Business is all a matter of communication. You get new accounts by persuasively communicating the benefits of doing business with you. You get the best terms by communicating ways to structure deals that work to all parties' best interests. You get the most out of your staff by communicating honestly and clearly with them. It's all communication. And that's why understanding storytelling is so important.
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Storytelling is an often-overlooked yet very powerful weapon for any businessperson's arsenal. It provides you with a communicative edge that can create numerous potential advantages.
A good story is more than an ice-breaker. It's an eye-opener. It gets people to think and to relate to your message in a way that just doesn't happen when you're engaged in the more standard forms of office discourse. It gives you a unique opportunity to break through the listener's persuasion-resistant wall and to make a deeper, more meaningful form of contact.
That's because humans have a very unique reaction to the narrative structure. Storytelling resonates more powerfully with us than do other forms of verbal communication. It engages us on an intellectual level, but also engages our creative sides while bringing down our guards. If you can provide someone with a good story, they will listen. storytelling in sales They won't be distracted. They'll really hear you.
Communication experts have long understood the power of the narrative. It's probably the oldest form of rhetoric and it has a vaunted position in almost every culture. There's simply no disputing the fact that storytelling connect with listeners in ways that no other kind of communication can. That's why speechwriters like to begin presentations with stories. It's why branding experts recognize just how important it is to give the public an idea of a company's "story" and to frame everything else based on that larger narrative. Stories are an absolutely amazing tool for business.
The kind of genuine communication fostered by good storytelling can empower all forms of communication. It can make any message stronger and more valuable. If you're working in the world of business without quality storytelling on your side, you're fighting at a disadvantage--a disadvantage you should immediately eliminate.
Storytelling is an important part of relationship marketing. I used to believe that my stories would not be of interest to anyone, and that they might even detract from my credibility as an online entrepreneur. It turns out that stories are something we can all relate to. Now people ask me to tell some of my stories again so they can learn from my experiences.
Write down some of the stories that are a part of your life experience. See how you can relate them to what you are doing in your business. When we think of some of the greatest people in history, it is their stories that make us care about them. You can do the same thing to bring your online business to life.
Choose stories that make a point or that others can learn from. There are business blogs that have done this successfully, and we look forward to learning something we can put into use right away. Share an experience you had that shows people who you are and what is important to you. Relate this to your business and you may be surprised at the result.
Practice your storytelling on people you know well. Ask them which of your stories has the most impact, and which would be best not shared with the world. Have two versions of each story you tell; the long version that includes all of the details, and the shortened one that just covers a few interesting points. When you are interviewed you can always tell the shortened version of your story so that people will remember you.