your story:
- Less than three – there’s no pattern.
- More than three – then the skill required to tell the story and the attention needed to understand it, increase for the listener.
More than three is harder for you as the storyteller and your audience.
Think on Your Feet® helps you become a successful storyteller, one who creates clarity, brevity and impact in your stories.
Think on Your Feet® uses the technique of ‘Rule of Three’. It’s scientifically proven, simple in practice and easy to understand. It applies the principle that says people better understand views, situations and ideas when presented in groups of threes.
Cambridge University Neurological Researcher Daniel Bor has proven it can work on 3 levels:
- Sentences.
- Situations.
- Stories.
In Think on Your Feet® we apply the storytelling technique – ‘three-act structures’, these are enhanced with different plans which help keep the listener at the forefront of your mind.
Moving your listener in different directions
Differing plans move the listener in different directions i.e., ‘Clock Plans’ through a chronological moment in time, ‘Zoom Plans’ to shift perspectives and ‘Picture Plans’ to create strong visual impact.
Through each plan, we build strong ideas or connecting points, called ‘Pegs’ – these help frame your ideas and success is achieved by how you, the storyteller, connect them.
This comes through, practice, practice, practice!
Think on Your Feet® when storytelling
Think on Your Feet® teaches you six core communication plans that help you to:
- Package your persuasion.
- Structure what you say.
- Get your message across.
It also teaches four support plans to help you:
- Flesh out your ideas.
- Add content and structure.
And you’ll practice, practice, practice how to use the plans to get to the core of your message, keep ideas distinct from each other and create movement and energy in your story.
Find out more about the Think on Your Feet® workshop:
- Workshop outline.
- Download brochure.
- Public workshop calendar.
- Enquire about training for groups and teams.
More about Richard Morris Richard is an accredited Think on Your Feet®, Writing Dynamics™, Lateral Thinking and Six Thinking Hats® trainer and has delivered these workshops to numerous clients.
From an organisational development context, he has created and implemented a new leadership behavioural framework and set of associated flagship leadership development programmes.
