30 storytelling techniques you can use in your presentations (with examples)

This article expands on “How to use proven storytelling techniques to scaffold compelling presentations.”

Storytelling and presentation skills are frequent topics of conversation, as many people seek to strengthen them. This focus makes sense; our ability to communicate directly impacts how our ideas and ourselves are received.

I made progress over time with a lot of practice and by aiming to make each new presentation just a bit better than the last. Working in a large tech company has allowed me to watch some outstanding storytellers in action, which helped me raise the bar for my work.

I first got into storytelling techniques when a colleague shared a deck with a few key tips. I began to scaffold presentations with them and I noticed how effective they were. Curious to go further, I started researching and pulled together this list of 30 techniques. While this isn’t a step-by-step guide or course, I hope that browsing these techniques will spark some new ideas for framing and presenting your content. Even if you start by focusing on just a few techniques, I’m confident they’ll add depth and impact to your presentations and help you keep improving.

Each technique in this article includes an example that applies the concept to a real-world scenario. In this case, the scenario is “onboarding new hires with AI-powered checklists.”

These examples are illustrations of how these techniques could work in action. While your context may differ, focus on the techniques themselves and imagine how you might adapt each one to suit your own presentation or storytelling style. I hope these examples offer useful perspectives, and I’m excited to share them with you—dive in and enjoy!

Here are the techniques...

Capture attention

Making a strong first impression is essential. The techniques in this section are designed to instantly engage your audience and draw them into your story, setting a compelling tone for the journey ahead.

1 - Start with a powerful hook

Your hook sets the stage. A well-chosen hook grabs attention instantly, making your audience eager to hear what’s next. Whether in design presentations, client pitches, or user research debriefs, an engaging opening sets the tone and draws your audience into the story from the very first moment. This technique is equally valuable in presentations and creative writing, where captivating the listener or reader early on can make all the difference. A powerful hook—such as a surprising fact, a compelling question, or a vivid scene—sets the stage for an impactful, memorable narrative.

Imagine seamlessly onboarding new employees with nothing more than a checklist—no complex systems, no training hurdles, just simple, effective checklists refined and facilitated by AI.

2 - Appeal to curiosity

Curiosity is a powerful tool for drawing your audience in and keeping them engaged. By sparking their desire to know more, you create a sense of intrigue that compels them to stay with your story. This technique is widely used in mystery writing, advertising, and public speaking to maintain interest and build anticipation. Posing an intriguing question, hinting at future revelations, or strategically withholding details can keep your audience on their toes, eager to discover what happens next. By tapping into their natural curiosity, you ensure they remain invested in your narrative.

What if a simple checklist could evolve into an AI-powered, automated onboarding experience? How would that streamline the process and reduce the usual confusion?