The Element of Surprise

Last Friday night I attended a brilliant new musical called “Alan” (a coincidence!), a poignant musical from Spain exploring the life of Alan Montoliu, a teen who took his own life due to the bullying he endured while transitioning.

I was captivated by the story, the characters and music, then boom -- I suddenly realized that two of the characters (spoiler alert!) who I thought were brother and sister were actually the same person, but at different ages. It was brilliant storytelling, using the powerful technique of “the element of surprise.” Once I realized the twist, the musical took on even greater meaning.

In developing speeches using story, the “element of surprise” can be a very powerful technique to use.

If you want to learn how to employ this technique in your own storytelling, here are a few tips!

1. Start with an Unexpected Statement or Question

Kick off your speech with something that makes people go, "Wait, what?" For example, "Did you know more people have access to a smartphone than a clean bathroom? So, if you're texting from the toilet, you are part of the solution!"

2. Incorporate an Anecdote with a Twist

Tell a story where everyone thinks they know the ending, then flip it on its head. "I once spent an hour convincing a stranger on a plane I was a Harvard Professor... only to find out they were actually on Harvard’s Board of Trustees!"

3. Use Props or Visuals Unexpectedly

Bring in a random object that seems totally unrelated and then surprise everyone with its relevance.   I sometimes use a magic wand – and later people realize it relates to my experience working on the Harry Potter book series.