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I’m a student of Thought Leaders Business School, a program that helps me be more commercially smart and continually level up my skills (thinking, delivery, and selling). Students are located around the globe, and the community that has developed is unmatched.
These are my people. The School meme is “We come for the curriculum, and we stay for the community.” I’ve just returned from a work retreat where a small group of us self-organized and gathered in Muskoka Lakes in Ontario to learn, plan, and work through questions we each have in our practices. In helping each other, we all learn. We also swam, ate, and boated into town for ice cream.
This gorgeous process prompted me to think about connection, the very thing we are after through our storytelling (stories connect, and connection is at the root of big decisions).
Connection done well expands beyond the storyteller and “listener” relationship. The message brings people together to build a community, similar to my Thought Leader example. When our ideas become greater than our identities and bring people together, we get traction and build influence.
Narrative, not numbers
Critical thinkers require evidence to make decisions. Often, we think of evidence as studies and statistics, and I don’t disagree.
The data suggests a large test sample was studied and analyzed. It indicates a rigor of assessment, with anomalies and outliers removed.
The broader context was surveyed.
AND
It’s hard for the human brain to wrap its mind around numbers. Warren Buffet said, “What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that their prior conclusions remain intact.,” suggesting that data doesn’t change minds.
Data informs; stories transform.
We’ve seen this in the political landscape, and we see it in the world when it comes to wicked problems like climate change.
Story gives us the power to provide evidence and to bring people together.
Community is the exponential factor in spreading our message.
Take care out there.
SOME WAYS I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM:
LEAD YOUR WAY: This mentoring/coaching program is designed to help you step into your leadership and show up as your best self so you can communicate to connect and amplify your impact.
COMMUNICATE TO CONNECT: In my storytelling workshops, I teach leaders of all capabilities how to engage authentically with their teams, community, and stakeholders to create meaningful connections that build trust, increase team engagement and lead to better fundraising and revenue generation.
Did you have something else in mind? Let’s talk and see how I might be able to help. Contact me and we’ll schedule a chat.
Stay in touch.
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