Storytelling is not a new phenomenon—it’s an ancient form of human connection that has resurfaced as a critical skill in today’s communication-driven world. As Mikki Williams, Hall of Fame speaker and master storyteller, notes, “Neuroscience and cultural anthropology have brought storytelling back to the spotlight because it connects to a different part of the brain that releases endorphins.” We are wired to connect emotionally before we connect logically.

A well-told story can engage an audience more deeply than a list of facts or a PowerPoint deck. Stories allow listeners to project their own Emotions onto what they hear, creating empathy, understanding, and connection. All cultures have told stories and some of the earliest evidence of stories comes from the cave drawings in Lascaux and Chavaux, France. The drawings depict animals, humans and other objects.

While my husband and I were in South Africa, we saw drawings on rocks that were a depiction of hunters and animals. It was a way to tell a story. As societies developed writing systems, storytelling evolved from speaking to writing, to visual, and more. Whether in business presentations, classrooms, or keynote stages, storytelling remains powerful because it engages both the head and the heart. In this article, we cover how to tell a good story, skill and structure, craft and resources of where to find good stories.