Stop Telling Just Any Story: Insights Into Storytelling That Influences and Inspires with Michael Davis.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

Michael Davis helps leaders, managers, and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. Born from his own communication struggles early in his career, his mission led him to study with some of the world's best speakers and storytellers — and he has become a master at the craft. In this conversation, Michael reveals what separates a story that truly influences from one that merely informs.

Why Stories Are Critical to Business Communication

Michael: Human beings react best to stories — but the story has to be structured in a certain way. The challenge today is that too many business stories are just a series of facts and figures. They're not true stories in the sense that draws people in and makes them want to hear more.

The Elements Every Memorable Story Needs

Michael: All memorable stories — whether a business presentation, a novel, or a film — share the same key elements. You have a central character who is pushed out of their comfort zone. That creates a new goal. But they don't know what to do, which creates frustration, tension, and conflict. At a critical point, a guide appears and offers a solution. The character begins to make progress. And ultimately, we see their transformation — a new life, a new attitude, a better situation. Without that structure, you don't have a story. You have a report.

Why People Leave Out the Conflict

Michael: Most people rush to the happy ending because they think that's what audiences want to hear. But the emotional hook — the part where audiences connect with the main character — lives entirely in the struggle. That's where relatability happens. If you skip the struggle, you skip the very thing that makes your audience care about the outcome.

We Don't See the Power in Our Own Stories

Michael: We lived the experience, so it feels ordinary to us. But other people are blown away by it. That's why you need someone else to help you find the power in your story — a coach, a trusted listener, anyone who can see what you can't. Your story doesn't have to be dramatic to be compelling. It just has to be true, structured, and told with intention.

Add Energy Through Dialogue and Internal Monologue

Michael: Where most storytellers lose energy is by telling in reporter mode — "Peter and Michael talked about this. They did that." Instead, relive the story. Use dialogue. Use internal monologue. Take the listener into the scene. The difference between "I drove a race car at the Speedway" and painting the full sensory picture — the sweat, the cockpit, the single thought of I don't want to die — is the difference between a story people hear and one they feel.

Match Your Story to Your Audience

Michael: If you're speaking to accountants, don't tell a story about surgeons. If you're selling a sports car, don't tell a story about an SUV. You have to tie your stories to the specific concerns, fears, and desires of the people in the room. When you do that, you hook them into your world — and dramatically increase the chances they'll want to continue the conversation.

Start Telling It Before It Feels Ready

Michael: Stories and speeches are evolutionary. You'll never give the final version — only the current version. So don't wait until you think a story is polished. Get it out there, get feedback, ask what you did well first, and then make one or two improvements at a time. The goal is a story that keeps evolving — one that never goes stale because you never stop refining it.

Peter: Michael, where can listeners connect with you?

Michael: Reach me at speakingcpr.com. And for a free weekly five-minute audio lesson on storytelling, visit 52storytellingtips.com — it delivers one skill-building lesson at a time, straight to your inbox.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.