February 23, 2026
Every time you speak, people make a decision. Lean in or check out.
And the difference isn’t intelligence. It’s how clearly you articulate your thoughts.
If you take away just one thing from this article, let it be this.
The best communicators speak in images. They create mental pictures that help you understand their ideas.
And in this article, I’ll show you the three simple tools to do exactly that.
Let’s start with the first one, analogy.
In one of my workshops, a woman began her presentation.
She was like,
“Our new strategy focuses on improving cross-functional collaboration and enhancing operational efficiency.”
I stopped her right there and said,
“Whoa, whoa, you sound very smart, but I have no idea what you just said.”
So I asked, “If I were 10 years old, how would you explain that?“
She thought about it for a moment and said,
“Well, right now it’s like we’re running a busy restaurant where the chefs aren’t talking, marketing is already serving the dish while engineering is still chopping the onions. We just need everyone cooking from the same recipe.”
Boom. Now it clicked.
An analogy takes something abstract and connects it to something people already know.
You’re basically saying, “Hey, this new thing is like that thing you already know.”
For example, let’s say you wanted to explain why foundations matter when growing a business. Well, then you could use an analogy that looks like this:
Building a business is like filling a bucket with water. Sure, you can pour faster. You can also use a bigger hose. But if there are holes at the bottom, none of that matters.
Now people instantly see it, they feel it, they get it.
If you want to get better at analogies, try this:
Pick something ordinary like brushing your teeth or making coffee, and then say sentences like X is like Y.
For example:
Brushing your teeth is like managing a team. If you skip one day, everyone feels it. Or brushing your teeth is like clearing your inbox. Boring, but satisfying.
That’s it.
Do as many as you can. And don’t judge them. Some will be obvious, some will be bad, and that’s okay.
That’s part of the learning process.
The second way to speak in images is through an imaginary world.
That’s actually the tool that I use the most. Here are two versions of the same message.
Version one:
Most people feel overwhelmed because they have too many tasks, constant notifications, and no clear priorities.
Version two:
Imagine it’s Monday morning. You open your laptop. Boom. 147 unread emails. Slack is exploding. Your calendar is stacked with back-to-back meetings. And before you even start, you already feel behind.
Now, be honest. Which one sticks more?
Exactly.
Because the second one isn’t just an explanation, it’s an experience.
That’s what an imaginary world does.
Instead of just describing an idea, you invite your listener to step into it. And the moment they imagine it, your message becomes 10 times clearer and more memorable.
Now notice what’s happening in that second version.
I’m using “you” the whole time. I say you open, you see, you feel.
That automatically pulls listeners into the scene.
So if you want to practice this, here’s a simple challenge:
Take an idea you often explain, maybe something around stress, football, lack of focus, whatever it is. Just pick any topic you like to talk about.
Then start your sentence with two words: Imagine you.
And then describe one short moment.
So, for example, imagine you’re standing in front of the conference room, taking a deep breath.
And then you go into explaining the problem, but with just enough detail to see it.
If someone can picture it in their head, you’re doing it right.
Now, an imaginary world is hypothetical. It’s something that could happen.
Let’s now move to the next tool. The version that actually did happen.
The story. Stories don’t just explain an idea. They make people feel it.
Let me show you.
Last Monday, I was staring at my calendar, and it was back-to-back meetings the entire day, no breaks.
And my first thought was, “Wow, I’m so productive.”
But then I thought, “Wait, booked by who?”
And in that moment, I realized I wasn’t productive at all. I had just stopped protecting my calendar.
That’s the story.
I’m not giving you advice. I’m not explaining productivity. I’m taking you into one small moment where my thinking changed.
When someone hears a real moment, their brain doesn’t stay analytical. They feel it.
They recognize themselves in that moment.
So here’s how you do this:
When you want people to understand a belief or an idea, don’t just explain it.
Replay the moment when you learned it. Zoom into one specific moment.
Where are you? What are you doing? What goes wrong? What did you realize?
That’s it.
Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can use to communicate clearly.
And there are a few simple ways to practice it. If you want to learn them, check out this next article where I break down my favorite exercises to master storytelling.
See you there.
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
