Speak From the Heart: Why Emotion Is Key to Effective Storytelling

When it comes to storytelling—whether you are on stage, writing a book, or speaking to a room full of executives—facts alone will not move your audience. What moves people is emotion.

Ask anyone who has had to endure a handful of power-point based meetings (that could have been emails) and they will tell you that facts and data and science, while valuable, are B-O-R-I-N-G.

But, fear not, there is a way to make even the most mundane information engaging…by adding your own personal flair and stories to the mix!

Stories are not just how we share information; they are how we connect, remember, and relate to each other. 

You can give a flawless presentation with all the right data and astounding factual information and still leave your audience unmoved. Or you can speak from the heart, share a vulnerable truth, and suddenly every eye is locked on you. Why? Because emotion is the gateway to connection. And connection is the true goal of storytelling.

Let’s break down exactly why emotion matters—and how to use it skillfully in your storytelling.

1. Emotion Makes Information Memorable

We remember what and how we feel. Neuroscience backs this up: emotional experiences create stronger neural connections in the brain. That means if your audience feels something when you speak, they are more likely to remember your message.

Think about your own life. You probably remember where you were on a significant day not because of the facts, but because of the emotions you felt. Anyone born before about 1995 probably knows exactly where they were, what they were doing, and how they felt when they heard about the 9/11 disaster. That is because the intensity of the emotions created by the experience caused a strong neural pathway to form.

This applies on stage, too. A powerful story, told with emotion, sticks with the listener long after the stage goes dark.

2. Emotion Builds Trust and Connection

Sharing your emotions does not make you weak—it makes you human. And that is exactly what your audience is craving. Vulnerability, authenticity, and raw humanity are what allow people to see themselves in your story.

When you speak from heart heart, you break down the invisible walls between you and your audience. You give them permission to feel, to relate, and even to reflect on their own story as they journey through yours.

3. Emotion Drives Action

Here is the truth: emotion inspires action far more than logic ever will.

People don’t donate, buy, vote, respond, act, or change behavior because of statistics and information. They do it because they are moved by a story. Because something inside them shifted and tugged on just the right emotion to create an action. When your story evokes real emotion, it creates a spark that makes people want to do something. To reach out. To show up. To believe in something bigger.

4. Your Emotions Are a Gift, Not a Liability

Too many speakers try to strip their stories of emotion in the name of "professionalism" or fear of being “too much.” If you are one of those speakers, listen up:

Emotion is not a liability. It is your superpower.

Your audience won’t think you’re too much. Your listeners don’t want a robot that spits out a script at them from the stage. They want you. All of you. That includes the tears, the laughter, the anger, the awe. Emotion is what makes your story real. And real stories are the ones that stick with audiences the longest.

Final Thoughts: Speak From the Heart, Leave a Mark

If you want to be a compelling speaker, a powerful storyteller, a magnetic communicator—then you need to lead with emotion. Read that again: LEAD with emotion. Don’t shy away from it. 

Facts make people think. Emotions make people act.

Don’t just share your story, feel it, and help your audience feel it. Relive it. Invite your audience into it with you. Take them on a journey they’ll never forget!

Your story is powerful. Your truth is enough. And your audience is waiting!