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Influencing, inspiring, and persuading are vital in leadership and executive communication. One of the most effective tools at a leader’s disposal is the art of storytelling. In part I of this 2-part Women’s Leadership Success podcast, Sabrina interviews David Garfinkel, author of The Persuasion Story Code, about how leaders use persuasion stories to achieve their objectives, whether it’s inspiring their teams, selling ideas, or establishing credibility.
Understanding the Power of Persuasion Stories
Leaders often find themselves in situations where they need to convey ideas, build trust, and foster engagement. Persuasion stories offer a unique approach to achieving these goals:
1: Establishing Credibility: Leaders can use stories to humanize themselves, making them more relatable and trustworthy, particularly when dealing with new clients or stakeholders.
2: Creating Emotional Connections: Persuasion stories tap into emotions, enabling leaders to connect with their audience on a deeper level, making it easier for them to understand and embrace ideas.
3: Simplifying Complex Concepts: Leaders often grapple with intricate strategies and concepts. Stories can simplify these ideas, making them more accessible to a broader audience, especially in cross-functional discussions.
4: Enhancing Engagement: Stories capture attention and engage the audience, ensuring the message resonates and sticks with them.
David Garfinkel, a Renowned Author and Persuasive Communication Expert
With his bestselling book, “The Persuasion Story Code,” David has earned acclaim from prestigious publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fast Company, and The Los Angeles Times.
David’s expertise has left an indelible mark on various businesses, including industry giants like IBM and United Airlines, medium-sized enterprises, and even solo entrepreneurs. His strategic guidance has consistently led to substantial revenue increases, totaling tens of millions of dollars, all achieved through persuasive messaging.
In addition to his groundbreaking work in persuasion, David is the author of another bestseller, “Breakthrough Copywriting.” Furthermore, he brings a wealth of experience as the former San Francisco Bureau Chief for McGraw-Hill World News.
Join David Garfinkel and Sabrina Braham, MA MFT PCC, and learn how leaders use persuasion stories that can transform your career and leadership success.
“People often receive bad advice when it comes to using stories for persuasion. In reality, stories can be simple and powerful tools, just like the ones we use in everyday conversations.” David Garfinkel
Crafting Persuasion Stories for Leadership Success: How Leaders Use Persuasion Stories
1: Personal Origin Stories: Leaders can share their personal journeys, highlighting pivotal moments and their commitment to the organization’s mission. This type of story showcases dedication and inspires loyalty among team members.
2: Unexpected Future Benefits Stories: Leaders can paint a vivid picture of the positive outcomes their ideas can bring, focusing on how these proposals benefit both the organization and individual team members. This approach fosters a sense of shared success and alignment with the leader’s vision.
The Importance of Audience Awareness: Leaders must thoroughly understand their audience’s needs, frustrations, and concerns. Identifying universal themes and addressing common issues can make the stories more relatable.
Planning the Steps to Persuasion: Leaders should consider the steps required for persuasion, as only some stories need to lead directly to a final decision. Steps may include building rapport, establishing trust, opening minds to new ideas, and demonstrating expertise.
Incorporating Persuasion Stories into Leadership Communication
The key to success lies in integrating persuasion stories naturally into leadership communication. These stories may not always follow a traditional beginning, middle, and end structure. Instead, they often resemble intentional conversation points focused on specific objectives.
Leaders who embrace persuasion stories unlock a powerful tool for influencing, inspiring, and persuading their teams and stakeholders. By connecting with audiences emotionally, leaders can lead with authority and gain the support necessary to drive their initiatives forward.
Stay tuned for part two of the Women’s Leadership Success podcast, where Sabrina and David delve deeper into how leaders use persuasion stories, the psychology behind persuasion stories, and how to select the right story for the right audience.
Action for Traction – How Leaders Use Persuasion Stories
- Start by listening differently. Notice when other people tell persuasion stories, how they tell them, and how effective they are in persuading you. Most people don’t realize they’re telling persuasion stories, but that doesn’t matter. Some very good persuasion stories happen organically when people are just talking.
- Inspire or persuade people. Consider situations where you need to inspire or persuade people as a leader or a future leader. Set up two columns on paper or in a chart on your computer. Make the title of the left-hand column “What they believe now.” For the right-hand column, use the title “What I want them to believe.”
- Your persuasion stories. Put together persuasion stories you can tell that will move them from what they believe now to what you want them to believe. If you’d like some guidance and examples, get David’s book on Amazon, The Persuasion Story Code.
Book Your Complimentary Leadership & Promotion Advantage Coaching Call with Sabrina Braham
If you are ready to truly take your leadership, career, and income to substantial new levels – MUCH faster than you thought possible, Book Your Complimentary Promotion & Leadership Advantage Call with Me on My Calendar Here:
After helping over 250+ managers and directors at your level, (see client recommendations here), it’s evident that many women leaders struggle with confidence, how leaders use persuasion stories, and political savvy.
And that’s why I help people like you master the skills of successful female leaders, realize their potential, and get promoted 3x faster or land their next-level role with a 20% – 50%+ increase in pay.
And so If relevant, I would love to connect over a complimentary leadership and career advancement coaching session to help you become an influential and “promotion-ready” candidate, internally or externally.
On this call, I will give you three proven strategies that will help you have an impact and confidence and stand out from the competition to advance your career and income much faster than you thought possible.
We can discuss how I can help if there is a good fit. If not, you will walk away with some actionable ideas to become the obvious choice for promotion.
Are you open to a quick call to explore?
Book Your Complimentary Promotion & Leadership Advantage Call with Me on My Calendar here.
Sabrina
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