Story telling is the one tool I was successful in using and experienced getting good

results in the past.  In my student life, many a time I was able to present my seminar papers  in a story telling way. Instead of going through the good old ways of spreading eye popping  excel sheets or reading through numerous numerical figures which proved to be a good  sedative for most of the audience, I had tried to put it into a story telling format which will  try to put the facts in a sequence of events, with each of them connected together in a  meaningful way. I always tried to deliberately hide the numbers unless asked for and convey  most of the real essence to the audience.

This method attracted almost every time everyone of my audience despite of the

inherent boredom, the subject carries occasionally. But I have to admit that a few of the  faculty in the past (I stress, a very few) found this against the conventional mode of  presentations which they were used to and sometimes asked me to redo the presentation  or asked me to be ‘serious’. And I started doubting the effectiveness of this style.

But then came the time that proved me the effectiveness and power of this method.

This was during my internship in a EU based bank. I was given a project to find ways to  improve the structure of SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) document that was being  used across different teams.  I was supposed to give a report and presentation in the end of  2 months.

The presentation had to be given before a leadership panel who were present

physically and over webcasting.  Unlike the conventional slides my colleagues presented  which had over 15 slides reeking of stats and maths, I had only 7 slides including cover page  and conclusion. The maths and data analysis with testing and ANOVAs were included but in  the index and was not even asked. The challenge in this presentation was that these leaders  were very busy and their attention span will be very less if any for a new intern’s blabbering.  So my success in getting my project into their ears depended heavily on how effective I was  with my opening and how easy was the slides for them to focus on the key points. This was  made possible through setting up a story line mode on the way I started project, with  occasional points of surprise I included in each slides. So in 20 minutes, I was faced with a lot  of questions an indicator that, I was able to catch their attention.

The project was applauded and I was asked to send my suggestions with plans of

execution to the functional managers for implementation. Double delight was when this  hard work was acknowledged with a pre placement offer they sent me. And gave me full  confidence about the story telling method I have been using, perfecting and polishing for a  long time.

The most important thing I have to stress here is that, it is not about the graphics I

used in the PowerPoint (TBH I am below average in it) or the heavy data intensive work I  carried out (It was there but hidden in the index). The thing is that world we live in move so  fast. No matter what level of work you do, but if you are not able to take the essence to the

next person all are in vain.  There lies the importance in exploiting the natural curiosity all  humans have on things and respect their time while presenting facts. In my opinion,  storytelling wins here big time.


Story telling is the one tool I was successful in using and experienced getting good results in the past . In my student life , many a time I was able to present my seminar papers in a story telling way . Instead of going through the good old ways of spreading eye popping excel sheets or reading through numerous numerical figures which proved to be a good sedative for most of the audience , I had tried to put it into a story telling format which will try to put the facts in a sequence of events , with each of them connected together in a meaningful way . I always tried to deliberately hide the numbers unless asked for and convey most of the real essence to the audience . This method attracted almost every time everyone of my audience despite of the inherent boredom , the subject carries occasionally . But I have to admit that a few of the faculty in the past ( I stress , a very few ) found this against the conventional mode of presentations which they were used to and sometimes asked me to redo the presentation or asked me to be ‘ serious ’ . And I started doubting the effectiveness of this style . But then came the time that proved me the effectiveness and power of this method . This was during my internship in a EU based bank . I was given a project to find ways to improve the structure of SOP ( Standard Operating Procedure ) document that was being used across different teams . I was supposed to give a report and presentation in the end of 2 months . The presentation had to be given before a leadership panel who were present physically and over webcasting . Unlike the conventional slides my colleagues presented which had over 15 slides reeking of stats and maths , I had only 7 slides including cover page and conclusion . The maths and data analysis with testing and ANOVAs were included but in the index and was not even asked . The challenge in this presentation was that these leaders were very busy and their attention span will be very less if any for a new intern ’s blabbering . So my success in getting my project into their ears depended heavily on how effective I was with my opening and how easy was the slides for them to focus on the key points . This was made possible through setting up a story line mode on the way I started project , with occasional points of surprise I included in each slides . So in 20 minutes , I was faced with a lot of questions an indicator that , I was able to catch their attention . The project was applauded and I was asked to send my suggestions with plans of execution to the functional managers for implementation . Double delight was when this hard work was acknowledged with a pre placement offer they sent me . And gave me full confidence about the story telling method I have been using , perfecting and polishing for a long time . The most important thing I have to stress here is that , it is not about the graphics I used in the PowerPoint ( TBH I am below average in it ) or the heavy data intensive work I carried out ( It was there but hidden in the index ) . The thing is that world we live in move so fast . No matter what level of work you do , but if you are not able to take the essence to the next person all are in vain . There lies the importance in exploiting the natural curiosity all humans have on things and respect their time while presenting facts . In my opinion , storytelling wins here big time .