Powerful story telling is not measured by the number of words you say, but by the points you make.

Storytelling is powerful. It is why movies move us and adverts move us to buy stuff. Most people waffle on for 5 minutes or more when they make a speech – and say nothing during that time.

I always push my clients to make points, not noise. To say more with less. We all like filling up our conversations with words and fillers and meaningless phrases. When we tell stories we often clutter them up with excess and unnecessary THINGS that perform no function and that often distract from the story or message and often confuse the audience. If the words are not adding to your meaning – cut them out.

This video tells a story incredibly well in less than two minutes. If you can move people with a two minute speech then you are in a very small minority.

Winston Churchill famously said:

If you want me to speak for half an hour, give me a day’s notice; if you want me to speak for five minutes – give me a week.”

He was right – watch this and see if you could. Make no assumptions…watch to the end.

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Peter Botting
London-based Peter Botting is a top globally-operating executive coach for CEOs and senior leaders. He has thirty plus years' experience in public speaking coaching and storytelling coaching in the UK, USA and EMEA, working with over 8,500 speakers, companies like IBM and Accenture, and almost 200 Members of Parliament.

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