One of the many lessons I've learned from the great presentation designer, Nancy Duarte, is to always make your audience the hero of your story.
In her book Resonate, she illustrates this by likening people who make presentations focused on themselves to that guy at the cocktail party who talks only about himself.
Nobody wants to be that guy.
Nancy argues that it’s much more powerful when you put the audience front and center, as the hero of your story. While your job, as a speaker, is to be seen as a wise and trusted mentor who can help the audience pursue their dreams, or achieve their goals.
In other words, make your audience feel like Luke Skywalker, and let them see you as Yoda.
Maybe this is why, as the two leading Democratic candidates release their latest ads in the run up to the Iowa caucus, that it’s Bernie’s message that seems to be resonating with voters.