People Place Story - How to Communicate with Impact

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In this episode of People Play Story, we delve into the art of introductions and how they can be transformed into powerful storytelling opportunities. Host Martin Kloss, a seasoned story coach and speaker trainer, shares insights from his book, "People Play Story." The discussion centers around the common pitfalls of traditional introductions, where individuals often focus on listing accomplishments rather than engaging their audience.

Kloss emphasizes the importance of authenticity and relatability, drawing parallels to how children introduce themselves with genuine enthusiasm. He suggests that adults can learn from this approach by sharing personal anecdotes or passions that connect with their audience. The episode explores how such introductions can build rapport and make the speaker more memorable.

Listeners are encouraged to view introductions as strategic opportunities to connect with their audience, rather than mere formalities. Kloss provides practical advice on tailoring introductions to resonate with specific audiences, considering their interests and expectations. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling in creating memorable and impactful introductions, urging listeners to embrace vulnerability and authenticity.

As the episode concludes, Martin Kloss invites listeners to rethink their approach to introductions, encouraging them to share stories that captivate and engage their audience. This episode serves as a reminder that introductions are not just about self-promotion but about forging meaningful connections through storytelling.

[00:00:08] Martin Kloss:

Hi, and welcome to People Play Story, a podcast about storytelling   and how to communicate with impact.   My name is Martin Kloss, and I'm a professional story coach and speaker trainer.   I recently wrote a book. It's called People Play Story,   but it's only available in German for now. So to help me reach a wider audience and spread the word about the power of stories,   I created this podcast.   Full disclosure, what you're about to hear is generated by an AI,   courtesy of Google's notebook LM.   And each episode is based on a different chapter of my book.   I hope you enjoy it and that I can give you something to think about today. Have fun.  



[00:00:53] Unknown:

Have you ever, like, been stuck listening to someone drone on and on about themselves   and you just completely zone out? Like, when someone is going on and on about their resume   and accomplishments, and you just can't wait for them to finish. Yeah. We've all been there.  

[00:01:07] Unknown:

It seems like most people totally miss the point of an introduction. So how should we be thinking about introductions?   Well, in his book, People Place Story,   communications expert Martin Kloss talks about this.   And he says that we need to look at introductions   as an opportunity.  

[00:01:23] Unknown:

Oh, interesting.   An opportunity for what? An opportunity to tell a story. Okay. So instead of listing off job titles and accomplishments Yeah. We should be telling a story. Exactly.  

[00:01:33] Unknown:

Kloss uses this great example of kids. Okay. He says that if you ask a kid to introduce themselves,   they're not gonna rattle off some list of accomplishments.   They're gonna tell you about their favorite things. They'll say something like, hi. My name is Sarah. I love dinosaurs and the color purple and my dog, Sparky. That's so true. It's genuine. Right? It comes from the heart, and it tells us something about them. And even though it's simple,  

[00:01:58] Unknown:

it's engaging. Like, we're drawn to that kind of authenticity.  

[00:02:02] Unknown:

Yeah.  

[00:02:03] Unknown:

But how do we take that childlike enthusiasm  

[00:02:07] Martin Kloss:

and make it work in a professional setting? That's the $1,000,000 question.  

[00:02:11] Unknown:

Kloss says that the problem is   we're so busy trying to impress everyone with our accomplishments and titles  

[00:02:18] Unknown:

that we forget to just be relatable. And it's like he's saying, ditch the boring bio. Exactly. Because, I mean, honestly, how many project managers are there in the world? That title doesn't tell me anything specific or unique about a person. Exactly. Klaus says we should try to share something memorable. Like what? He suggests  

[00:02:34] Unknown:

finding an anecdote or talking about a passion   or even something as simple as your favorite ice cream flavor,   as long as it connects to the reason you are all there together.  

[00:02:44] Unknown:

So it's about finding a detail that is personal   and reveals something about us,   but also serves the audience and the reason we're all gathered together. Yes. And Close argues that revealing something we're passionate about  

[00:02:58] Unknown:

can actually help us build rapport with the audience. Because it shows we're willing to be vulnerable. Exactly. It allows people to connect with us on a personal level. It shows them that we're not just there to promote ourselves,  

[00:03:09] Unknown:

but that we wanna give them something too. It's about giving the audience a glimpse of who we are, so they're actually excited to hear what we have to say. So it's kinda like choosing the right appetizer. Oh, I like that. Something that will pique your interest and get you ready for the main course. Yeah. That's a great way to put it. And just like a good appetizer, you wanna choose your introduction carefully. Right. It's gotta be something that fits the tone of the overall message you're trying to get across. So you're saying it's not enough to just find any old anecdote or fun fact about yourself? Right. It needs to be strategic. It needs to resonate with your audience and make them wanna hear more. Exactly. And Kloss actually emphasizes this point. He says that serving the audience is key. Meaning Meaning your introduction isn't about self promotion.  

[00:03:50] Unknown:

It's about connecting with your audience. Oh, that's interesting.  

[00:03:54] Unknown:

And it's making me think about some of the best speakers I've listened to. Mhmm. The ones that I still think about even years later. I know exactly what you mean. And they all seem to have this knack for telling these really compelling stories, and these stories always support the point they're trying to make. It's true. And these little anecdotes actually help us remember their message better. They become, like, little memory anchors. Exactly. But how do you figure out what will resonate with an audience? Like, how much do you need to know about them before you get there? That's a great question. And Kluss actually gives us some guidance on this. Does he? Yeah. He says that we need to consider  

[00:04:29] Unknown:

the context of the introduction.   Like, what does that even mean? Well, it means you need to think about   who you are speaking to. Okay. What are their interests, and what are they hoping to get out of it? What are their pain points, so to speak? Exactly.  

[00:04:43] Unknown:

And you need to think about what you want them to take away from your time together. So it's like you're not gonna serve the same appetizers to a group of gourmet chef as you would to, like, a bunch of picky eaters. Exactly.  

[00:04:56] Unknown:

It's all about knowing your audience. You gotta tailor your appetizers to your guests. Exactly. You consider their background, their expectations,   and the kind of connection you wanna build with them. This is really making me rethink  

[00:05:08] Unknown:

how I approach introductions.   I feel like I've just been so focused on getting all the information out there   that I haven't really thought about how to make it engaging too. Yeah. I think that's something we're all guilty of. But class really makes you think about it differently. He does. It's really refreshing. Like, instead of dreading introductions, we should see them as an opportunity.  

[00:05:26] Unknown:

Exactly. An opportunity to connect with people   Right. And get them curious about what we have to say. So the goal is to find that one perfect story,  

[00:05:37] Unknown:

that one detail   that will really resonate with people and make them wanna hear more. Yeah. You wanna make them feel like, okay. Tell me more. I wanna go on this journey with you. Because that's what good storytelling is all about. Right? Exactly. Taking people on a journey and giving them something to think about. And sometimes the simplest stories are the most effective ones.   Especially if they come from a genuine place. A 100%.   This has been such a great conversation. I feel like I have a whole new perspective on introductions. Me too. So to wrap things up,   what's the one thing you hope our listeners take away from this deep dive? I think the biggest thing to remember is that an introduction  

[00:06:14] Unknown:

is not just a formality.  

[00:06:16] Unknown:

It doesn't have to be something you dread.  

[00:06:19] Unknown:

Exactly. It's a chance to share who you are   and connect with your audience in a meaningful way. Yeah.  

[00:06:26] Unknown:

Like we've been saying, it's prime storytelling time. So the next time you're about to introduce yourself, remember what we talked about. Ditch the formalities.   Be authentic. And find that story that will make people want to lean in and listen. And that's a wrap on this deep dive. We'll catch you next time.  

[00:06:49] Martin Kloss:

Hi, everyone. It's me again. Just a quick note before I let you go.   I hope you found today's episode entertaining,   engaging, and maybe even inspiring.   If you did, please spread the word. And if you didn't, please keep it to yourself.   And if you wanna know more,   have any questions,   or wanna work with me, please get in touch with me on martinklaus.com   or on LinkedIn.   Now have a great day. Go out and do something fun.