Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
I heard this really funny story...
What?
Of all the things NOT to say, this is a really good one...
There, I did it again! Why would a speaker ever rate their own content?
If you say "this is a really funny story" before your next story, may I assume that
all the other stories you've told (or are going to tell) are NOT funny? If you announce
"this is a good one," but it's not as good (to me) as your last one, then how I am I
to rate and organize your content in MY mind?
And what if -- after you've told your "really funny story" -- I don't find it funny. And
I don't laugh. THEN what are you going to do? You've lost the momentum you expected
and left yourself -- and your audience -- disappointed. That isn't an emotional basis to breed success
in speakers.
Rating your own content sets expectations and promises you cannot deliver. Content types
should not be announced, anyway. Instead of "on this next slide..." or "I'm going to tell
you a story...", just tell me what the fact or the story and show the visual. Most great
stories start with "once upon a time" or "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away",
NOT "let me tell you a story" or "this is a really great story..."
Even if you belly-laughed for an hour and think it's the best thing you've got, announcing
"this is a really funny story" undermines your message, and is definitely What Not to
Say.