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12 Most Compelling Reasons to Tell Your Story in Business

Do you love a good story? Have you ever been suckered into a movie when it was well past your bedtime? Or spent hours glued to a book because you just wanted to know how it ends?

Human beings are storytelling machines. We cannot resist a good tale. You can harness the power of your business story to create a memorable message. Now more than ever, you need to be attracting listeners in your business so that your message sticks.

Here are the 12 most compelling reasons to tell your story in business:

1. Standout

Let’s face it, there are thousands of accountants, graphic designers, chiropractors, life coaches, massage therapists or <insert your occupation here>. What makes you stand out from all of these other small businesses? Your story. It makes you unique.

2. Showcase your personality

Your story showcases your personality. Is your business friendly, light-hearted and approachable? Is your business personality serious and professional? Your story is the voice of your business. It sets the tone. If you showcase your personality and unique voice, you’ll attract the clients that you are beyond-jazzed to work with.

3. Getting to know you

The story of you and your business lets prospective clients feel like they know you. The first step in building trust is letting potential clients establish a relationship with you.

4. Invoke emotion

As the venerable Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Stories invoke emotion. Sure, people won’t remember all of the details, but they sure will remember feeling good after hearing your story.

5. Vulnerability

No one likes a perfect, know-it-all guru who can leap business problems in a single-bound. Your story shows your vulnerability. It makes you a real person entirely made of human-parts. It’s easier to relate to someone who is flawed just like the rest of us.

6. Lessons from mistakes

Ever noticed how fairy tales and fables have some kind of moral? No journey is perfect, and clients like to know about the mistakes you made along the way so that they can avoid them in the future.

6. What’s your point of view?

Your story highlights your unique point of view and philosophy on how you approach your business. Write a manifesto or mission statement highlighting that point of view. How do you do business that is different than everyone else in your niche?

7. Engage your clients’ brains

Stories fire up our mirror neurons. Have you ever gotten lost in a book for hours on end? You felt like you were a part of the story. You were sad when it was over because you missed the characters. Well-told stories engage our brains  and make your clients feel like it’s happening to them. They see themselves in your story. This inspires the “Heck, yeah — this business is for me” response!

8. Showcase your “Why?”

Clients don’t buy until they know your “Why?” Tell us why you are a small business on a mission. Your ideal clients want to know what makes you so passionate about your business.

9. Tell the stunning results

It’s not enough to hear about ROI  or other statistics about how successful your product or service is. In addition, talk about the transformation you’ve seen in your clients as a result of working with you. Statistics plus story is a powerful combination.

10. Stories disarm and charm

Psychologists Melanie Green and Tim Brock agree that the way your brain processes stories is radically different from how it understands facts. Statistics, facts and science engage critical thinking. Stories disarm and charm the listener into putting down his or her defenses. In business, you can’t argue with a good story — it’s persuasive.

11. Highlight your expertise

There is a vital need to establish your expertise, authority and credibility in business. Most business owners state their many degrees, grand achievements and hallowed accolades like they were making a list of what to get at the grocery store. Turn that list into a story that highlights your struggle and achievements. It’s more memorable and interesting to your potential clients.

12. Don’t underestimate the power of your story

Far too many times I hear from my clients, “But I’m just a {insert occupation}.” They underestimate their story and the impact it makes on their clients. You don’t have to be Oprah, Richard Branson or Tony Robbins to tell your story. Your story has power to impact the people who hear it. If your business serves and helps people, we deserve to hear your story.

Storytelling allows you to highlight your expertise, build trust, and makes you stand out. If your business is not telling its story currently, it's time to start mining all of your experiences and client stories to broadcast your brilliance to the world. Remember, it’s your story — tell it well.

What business do you think uses storytelling well? I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below!

Republished with permission and much love from 12 Most: Find the original post here.