The Storytelling Mistake Even Brilliant Women Make on Stage

The other night, I was curled up in bed with my daughter, reading her a bedtime story.

She was tucked under her unicorn doona, hair still damp from the bath, eyes heavy but begging for “just one more book.” She picked the longest one on the shelf—the kind where, halfway through, you’re silently praying: Please let this end soon…

So I did what I’ve done before (tell me I’m not the only one?): I skipped a few pages.

I held my breath, wondering if she’d notice. She didn’t.

And you know what? The story still made perfect sense. Actually, it flowed better. It got to the heart of the message faster.

That’s when it hit me: this is the mistake so many ambitious women make when they tell their story on stage.

The Trap of “Too Many Details”

Brilliant women—leaders, entrepreneurs, change-makers—often feel like they have to include everything when telling their story.

Every bus stop. Every side road. Every character they met along the way.

It sounds something like this:

“I walked down the road, and the bus came, and then I got on it, when I realised…”

When it could be as simple as:

“Getting on the bus, I realised…”

See the difference? One meanders. The other moves.

Why Details Aren’t the Enemy

Now, don’t get me wrong—details matter. Details are what transport your audience into your world. They let people see what you saw and feel what you felt.

But too many details? That’s where the story gets bogged down. Instead of captivating, it clutters.

The magic happens when you choose the right details—the ones that:

• Paint the picture clearly
  
  
• Move the story forward
  
  
• Set up the lesson or realisation
  
  

Everything else? Noise.

Your Audience Doesn’t Need Every Page

Just like my daughter’s bedtime story, your audience doesn’t need every single page of your life story.

They just need the chapter that changes everything.

When you strip out the unnecessary backstory, what’s left is sharp, emotive, and unforgettable.

A Simple Storytelling Checklist

As you craft your Signature Talk this week, ask yourself:

• Does this detail help my audience see it in their mind’s eye?
  
• Does it move the story toward the key lesson?
  
• Or is it slowing the story down?
  
  

If it’s not serving the story—skip the page.

Because the most powerful stories aren’t the longest ones. They’re the clearest, most resonant ones.