There is simply no better way to influence or stir an audience ─ instantly, powerfully, authentically ─ than by opening up to them with a personal story or anecdote. To be clear: I'm not saying you need to tell them long stories about your family vacations or show them baby pictures from the stage. I'm saying that you can share a key biographical detail, or an emotion that you're feeling in the moment, or a self-deprecating joke. It is a tried-and-tested way of bonding with an audience of strangers ─ and of laying the groundwork for you to then persuade them. The harsh reality is that people won't bond with your arguments in a vacuum, but they will, says speech coach Bas van den Beld, "bond with you" ─ the person making those arguments. By sharing a revealing story or a personal flaw, you allow audience members a way to identify with you.