If you want to be a good communicator and influencer—you’ve got to make your ideas take hold in the mind of the person you are conversing with. Your ideas have to “come to life” inside their mind. How do you get that to happen? There are a few techniques you can use — but the overriding principle is to place all individual influencing techniques within the “glove” of an engaging story.
Now, you can learn a lot about how to tell engaging stories by observing people who are already good at it.
Malcolm Gladwell is one of the best at telling engaging stories in front of a live audience. When he hits his stride he has the audience. He uses lots of different techniques when delivering a story in person — but, first and foremost, he knows how to pace a good story.
Doing so will positively impact your ability to tell engaging stories. And when you can tell engaging stories (to showcase your ideas or point of view) you will automatically become a better communicator and influencer.