Want to Be a Better Speaker? Start With a Story.

Ever sat through a presentation packed with charts and bullet points, only to forget everything five minutes later? You’re not alone. The human brain isn’t wired to hang on to endless streams of data — it’s wired for stories.

In fact, research by cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner shows that facts couched in stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone. That means your audience is far more likely to remember the facts, not just the stories. So if you want someone to remember a number, fact or piece of data, couch it in a story to make it 22x more memorable.

So how do you use storytelling to make your talks unforgettable — and build your confidence as a speaker in the process? Let’s dig in.

Why Stories Work So Well:

• They make your message human. Even the most technical topic feels approachable when there’s a person — not just a statistic — at the center of it.

• They build real connection. People act on what they feel, not just what they know.

• They help explain tough ideas. A good story gives your audience something to hold onto when concepts get complex.

• They stick. Long after your slides are gone, your story — and its lesson — will still be floating around in people’s minds.

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Start Building Your Story Bank:

Great speakers don’t scramble for inspiration the night before. They prepare a stash of real moments ready to use when they need them. We  here at SPEAC like to refer to this as your “story bank”.

So… where to start?

1. Collect stories from your own life.Think of moments when you learned something, failed big, or had a breakthrough. These don’t have to be dramatic — small, everyday moments are often the most relatable.

2. Sort them by theme.Tag each story with topics like leadership, resilience, teamwork, or innovation. That way, you can quickly grab the perfect one for any audience.

3. Keep them short and visual.Two to three minutes is plenty. Focus on vivid details — a line someone said, the setting, or how you felt in the moment.

4. Write them down.Use a journal, a spreadsheet, or even your phone’s notes app. Jot down both the story and the takeaway so you don’t forget why it matters. In fact, as a bonus to our subscribers, here is a link to our Story Bank Template we use here at SPEAC.

Data informs, but stories transform. When you build and use a story bank, your talks don’t just land — they last. You will build confidence, showcase your authenticity, and stand out — because  facts can be copied, but your stories are uniquely yours. 

The Bottom Line? Your audience will remember your message, retell your stories, and take action long after the applause fades.

Want to master storytelling — and every other skill you need to become a confident, unforgettable speaker?

Sign up for our SPEAC Success eCourse today and start building the kind of presence that gets remembered.

Speak Success,