Lee Jackson shares why storytelling matters in presentation skills, especially for people who think stories are cheesy or only for children. This short talk is about making business presentations more engaging by using small, relevant stories, testimonials, and client examples instead of relying only on functional slide-by-slide delivery.
KEY POINTS
* Lee reflects on a Presentation Skills Day with a mix of senior leaders and newer presenters, where storytelling came up again and again.
* He challenges the idea that storytelling is cheesy or childish, arguing that it is one of the fastest ways to bring a presentation to life.
* Even financial or business-heavy presentations can benefit from stories, because the numbers often represent real people and real situations.
* Short stories—such as client stories, testimonials, or small work interactions—can be just as useful as longer narratives.
* A “functional presentation” simply moves through required points, rather than building audience engagement.
* Good storytelling adds colour, life, and connection to otherwise dull presentations.
* Stories need to be relevant, but most people already have plenty of usable ones—they just may not recognize them yet.
* Lee recommends setting aside time to record, relive, and refine stories from life and work so they’re ready for future presentations.
* Well-edited storytelling can make a significant difference in how a presentation lands.
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Storytelling was the main takeaway from a presentation skills day
(00:30) Why storytelling is often dismissed as cheesy or childish
(01:00) The problem with functional, slide-driven presentations
(01:29) How stories bring colour and audience engagement
(01:59) Why relevant storytelling makes a difference
