Ever wished for a do-over?
After damaging a business introduction with one of these four D’s.
· Dull. Didn’t realize you bored listeners. Or rambled out a monologue instead of a conversation.
· Dishonest. Failed to show proof of credibility or claims.
· Deceptive. Unaware others perceived your claims as too good / too easy / too quick to be true.
· Distant. Blind to the wall you put up between you and your listener(s). Blocking the real you behind ultra-professional or right to the point communication.
Different way to view social mishaps, huh?
It’s tempting to blame yourself. Viewing social communication mishaps as your fault.
Blaming yourself hurls a punch at your confidence and self-esteem. These qualities are already hurting.
Besides, you can’t blame yourself for what you didn’t know.
You didn’t intend to come across as dull, dishonest, deceptive or distant.
When meeting someone –your brain goes into overdrive. Trying to make a positive impression, accomplish whatever you have in mind, and get the next step to happen.
Rarely, do you reflect how your communication comes across to other people. That takes feedback, videotaping you from your listener’s perspective or flipping your perspective to what others’ sense.
Until that happens, have a backup handy. A story for impressing people and inspiring them to do business with you.
Inspire Conversation. Start with Your WHY Story
Showing steps with examples.
1) Come up with a fictitious, relatable character who gives value.
Kim was working and raising two boys. Neglecting her own health and fitness, she became soccer and hockey mom. Supporting her boys’ active lifestyles, she binge snacked with fellow parents.
2) Mention what your character believes.
Kim valued quality time with her family and tribe of hockey and soccer families.
3) Show WHY your character would be inspired to join your program.
Once I understood Kim’s biggest fear –I knew our shared beliefs would inspire her to join my premium program. Kim would miss out on hiking and skiing with her family, as their fitness gap grew.
Supporting my tribe, I share warrior stories and battle scares. My tribe members and I acquired these during our transformational body journeys. Wanting a fearless tribe to push and support her to overcome challenges –empowered Kim to join.
Understanding Inspires Conversation
Your inspiring story entices conversing with you for several reasons.
· Whoever’s listening didn’t expect you to start with a story. Expecting information or a request –you surprise and delight their over-loaded brain.
· Another twist! Focusing on who you help as the hero of your story and you as their guide. Demonstrating you take others’ perspective. Key for empowering others’ success.
BONUS benefits.
· People are interested in knowing how you wove your WHY into your business, in a way that inspires customers.
· They’re motivated to come up with their own inspiring WHY story.
· Curious to hear more of your story.
Expand You WHY into a Compelling Story
It wasn’t the hour in the gym when I needed support. It was socializing with family and friends over meals and snacks. Or breaking down and binge eating, alone.
That’s when I needed someone to listen. To let me know they understood what I was going through. Prove to me I’d get through this.
My online coach was fantastic!
Letting me call her at all hours to listen, to cry.
What I loved most was the stories. Hearing the emotions of other women, out of control with food. Blaming themselves for breaking fitness promises. Feeling no one understood what calorie-packing temptations by family, friends, colleagues, everyone they socialized with, demanded.
When I began posting dark health and fitness moments, women reached out on social media. They had the same goals I’d just conquered. Wanting support to supplement training and dieting. Most of all, they wanted what I’d wished for. To be part of a tribe where everyone was in their shoes. To read warrior stories and know they weren’t alone. A virtual lifeline. Through pain and discomfort, bone crushing falls, and losing food as a source of emotional regulation.
Move your listener with a story that draws them in.
Expand from summarizing your inspiring WHY to weaving it a story. As the main character, readers are moved to care about you. Traveling along an emotional trip, together. Including readers lets them feel part of your experiences, struggles and feelings. Emotional powers beyond sharing advice or information.
Reflecting back to the four D’s… dull, dishonest, deceptive and distant.
Keep in mind, social mishaps occur while experiencing a situation from your perspective.
Shifting to the perspective of others, enhances awareness. What communication benefits them and what they want to hear.
Although, researching people improves your understanding, it isn’t enough to get inside their heads.
By visualizing an ideal person you want to impress –your understanding deepens. So does caring and empathy.
Besides enriching your understanding of people, stories impress others.
People listen longer and tune in at a deeper level to stories they benefit from.
Perhaps inspired by your WHY. Intrigued to find out who you really are. Included in your experiences, feelings or struggles. Educated by an embedded lesson. Motivated to copy your approach.
Inspire people to do business with you –benefit them with a story.
Attract loyal customers who inspire more loyal customers and so on…
Begin our email journey: Stories, empathy and insights to earn loyal customers.
