Alright, let me set the scene for you. You’ve got a killer idea, you’re hyped up to tell your story, and then… crickets. Your audience isn’t reacting the way you thought they would, and you’re left wondering, “What went wrong?”
The good news? These mistakes are totally fixable. So, let’s talk about the three biggest storytelling mistakes that might be secretly killing your connection with your audience—and, more importantly, how to fix them.
Storytelling Mistake #1: Being Too Vague
Let’s be real—nobody connects with a vague, wishy-washy story. If your storytelling is just broad strokes, your audience won’t see themselves in it, and if they can’t see themselves in it, they don’t care.
The Mistake: You’re not getting specific enough. You’re sharing the general gist of things but leaving out the details that matter. Think of it like describing a movie as “a hero saves the day.” Sure, that’s the plot, but where’s the color? Where’s the texture that makes the story worth listening to?
How to Fix It: Focus on specific, relatable moments. Those tiny details are what hook your audience in and make your story stick.
Instead of saying, “I had a bad day,” try, “I spilled coffee on my new shirt five minutes before a huge client meeting, locked my keys in the car, and then got stuck in a two-hour traffic jam with no snacks.”
See the difference? The specifics are where your audience can start to feel what you’re feeling—and that’s where connection happens.
Storytelling Mistake #2: Skipping the Emotional Hook
No one wants to read a story that feels like it was written by a robot. Sure, facts and information have their place, but if your story doesn’t hit people in the feels, you’re missing the whole point of storytelling: to connect on a deeper level.
The Mistake: You’re leaving emotion at the door. Maybe you’re sticking too closely to the facts, or maybe you’re holding back on vulnerability. Either way, the story doesn’t have heart, so your audience tunes out.
How to Fix It: Inject emotion. Share how things made you feel, not just what happened. People don’t connect to data—they connect to emotions, struggles, and victories.
Instead of saying, “Our company faced challenges in the beginning,” say, “I was terrified our business would fail before we even got it off the ground. I didn’t sleep for weeks, wondering if we’d ever get our first client.”
That’s the kind of emotional honesty that pulls your audience in and keeps them engaged. They don’t just know what happened—they feel it with you.
Storytelling Mistake #3: Not Knowing Your Audience
Imagine trying to tell a joke to a group of scientists, only to realize they don’t get the punchline because you’ve been using surfer slang the whole time. You might be telling a great story, but if it doesn’t resonate with your audience, it’s like speaking a language they don’t understand.
The Mistake: You’re not tailoring your story to the people you’re talking to. Maybe you’re using the wrong tone, or maybe you’re getting into details that don’t matter to them. Either way, the connection gets lost because the story isn’t hitting home.
How to Fix It: Know your audience, inside and out. Before you tell your story, ask yourself: Who am I talking to? What do they care about? What are they struggling with right now? Then, tweak your story to fit their world.
If you’re speaking to startup founders, share a story about early business struggles and scrappy solutions. If you’re talking to creatives, lean into the process of finding inspiration and overcoming creative blocks. Your story should feel like it was written just for them.
Effective storytelling goes way beyond recounting events. And when it’s done well, it creates a connection that merely relaying advice, research, and then-this-happened plot points can’t touch. If your stories aren’t landing, don’t sweat it—small adjustments can fix these storytelling mistakes and help you create deeper connections with your audience.
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