How to be a Captivating Storyteller | Vinita Zutshi | TEDxYouth@DPSChandigarh

I’m going to talk to you about how to be

I’m going to talk to you about how to be a captivating storyteller human beings

a captivating storyteller human beings

a captivating storyteller human beings are made of flesh blood and borne but

are made of flesh blood and borne but

are made of flesh blood and borne but they’re also made of stories we all

they’re also made of stories we all

they’re also made of stories we all enjoy listening to stories reading them

enjoy listening to stories reading them

enjoy listening to stories reading them watching them but above all even though

watching them but above all even though

watching them but above all even though we may not know it

we may not know it

we may not know it we like creating and telling stories so

we like creating and telling stories so

we like creating and telling stories so when you tell your friend secret you’re

when you tell your friend secret you’re

when you tell your friend secret you’re telling a story when you share

telling a story when you share

telling a story when you share information you’re telling a story

information you’re telling a story

information you’re telling a story whether you complain or congratulate

whether you complain or congratulate

whether you complain or congratulate it’s all Story one of my earliest

it’s all Story one of my earliest

it’s all Story one of my earliest memories is of my mother telling me long

memories is of my mother telling me long

memories is of my mother telling me long made-up story to last through each

made-up story to last through each

made-up story to last through each Sunday afternoon my love of stories grew

Sunday afternoon my love of stories grew

Sunday afternoon my love of stories grew as I grew up till I realized I probably

as I grew up till I realized I probably

as I grew up till I realized I probably wanted to be a storyteller at that time

wanted to be a storyteller at that time

wanted to be a storyteller at that time I thought all it took was having a good

I thought all it took was having a good

I thought all it took was having a good story stories are powerful because they

story stories are powerful because they

story stories are powerful because they help us connect with each other through

help us connect with each other through

help us connect with each other through emotion and a shared experience and when

emotion and a shared experience and when

emotion and a shared experience and when we connect we can make incredible things

we connect we can make incredible things

we connect we can make incredible things happen we can see another person’s point

happen we can see another person’s point

happen we can see another person’s point of view we can resolve conflict we can

of view we can resolve conflict we can

of view we can resolve conflict we can laugh together we can explain something

laugh together we can explain something

laugh together we can explain something to the other who did not understand

to the other who did not understand

to the other who did not understand before when we connect we create a

before when we connect we create a

before when we connect we create a universe of possibilities that did not

universe of possibilities that did not

universe of possibilities that did not exist earlier I wanted to become a

exist earlier I wanted to become a

exist earlier I wanted to become a storyteller because I wanted to be the

storyteller because I wanted to be the

storyteller because I wanted to be the person that created the space to allow

person that created the space to allow

person that created the space to allow understanding healing creativity

understanding healing creativity

understanding healing creativity curiosity inspiration delight

curiosity inspiration delight

curiosity inspiration delight but I learned soon enough that having a

but I learned soon enough that having a

but I learned soon enough that having a good story or even a great story is

good story or even a great story is

good story or even a great story is never enough

never enough

never enough what you need to do is you need to know

what you need to do is you need to know

what you need to do is you need to know your audience the better you know your

your audience the better you know your

your audience the better you know your audience the easier it is to connect to

audience the easier it is to connect to

audience the easier it is to connect to them to make them care so when you’re

them to make them care so when you’re

them to make them care so when you’re telling a story go find out what

telling a story go find out what

telling a story go find out what interests your audience what bores them

interests your audience what bores them

interests your audience what bores them what scares them what do they know what

what scares them what do they know what

what scares them what do they know what do they not know what makes them cry

do they not know what makes them cry

do they not know what makes them cry what makes them laugh by the way the

what makes them laugh by the way the

what makes them laugh by the way the hardest thing to do is to tell somebody

hardest thing to do is to tell somebody

hardest thing to do is to tell somebody a funny story it is every speakers

a funny story it is every speakers

a funny story it is every speakers nightmare that you’re going to stand on

nightmare that you’re going to stand on

nightmare that you’re going to stand on stage and tell a joke and nobody is

stage and tell a joke and nobody is

stage and tell a joke and nobody is going to laugh but even worse is when

going to laugh but even worse is when

going to laugh but even worse is when you crack a joke at the point in your

you crack a joke at the point in your

you crack a joke at the point in your story where you are really trying to be

story where you are really trying to be

story where you are really trying to be very serious but you haven’t realized it

very serious but you haven’t realized it

very serious but you haven’t realized it to give you an example it is only in

to give you an example it is only in

to give you an example it is only in India that the phrase parsing out is

India that the phrase parsing out is

India that the phrase parsing out is supposed to communicate the graduation

supposed to communicate the graduation

supposed to communicate the graduation of students from schools and

of students from schools and

of students from schools and universities everywhere else in the

universities everywhere else in the

universities everywhere else in the world

world

world passing out means fainting losing

passing out means fainting losing

passing out means fainting losing consciousness so I can only imagine what

consciousness so I can only imagine what

consciousness so I can only imagine what it would be like to use the phrase you

it would be like to use the phrase you

it would be like to use the phrase you know what if we were to use this phrase

know what if we were to use this phrase

know what if we were to use this phrase in an audience of non-indians what they

in an audience of non-indians what they

in an audience of non-indians what they would think about schools and

would think about schools and

would think about schools and universities in India which every with

universities in India which every with

universities in India which every with regularity every batch has all these

regularity every batch has all these

regularity every batch has all these people just passing out and mass you

people just passing out and mass you

people just passing out and mass you know so we need to know our audience but

know so we need to know our audience but

know so we need to know our audience but you also need to be invested in your

you also need to be invested in your

you also need to be invested in your story you should want to tell it you

story you should want to tell it you

story you should want to tell it you should be so much on fire

should be so much on fire

should be so much on fire with the desire to tell it that you

with the desire to tell it that you

with the desire to tell it that you can’t but tell it this allows you to

can’t but tell it this allows you to

can’t but tell it this allows you to tell your story very freely because if

tell your story very freely because if

tell your story very freely because if you were not so committed to telling

you were not so committed to telling

you were not so committed to telling your story if you were not concentrated

your story if you were not concentrated

your story if you were not concentrated on telling your story you would be

on telling your story you would be

on telling your story you would be concentrated on yourself and if you

concentrated on yourself and if you

concentrated on yourself and if you concentrated on yourself you’re gonna be

concentrated on yourself you’re gonna be

concentrated on yourself you’re gonna be nervous you’re gonna be self-conscious

nervous you’re gonna be self-conscious

nervous you’re gonna be self-conscious so be invested in your story say you

so be invested in your story say you

so be invested in your story say you want to tell a story about a contest

want to tell a story about a contest

want to tell a story about a contest called funny faces that’s happening at a

called funny faces that’s happening at a

called funny faces that’s happening at a school after you start the introduction

school after you start the introduction

school after you start the introduction and so the principal announced the funny

and so the principal announced the funny

and so the principal announced the funny faces contest and Mona’s claps had 20

faces contest and Mona’s claps had 20

faces contest and Mona’s claps had 20 students participating

what would you say after that and Akshay

what would you say after that and Akshay decided to make a squint eyed face and

decided to make a squint eyed face and

decided to make a squint eyed face and Simran just decided to her lips into a

Simran just decided to her lips into a

Simran just decided to her lips into a straight shape your story’s finished

straight shape your story’s finished

straight shape your story’s finished nobody is listening you need to show

nobody is listening you need to show

nobody is listening you need to show them the funny faces and the only way

them the funny faces and the only way

them the funny faces and the only way you’re going to be able to show them the

you’re going to be able to show them the

you’re going to be able to show them the funny faces is if you are so committed

funny faces is if you are so committed

funny faces is if you are so committed to telling the story that you’d forget

to telling the story that you’d forget

to telling the story that you’d forget to worry about what your face will

to worry about what your face will

to worry about what your face will really look at when you make those funny

really look at when you make those funny

really look at when you make those funny faces so the only way this story is

faces so the only way this story is

faces so the only way this story is going forward is excited and signaled it

going forward is excited and signaled it

going forward is excited and signaled it and so on another thing excuse me if I

and so on another thing excuse me if I

and so on another thing excuse me if I can get a sing another thing about being

can get a sing another thing about being

can get a sing another thing about being invested in your story is that you are

invested in your story is that you are

invested in your story is that you are able to make eye contact with various if

able to make eye contact with various if

able to make eye contact with various if not all the members of your audience

not all the members of your audience

not all the members of your audience this is vital there are people sitting

this is vital there are people sitting

this is vital there are people sitting here who have been expending time and

here who have been expending time and

here who have been expending time and effort listening to you you have to

effort listening to you you have to

effort listening to you you have to acknowledge that you need to thank them

acknowledge that you need to thank them

acknowledge that you need to thank them for their gift of attention another

for their gift of attention another

for their gift of attention another thing when they notice you’re looking

thing when they notice you’re looking

thing when they notice you’re looking they listen a little bit better they

they listen a little bit better they

they listen a little bit better they give you even more attention and guess

give you even more attention and guess

give you even more attention and guess what your self-confidence is even more

what your self-confidence is even more

what your self-confidence is even more pumped so eye contact now we know our

pumped so eye contact now we know our

pumped so eye contact now we know our audience we are really invested in our

audience we are really invested in our

audience we are really invested in our story and we’re going to tell it after

story and we’re going to tell it after

story and we’re going to tell it after this

this

this use all the resources at your command

use all the resources at your command

use all the resources at your command what do you have you got voice you got

what do you have you got voice you got

what do you have you got voice you got gestures you got facial expression and

gestures you got facial expression and

gestures you got facial expression and silence silence is a tool too but first

silence silence is a tool too but first

silence silence is a tool too but first let’s talk about voice gestures and

let’s talk about voice gestures and

let’s talk about voice gestures and facial expression so you can alter the

facial expression so you can alter the

facial expression so you can alter the tone of your voice you can alter the

tone of your voice you can alter the

tone of your voice you can alter the pitch at which you speak you can make

pitch at which you speak you can make

pitch at which you speak you can make accents you can speak at different

accents you can speak at different

accents you can speak at different speeds and you can emphasize different

speeds and you can emphasize different

speeds and you can emphasize different words in different sorts of speech let

words in different sorts of speech let

words in different sorts of speech let me illustrate this by narrating to you

me illustrate this by narrating to you

me illustrate this by narrating to you the story of Mina don’t be a little girl

the story of Mina don’t be a little girl

the story of Mina don’t be a little girl there isn’t much to do just listen to

there isn’t much to do just listen to

there isn’t much to do just listen to that Drona’s me now this Cappy a

that Drona’s me now this Cappy a

that Drona’s me now this Cappy a lamppost so bright and tall and strong

lamppost so bright and tall and strong

lamppost so bright and tall and strong that people will look up at me I look

that people will look up at me I look

that people will look up at me I look down all day long they’ll say thank you

down all day long they’ll say thank you

down all day long they’ll say thank you for brightening the dark and scary night

for brightening the dark and scary night

for brightening the dark and scary night we wouldn’t dare to go outside if they

we wouldn’t dare to go outside if they

we wouldn’t dare to go outside if they had not been lies oh that’s wonderful

had not been lies oh that’s wonderful

had not been lies oh that’s wonderful said pop betting the pub pigeon poops on

said pop betting the pub pigeon poops on

said pop betting the pub pigeon poops on you okay I’d be a happy fight

you okay I’d be a happy fight

you okay I’d be a happy fight light and bright and strong flying the

light and bright and strong flying the

light and bright and strong flying the highest in the sky string along I’ll

highest in the sky string along I’ll

highest in the sky string along I’ll stick my tongue out at all the other

stick my tongue out at all the other

stick my tongue out at all the other kites flying solo and people everywhere

it’s a wonderful said granny

it’s a wonderful said granny but if then your string is cut you will

but if then your string is cut you will

but if then your string is cut you will fall in battery you will be stuck in a

fall in battery you will be stuck in a

fall in battery you will be stuck in a rut the next morning to sit in a set

rut the next morning to sit in a set

rut the next morning to sit in a set it’s my bestest friends birthday

use your voice gestures facial

use your voice gestures facial expressions and your story will come

expressions and your story will come

expressions and your story will come alive now for silence silence is one of

alive now for silence silence is one of

alive now for silence silence is one of the most potent weapons in your

the most potent weapons in your

the most potent weapons in your storytelling arsenal I was teaching a

storytelling arsenal I was teaching a

storytelling arsenal I was teaching a pop graduate course to a bunch of 22 and

pop graduate course to a bunch of 22 and

pop graduate course to a bunch of 22 and 23 year olds this was the first time I

23 year olds this was the first time I

23 year olds this was the first time I met them we had our introductions and

met them we had our introductions and

met them we had our introductions and then I started teaching mmm I tried to

then I started teaching mmm I tried to

then I started teaching mmm I tried to stop teaching here’s what happens one

stop teaching here’s what happens one

stop teaching here’s what happens one gentleman sitting right in front decided

gentleman sitting right in front decided

gentleman sitting right in front decided to interrupt me every 20 seconds I met

to interrupt me every 20 seconds I met

to interrupt me every 20 seconds I met him for a bit then I said you know could

him for a bit then I said you know could

him for a bit then I said you know could you please maybe just use mine okay

you please maybe just use mine okay

you please maybe just use mine okay sorry now six minutes down I haven’t

sorry now six minutes down I haven’t

sorry now six minutes down I haven’t said a single sentence at which point I

said a single sentence at which point I

said a single sentence at which point I said you know something you’re adult and

said you know something you’re adult and

said you know something you’re adult and you might consider a little self-control

you might consider a little self-control

you might consider a little self-control and maybe if you have these questions

and maybe if you have these questions

and maybe if you have these questions boiling in your mind just write them

boiling in your mind just write them

boiling in your mind just write them down and we’ll deal with them after

down and we’ll deal with them after

down and we’ll deal with them after class but he didn’t stop interrupting

class but he didn’t stop interrupting

class but he didn’t stop interrupting I tried several strategies nothing

I tried several strategies nothing

I tried several strategies nothing worked

worked

worked at last he and I came to an agreement he

at last he and I came to an agreement he

at last he and I came to an agreement he agreed that the next time he interrupted

agreed that the next time he interrupted

agreed that the next time he interrupted me he would put his finger on his lips

me he would put his finger on his lips

me he would put his finger on his lips he’s what fingers move off lips you know

he’s what fingers move off lips you know

he’s what fingers move off lips you know oh this guy I said okay I’m not gonna be

oh this guy I said okay I’m not gonna be

oh this guy I said okay I’m not gonna be able to teach that’s I can ask you a

able to teach that’s I can ask you a

able to teach that’s I can ask you a question yes ma’am

question yes ma’am

question yes ma’am I don’t the youngest child in your

I don’t the youngest child in your

I don’t the youngest child in your family what if I change the question are

family what if I change the question are

family what if I change the question are you an only child none of my father

the whole class erupted he turned every

the whole class erupted he turned every shade of red in every pore of skin that

shade of red in every pore of skin that

shade of red in every pore of skin that was visible and I taught one hour and 35

was visible and I taught one hour and 35

was visible and I taught one hour and 35 minutes incomplete so use your weapons

minutes incomplete so use your weapons

minutes incomplete so use your weapons when we have a great story when we know

when we have a great story when we know

when we have a great story when we know our audience when we are invested in

our audience when we are invested in

our audience when we are invested in telling our story and when we can use

telling our story and when we can use

telling our story and when we can use our voice our facial expressions our

our voice our facial expressions our

our voice our facial expressions our gestures and silence then we get a

gestures and silence then we get a

gestures and silence then we get a chance to activate our audience telling

chance to activate our audience telling

chance to activate our audience telling stories is about captivating your

stories is about captivating your

stories is about captivating your audience it’s about capturing their

audience it’s about capturing their

audience it’s about capturing their attention their hearts their minds till

attention their hearts their minds till

attention their hearts their minds till the fifth clench enrage as you say

the fifth clench enrage as you say

the fifth clench enrage as you say something or they are holding their

something or they are holding their

something or they are holding their breath in suspense or they laughing till

breath in suspense or they laughing till

breath in suspense or they laughing till the jaws are down there

sometimes there are moments when in the

sometimes there are moments when in the middle of telling a story you stop being

middle of telling a story you stop being

middle of telling a story you stop being a storyteller you stop being the person

a storyteller you stop being the person

a storyteller you stop being the person separating the story from the listeners

separating the story from the listeners

separating the story from the listeners in that moment you become the stories

in that moment you become the stories

in that moment you become the stories and the listeners lose themselves in the

and the listeners lose themselves in the

and the listeners lose themselves in the story in you I invite you to become a

story in you I invite you to become a

story in you I invite you to become a captivating storyteller I invite you to

captivating storyteller I invite you to

captivating storyteller I invite you to transcend yourself I invite you to

transcend yourself I invite you to

transcend yourself I invite you to become the story thank you

become the story thank you

become the story thank you [Applause]