Sally Koering Zimney breaks down four speaker types and explains how storytellers use vulnerability and empathy to connect with audiences. She cites speakers like Jill Bolte Taylor and Elizabeth Gilbert as models of authentic storytelling that builds leadership presence.
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Hey movers, in today's video we are going to dive into the storyteller speaking superpower in a little more detail so you can make the most of your authentic voice. Not sure what I'm talking about? Awesome! Check out this video. Hey everybody, my name is Sally Koering Zimney and I am a speaker coach with Be Moved and I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs and changemakers like you utilize speaking in your business so you can unleash your authentic voice, take the stage with courage and clarity, and finally leave self-doubt and obscurity in the dust. Because we can't have a big impact if, you know, we're obscure. And as always, I would love for you to come along the ride with us here at Be Moved. So if you haven't yet, hit that, oops, wrong way, if you haven't yet. So if you haven't yet, hit that subscribe button. Right, no, right, no, right, no, it's really weird. And as always, I would love for you to come along the ride with us here at BeMoved. So if you want weekly inspiration and insight into how you can move your audience more effectively, hit that subscribe button and we're gonna have a lot of fun together. Are you ready to create some talks that'll move the world? Yes, yes, me too! Let's do this. So if you haven't taken the quiz yet, this is actually a really good place to start. Head to bemoove.com/speaking-superpower-quiz so that you kind of have more of an idea of what on earth I'm talking about here. But if you have taken the quiz and you're here because you're like, I'm a storyteller and I want to know more about what this means, tell me, Sally Zimney, I'm like, okay, that's what we're doing here. But First, let's look at the 4 types. We've got the motivator, we've got the storyteller, that's you. We've got the educator and the innovator. Those are the 4 basic types. But of course today and right now, we are going to look at the storyteller. You are the beating heart of empathy for your audience. You're all about understanding and connection, and your focus on your audience is really driven by a real in-the-now understanding of who they are, what their experiences are like, what their ideas are, their feelings, their needs. I mean, talk about a superpower. That is so important, especially as a thought leader and a changemaker and an entrepreneur. You've gotta be honed in on that audience, and you are. That focus on empathy, it really fuels your business. And your results, and it's absolutely fueling your speaking, and it will if you haven't started to really use it yet. All leaders use stories to some extent, and all the types use stories. So it's not that you're the only type that uses storytelling. I use storytelling. Everybody needs to be using storytelling. But you really have built your connection to your audience on the craft of storytelling. You feel really comfortable in that mode. And that's awesome because I think storytelling is the most important tool that we have in our toolkit as speakers. But as a speaker, more than any other type, you really embrace the power of storytelling. And more importantly than that, you embrace the process that helps you show up with vulnerability and authenticity. You're willing to dig in deep. That willingness, The willingness to see your audience and allow your audience to see you, whoo, that is huge, my friend, because that is at the heart of transformative speaking and leading. But here's what you can be doing to keep growing and kind of move towards your edge on this. Because as we work to grow our audience, to make a bigger impact, the experience of speaking is an especially vulnerable one. You know that. And storytellers, for you, that might be kind of the exciting part of it, but where you might feel the most discomfort is actually stepping into more of a leadership role. Remembering that when you speak, it's an opportunity to not just be in the same space as humans, but to challenge your audience to do better, to live a little differently, because that's really what ultimately speaking is all about. We don't just tell stories, we use stories. We use stories to illustrate an idea or an aha, to really lead our audiences somewhere, to take action or embrace a new idea, and to help them see what's really possible, what's next for your audience. So what I want you to do is to tap into what is possible, to lean into your leadership voice, to not be afraid to challenge and push and nudge your audience in a new direction. So lean into that challenge and possibility, and you are about to take your storytelling superpower to the next level. So let's look at some famous storytellers superpower speakers. First up, oh my, I just think she's amazing, is Jill Bolte Taylor. Please tell me you've seen this talk. It's a really famous TED Talk and it is a storytelling masterclass. Almost the entire talk is a story, but she also is living into this need to push and challenge and nudge, and it's so fun to watch. Also Liz Gilbert. Oh my gosh, she's a classic storyteller speaker, not just because she tells great stories, but because the experience of being in her audience is like a walk through all of her senses and it's so satisfying and cool as an audience member. And then last but not least, my favorite, Clint Smith. I mean, have you seen his talks? He's a super evolved storyteller speaker because he lives in the experience of telling the story and then uses that story to challenge us, to help us think differently. Using his incredible ability to connect with his audience, he pushes us to do better, to be better, to think differently, and to make the world a better place. Lin Smith, high five! So storytellers, I want you to own your #SpeakingSuperpower, okay? So I want to see it. Put it down in the comments below or head over to Instagram, which is where I really like to hang out. Meet me over there. Use this hashtag. Let me know what your superpower is and tag me me on it so that I can cheer you on as well. I'd love to see it because we need more storytellers out in the world. Own it, share it, let's do this. And of course, if you haven't taken the quiz yet, you gotta do that. So if you haven't yet taken the quiz, check it out below, bemoved.com/speaking-superpower-quiz, so that you can figure out for yourself, are you a storyteller? Maybe you're a motivator or an innovator. Or, what's the last one? Educator! Maybe you're an educator. Won't that be fun to figure it out? All right, my friends, that is it for me. Let's go create some talks that'll move the world. Yes? So if you haven't taken the quiz yet, this is a really good place to start. That's not the quick. BeMove.com. I can't say it. And we'd love for you to hang out.
