Storytelling with You

chapter 3compile the pieces

In the previous chapter, I asked you to let go of a lot of detail in order to get succinct on your message. That may have felt uncomfortable. I'll venture to guess that it did feel uncomfortable. But don't worry. Now is when you get to think about your communication more broadly, including the various supporting elements that will help you get your message across.

In this chapter, I'll walk you through the process to create your plan of attack—a storyboard. We'll start by brainstorming and spend time generating ideas and enumerating potential pieces of content. Then we'll edit, arrange, and rearrange. We'll seek and incorporate feedback. All of this will culminate in an initial and robust plan for your presentation content.

What is a storyboard?

Storyboarding is a term I've appropriated for the business setting. A storyboard is a sequence of drawings that represent shots planned for a movie, television show, or commercial (for many people, this word conjures TV's Mad Men–style advertisement sketches). For use in the business world, I simply think of the storyboard as a visual outline for presentation content. You don't have to be an artist to reap the immense benefits of this strategy. In addition to organizing your thoughts and creating a plan that keeps you on track, taking the time to storyboard as part of the planning process often leads to shorter, targeted, and more effective communications.

The first piece of advice I have for you ...