3 Ways To Communicate Better Through Storytelling As An Executive In Hospitality

Working your way up to the top of an organization is no easy task. It takes a lot of grit, discipline, hard work, focus, and unwavering commitment to your dream. Once you get to the top - whatever title that might be for you (GM, Chief Executive or higher), a new set of problems present themselves. It's no longer about proving you can do it - it's about demonstrating that you have what it takes to lead others.

How can you increase your chances of success in that complex environment and become a top-performing GM that makes an impact beyond the bottom line?

That's what I want to help you with. 

Believe it or not, your excellent leadership, communication skills, business, and operations management abilities, as well as your strong financial management and budget planning, are super important. But you're going to need an extra secret weapon to give you that edge.

What's needed to ensure you succeed at guiding your team to success is the ability to use the power of story in business communication.

Regardless of your title, your job is to tell a story that moves people into action.

In the hospitality industry, communication skills are deemed crucial. At that top leadership level, the ability to communicate with your team and move them into action effectively becomes a matter of life and death for your business goals.

 One might think that with the rise of technology and communication methods, things have become easier. That's not necessarily the case.

Having an abundance of communication channels that enable you to communicate your vision and mission to employees and customers doesn't mean you'll succeed at engaging them.

Being able to talk succinctly and in memorable ways through the various channels accessible to you could mean the difference between a client gained and a client lost; a happy employee who understands the company goals, and an unhappy employee who feels like nothing more than a cog in a big corporate wheel. I don't have to spell out for you the ramifications.

The bottom line is this.

It has never been more imperative for executive leaders to step up their communication game and win over the hearts and minds of all stakeholders. Regardless of your specific title, your job is to tell a story effectively.

Why a story?

Let's think this through for a bit. As a leader, you're in the business of directing, instructing, mentoring, and guiding people into a particular vision that should be beneficial for all parties concerned. Research shows that human beings are wired for storytelling. The brain responds differently when the element of story is infused into any communication.

Common sense also leads me to believe this is true because life as we know it is a story. The life of a human being has a beginning (birth) and an end (death). From birth, we are exposed to information in story format. 

That causes our brain to establish and fortify neurological pathways that lead us to develop an ability to use story structure to process incoming information. And since everything in life unfolds sequentially within the confines of time, over a lifetime, we each develop our own unique story and process everything we encounter through that same filter.

So you, me, and everyone else are essentially living out a story. When you learn to see it through this lens, it makes sense that your communication with clients, as well as employees, should be framed in a story-like structure because that will make your information more relatable and memorable to the person consuming it.

Now, if you're with me so far and you kinda agree with my train of thought, my question is - why wouldn't you use storytelling in business?

I'm not saying you need to become Richard Branson or Steve Jobs, but I am insisting you become a better version of yourself.

If you've been wondering where to start or how to implement a story to establish engagement and resonance with your message, here are a few simple things you can experiment with immediately.

? Start by crafting your personal story pitch.

If you can't pitch yourself and compellingly tell your professional story, it's going to be hard to incorporate this strategy into other areas of business. Don't make it redundant or boring. Learn about the simple story structures that you can use, and consider checking out some of the in-depth tactics I previously shared as resources that might be useful to you. Keep in mind your story pitch has to obey the rules of all great stories.

? Next, I want you to create a story frame structure to help you deliver data, figures, and facts in your internal team meetings.

This is a great way to create a connection with your team, which fosters a sense of shared vision and commitment. When a team connects and commits to each other, great things happen.

There are many examples we've seen of sports coaches who use the power of story to create that sense of connection, commitment, and shared vision. It might be time for you to start thinking along the same lines.

? Leverage storytelling to help you build up your resume, reinforce your credibility, and position yourself as a thought leader in your field.

In traditional language, this would be termed as building your reputation. You have the power (through thought leadership content, publishing your first book etc.) to effectively communicate and demonstrate your value, vision, and who you really are in ways that were not considered possible a mere decade ago.

Fifteen years ago, the only way someone in your position could build influence was through hiring costly agencies and PR firms to help position you as an expert and a sought after leader. 

Today, everything you need to make a difference in the world and build influence for yourself and your company is contained within that tiny supercomputer that fits in your pocket. Your smartphone and a great story are all you need to demonstrate that you are a great leader.

Through storytelling, you can take an audience on a journey, persuade, delight, unite, and inspire people. You can bring clarity to your team members and clients about your company and what you stand for. This is an opportunity that was not possible a few years back, don't waste it.

Conclusion:

All companies are facing the difficult task of making an imprint in the minds of their clients. At the same time, many leaders are struggling to attract, nurture, and maintain a team that is connected, committed, and efficient in delivering results.

One of the main problems with communicating ideas internally and externally is that you have to break through all the noise, confusion, and information overload that's currently happening in our society.

Now that you've read this far, you are aware that a better way of communicating exists. You also know how to take this skill of storytelling and apply it in various areas of your life so you can amplify your influence at work.

You don't have to be a gifted storyteller (like me ??) to do this and please, don't wait for a "big event" to practice business storytelling. Start small, leverage any and every opportunity you get starting with your weekly team meetings.

Craft your personal story pitch and get in the habit of sharing your thoughts, insights, and advice through simple metaphors. All these tiny shifts will help you demonstrate your leadership chops and make you memorable.

To building your legacy.

Janette ????.