How to Tell a Story That People Actually Want to Listen To | How to Tell a Good Story That Will Make People Curious to Listen | How To Tell A Story People Actually Want To Listen To

December 6, 2025 - By admin

Let’s be honest. We’ve all been there.

Someone starts talking, and your mind starts to wander. You think about your grocery list, that funny video you saw, or what you’ll have for dinner. Their words become background noise.

Now, think of a different time. Someone started telling a story, and you were hooked. You leaned in. You forgot about your phone. You felt what they felt. You wanted to hear what happened next.

That is the power of a great story. It’s not magic. It’s a skill. And it might be the most important skill you can learn today, whether you want to charm friends, inspire a team, sell a product, or change minds.

This guide is for anyone who has ever thought, “I’m not a natural storyteller.” We’ll break it down into simple parts. We’ll answer questions like how to be a good storyteller, what is storytelling in business, and explore the best techniques to make your message stick. Let’s begin where every good story begins: with the basics.

Part 1: The Heart of the Matter – What Makes a Story Work?

A story isn’t just a list of events. “I went to the store. I bought milk. I came home.” That’s a report. It’s boring.

A story is about change. It connects events with emotion and meaning. Think of every movie, book, or fairy tale you love. They all follow a simple, invisible path:

A Character: Someone we can understand (even if it’s you!).
A Desire: They want something – a goal, an answer, a solution.
A Problem: A huge obstacle stands in their way. A villain, a challenge, a mountain to climb.
A Journey: They struggle. They try and fail. They learn.
A Change: Because of the journey, they (or their world) are different in the end.

This is the engine of every story. When you tell a story, you are inviting your listener on this short journey with you. Your job as the storyteller is to be the guide.

Part 2: Your Toolbox – What Are Storytelling Techniques?

How to be a good storyteller starts with learning a few simple techniques. You don’t need them all at once. Pick one and practice.

1. Start in the Action (The “In Medias Res” Trick):
Don’t start with, “Let me tell you about a time I failed…” That’s weak. Start in the middle of the drama.

Weak Start: “So last year, I decided to run a marathon.”
Strong Start: “My lungs were on fire. My legs were numb. The sign said ‘Mile 20,’ and all I could think was, ‘I have to quit.’”

You’ve immediately created a question in the listener’s mind: What happened? Did they quit? They are hooked.

2. Use Specific Details (Paint with Words):
Our brains love images, not ideas. Be specific.

Vague: “I was scared.”
Specific: “My hands were so clammy I couldn’t grip the steering wheel.”
Vague: “It was an old building.”
Specific: “The paint on the door was cracked, and a single, rusty hinge squealed in the wind.”

Details are the colors you use to paint the picture in your listener’s head.

3. Embrace the Pause:
Silence is your most powerful tool. A pause before the big moment creates tension. A pause after a key point lets it sink in. Don’t be afraid of a little quiet. It makes people lean in.

4. Show, Don’t Just Tell:
This is the golden rule. Instead of telling us a character trait, show it through action.

Telling: “My boss was a kind man.”
Showing: “My boss saw me struggling with a heavy box. Without a word, he set down his own papers, walked over, and took the other end.”

5. Find the Universal Feeling:
Connect your specific story to a feeling everyone knows. Maybe your story is about launching a failed product. The universal feeling isn’t “product failure” – it’s embarrassment, or fear of judgment, or the hope of a second chance. When you tap into that shared emotion, your story becomes their story.

Part 3: Storytelling in the Real World – Business and Marketing

So, stories are for campfires and movies, right? Wrong. Stories are the currency of human connection, and business is all about connecting with humans.

What is storytelling in business?
It’s using narrative to give your work meaning, direction, and soul. It’s not about making things up. It’s about framing the truth in a way that inspires.

For Leaders: It’s answering “Why?” Why does this company exist? A mission statement says, “We make great software.” A story says, “Our founder saw her grandmother struggle to connect with family overseas. She felt isolated. So we built software so simple that anyone, of any age, could feel close again.” Which company would you want to work for?
For Teams: It turns data into drama. Instead of just presenting poor sales numbers, a manager might start: “Remember our launch day? The energy in this room was electric. We felt unstoppable. Then, last quarter, we hit a wall. Our biggest competitor did this. It felt like a punch. Today’s numbers show that punch landed. But the story isn’t over. This is the chapter where we get up, learn, and fight back.”
For Job Seekers: Don’t just list duties on your resume. Tell the story of a problem you solved. “In my last role, customer complaints were rising by 15% each month. I formed a small team to listen to every call for a week. We discovered one confusing step in the process. We redesigned it, and within two months, complaints dropped by 40%.” That’s a story of initiative and impact.

What is storytelling in marketing?
It’s the art of making your customer the hero of the story, and your product their helpful guide.

The old marketing way: “Buy our soap! It has 25% more lather! It kills germs!”
The storytelling marketing way: Think of Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign. It wasn’t about soap ingredients. It was a story about a society with a narrow, unrealistic definition of beauty, and how Dove could help women see their own real beauty. The product became a symbol in a bigger, emotional narrative.

A great marketing story follows a simple formula:

The Hero: Your customer (not your brand!).
Their Problem: A challenge, frustration, or desire they face.
The Guide: Your brand, which steps in with empathy and authority.
The Plan: Your product or service – the tool for the journey.
The Call to Action: The simple first step to take.
The Success: A vision of life after defeating the problem.
The Failure: A warning about what happens if they don’t act.

This framework (popularized by Donald Miller in “Building a StoryBrand”) works because it mirrors the classic story structure we talked about. It’s familiar and effective.

Part 4: The Modern Chapter – What is a Digital Narrative?

The stage has changed. Our stories now live on screens. A digital narrative is simply a story told using digital tools – text, images, video, audio, and interactive elements – often across multiple online platforms.

The principles of good storytelling don’t change, but the techniques do:

It’s Visual: Instagram Stories, TikTok videos, and YouTube documentaries rely on powerful visuals to grab attention in the first 3 seconds.
It’s Interactive: A “Choose Your Own Adventure” style Instagram poll, a website that scrolls into an animation, or a game that teaches a lesson are all digital narratives. The audience becomes part of the story.
It’s Fragmented & Connected: A brand might start a story in a tweet, continue it in a blog post, and conclude it in a live video. Each piece is a chapter.
It’s Authentic: Digital audiences have a powerful “fake detector.” Polished, stock-photo stories often fail. A shaky, heartfelt video from a CEO or a real customer’s photo can win the day. It’s about being human in a digital space.

Part 5: Choosing Your Adventure – What Are the Best Categories for Storytelling?

Not every story is the same. Knowing your category helps you shape it. Here are some of the best categories for storytelling that work everywhere:

1. The Origin Story: How did it all begin? This builds authenticity. “Why I started this company in my garage…” “How my grandfather’s old watch inspired this design…”

2. The Underdog Story: Everyone roots for the little guy. This is the story of overcoming huge odds with grit and heart. It’s perfect for startups, personal journeys, or any team facing a big competitor.

3. The Transformation Story: The “Before and After.” This shows dramatic change and is core to marketing. “This was my life before this product/service/idea. This is my life after.” It proves value through results.

4. The “Lesson Learned” Story (From Failure): Sharing a genuine failure makes you relatable and trustworthy. It shows humility and wisdom. The key is to focus on the lesson, not just the mess-up.

5. The “Moment of Connection” Story: A brief, powerful story about a single interaction that changed your perspective. A conversation with a customer, a stranger’s kindness, a moment of team triumph. These are short, emotional, and highly shareable.

6. The “Vision for the Future” Story: This inspires action. It paints a vivid picture of what the world could look like if a problem is solved or an idea is embraced. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is the ultimate example.

Conclusion: Your Story Starts Now

How to be a good storyteller is not a secret talent. It’s a craft. It’s about caring enough about your message to wrap it in a package that other human brains are wired to receive.

Start small. Next time you’re in a meeting and need to make a point, don’t just state a fact. Tell a 30-second story that illustrates it. “That reminds me of a time last week when a customer called…” When you write an email, add one specific, vivid detail. When you post on social media, think about the tiny journey you can take your followers on.

Remember:

Focus on change.
Use specific details.
Make your listener feel something.
In business, make your customer the hero.
Choose a clear story category.

The world is full of noise. Facts are forgotten. PowerPoint slides fade. But a story—a true, well-told story—has the power to live in someone’s heart and mind forever. It can build a brand, unite a team, teach a lesson, and sell an idea.

Your stories are waiting. Start telling them.

🌸 About Neeti Keswani

Neeti Keswani is the founder of Plush Ink and host of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, where luxury meets spirituality. As an author, storyteller, and self-improvement coach, she helps conscious creators and professionals align with purpose, identity, and abundance through mindset transformation and emotional healing.
Her mission is to empower people to live with intention, authenticity, and joy — blending inner work with outer success.
Connect with Neeti:
🎙️ Luxury Unplugged Podcast — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/luxury-unplugged-podcast-where-luxury-meets-spirituality/id1551277118
📖 Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/luxuryunpluggedpodcast/
💼 LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/neetikeswani/
🌐 Plush Ink — https://www.plush-ink.com/