The Key to Authentic Storytelling: Lower Your Chin

Have you ever given a speech or told a story, only to feel like your words just weren’t landing? Like people were hearing you, but not feeling what you were saying?

You’re not alone.

Authentic communication isn’t just about delivering information—it’s about creating a real emotional connection. And here’s a simple, yet powerful trick to help you do that:

Before you speak...

1. Lower your chin to your chest
2. Take a breath
3. Listen to your heart

It might sound too simple to work, but science backs it up.

Why Speaking From the Heart Works

A study from Harvard Business Review found that leaders who speak with authenticity and emotional resonance are significantly more likely to engage and inspire their audience (Goffee & Jones, 2013). This is because people respond to emotion far more than raw facts.

Another study from Princeton University found that when a speaker is deeply connected to their message, their audience’s brain activity actually syncs up with theirs. This phenomenon—called neural coupling—proves that the more authentic and emotionally engaged a speaker is, the more their audience will feel and remember their message.

Simply put: if you want people to connect with your words, you have to connect with them first.

How Lowering Your Chin Helps You Speak More Authentically

This small physical shift does two important things:

It moves your awareness from your head (logic) to your heart (emotion).

We often focus too much on getting the words right, rather than making them real. Lowering your chin for just a moment helps quiet that inner critic and lets you check in with how you truly feel about what you’re saying.

It helps regulate nerves and stress before speaking.

A study published in Psychological Science found that when speakers shift focus inward for a few seconds before talking, it lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increases vocal steadiness (Critchley et al., 2004).

This simple gesture helps you calm down and speak from a more grounded, authentic place.

How to Apply This in Storytelling & Public Speaking

If you want to make your storytelling more powerful, engaging, and memorable, try these three steps before you speak:

1. Lower Your Chin & Breathe

Take a second to connect with what you’re about to say. What’s the real message behind your words?

Example: Before delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King Jr. paused, lowered his chin, and took a deep breath—fully grounding himself in his message before speaking. That pause made his words even stronger.

2. Speak to Feel, Not Just to Inform

People won’t remember every detail—but they will remember how you made them feel.

Example: Think about Brené Brown’s TED Talk on vulnerability. She doesn’t just list research findings—she shares personal stories, laughs at herself, and speaks as if she’s talking to a friend. That’s what makes her so engaging.

Try this: Instead of focusing on sounding “perfect,” focus on sounding real. Imagine you’re telling your story to a close friend instead of an audience.

3. Let Your Brain Organize the Facts, but Let Your Heart Deliver the Message

Data is important—but emotion is what moves people to action.

Example: The most memorable brand stories, from Apple’s “Think Different” campaign to Nike’s “Just Do It,” don’t just list features—they tap into emotion.

Try this: If you’re presenting facts, tie them to a story or real-life experience. This makes your message more relatable and impactful.

How to Practice Speaking From the Heart

Speaking authentically takes practice. Here are three simple exercises to help you build the habit:

1. Write your key message in one sentence.

What’s the heart of your story? Reduce it to a single, emotionally resonant sentence before you begin speaking.

2. Record yourself telling a short story.

Play it back and ask yourself: Do I sound connected to my message, or am I just reciting words?

3. Pay attention to speakers who move you.

Watch TED Talks, listen to great speeches, and notice when you feel something. What did the speaker do that made their words hit home?

Your Words Matter—Make Them Count

The best storytellers don’t just speak—they connect.

1. Lower your chin, take a breath, and check in with your heart.
2. Use emotion to connect with your audience, not just information.
3. Practice speaking in a way that feels real to you.

Your audience can feel the difference.