(NOTE: In our previous Brain CODE post, you read about the power of story to create trust in your listeners. If you missed it, you can read it if you CLICK HERE).
Why do we tell business stories?
Audiences give me various answers to this question:
โข Build credibility
โข Earn trust
โข Entertain
โข Be vulnerable
There are many others, but the one reason that has resonated most with me is:
โThe purpose of your story is to give others hope.โ
Every time you have the privilege to speak to a group, thereโs a problem. The people sitting in front of you are wearing masks.
Not the pandemic style masks we each had to wear.
This one is invisible.
Itโs the emotional mask.
People sitting before you are often hiding behind a smile and โIโm doing fine!โ But, they may be in pain โ financial, career, relationship, health, physical, or some other type.
Thereโs one feeling they may need more than any other:
Hope.
They might need a reminder that thereโs hope theyโll overcome the financial challenges. That theyโll get their career on track. That the relationship problem is temporary.
Each of us is often too close to our problems we canโt see beyond the present.
We Need A Shot!
In those times, what we need is a shot of dopamine.
Dopamine is well known for providing pleasure, satisfaction and motivation.
A side-benefit feelings is that you can also experience hope about the future.
This is how your story can give them a boost and see past their current obstacles.
The Power Of Your Story
A story about facing struggles, strife or setback and succeeding gives a vision of what’s possible.
It letโs people know theyโre not alone โ others have felt the way they now feel, and there is a roadmap to a better way.
There are many benefits to business storytelling. If you want to have the most impact, know where your audience is struggling and what they need.
When you know that, you can structure your story in a way that provides a shot of dopamine and gives them hope.
In our next post, weโll close out the loop on the Brain CODE. Youโll read about how to motivate your listener to take action.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
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Sell more
Save time
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Increase your impact and influence
Create more opportunities
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