154. Emily Edgeley: Storytelling in the Tech Industry

Emily Edgeley is a Public Speaking Coach, working with people from the Tech industry. She helps people give more interesting talks and enjoy themselves while doing it. Her favorite thing to teach others about is storytelling.

The biggest storytelling mistake in the tech industry

The biggest mistake is not telling stories. People tend to tell just information and facts.

Storytelling in the tech industry

A story has to connect the dots for people and humanize technology. Take people on a journey from what is prior to where people will be taken once the technology is introduced. You just have to explain how technology interacts with humans.

An example is how Emily used to introduce herself: “I coach people 1-on-1 and also provide group workshops and I do speaking engagements.” And now using storytelling she says “I take people in the tech industry who either don’t like presenting or don’t think they’re very good and I take them to a place where they can be much more relatable, much more engaging, much more memorable.”

If you’re talking in a conference, two types of stories:

* Connect with the topic. Share your origin story with the audience. Share why this technology called your attention.

* Talk about your experience with the  technology. Have you struggled an learned a lesson?

Your storytelling toolbox

Emily recommends the following tools for storytelling in the tech industry:

* Watch TED talks for inspiration.

* Write a story file. Four main different types of stories: stories that happened to you, that you heard, famous story, hypothetical story.

* Understand that storytelling doesn’t need to be complicated.

Differences between telling stories inside your company and in conferences

* Inside your company, you have more resistance to change, and less time to speak. Tell a short story.

* In conferences people are more open to your stories, and you can use more time. Inspire people.

Related: How to Create Your Best Stories

Favorite quotation

“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page on someone else’s survival guide.” — Morgan Harper Nichols

Recommended book

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