Blog #159: How do you capture the heart ??of your business audience?

The other day, at an interactive workshop on storytelling, I asked a group of entrepreneurs to introduce themselves (and their businesses) to the group using a fictional character. One of the participants said 'Popeye'.?

What do you think of when you hear 'Popeye'??

Popeye loves iron, of course. Her business is all about fireproof iron doors ??. (Easy to remember now that I have the image of Popeye in my head).?

Another participant told me that he was more of a numbers guy ?? and that storytelling was not for him.?

You can imagine that I disagree with this statement.?

We all love stories. We grew up with stories.

When would you use stories in your business?

• When you are building your employer brand;
• When embodying your corporate values, e.g. sustainability;
• When visualising how you see the future of your business.
• ...

How do you get started with story telling??

• What was your favourite story when you were a child??
• What was your favourite TV series??
• What was your favourite book?
• ...

When one of the participants started to talk about her favourite book ?? as a child, her face lit up, the energy in the room changed and another participant turned around with a smile ?? as he remembered it too.?

Stories create connections ??. Connections create energy ??. Stories give your corporate culture a spark ?.

So fire up your storytelling skills and your imagination so that they can help you to visualise your culture in such a way that it becomes a tangible reality for all the members of your team. Including those who may not share your first language. Including those who may not have the same level of education as you.

If you are using a 'familiar' character, such as Popeye, check that it is also familiar to your target audience and that it does not have any negative connotations.

For example, Popeye has a very masculine energy that may not feel inclusive in a mixed environment.

Stories that speak to the heart ??, that everyone understands. Capture the heart ?? of your audience and they will want more...??

This is my 159th blog to inspire you, the decision maker, to create an inclusive and sustainable work environment that is welcoming to all and conscious of its impact on the world we live in. I am always happy to discuss your challenges and approaches.

Now it is your turn. Please answer the following question:

What was your favourite book, TV series, film or story as a child and how can it inspire you to bring your corporate culture to life??

Thanks for reading to the end and I look forward to reading your reactions ??.

Sharing is caring, so if you think this newsletter might be useful to others in your network, please feel free to share it with them or tag them below. I appreciate it??.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and please get in touch if you would like to ignite your culture.

Cheers to your stories, cheers to you,

Katherina

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Katherina Swings

An inspiring connector, a multilingual contributor with international (work and life) experience, an inspirational speaker, a seasoned HR professional with two decades of corporate experience, an experienced change manager with business savvy, a creative writer, a certified professional learning facilitator, a certified inclusive leadership trainer, a certified employer brander, a multicultural networker, an active listener...

My vision is to create a positive world by connecting people who discover each other's strengths. The tagline of my company, Co-Wings, is 'Using everyone's wings to fly ??????'.

My mission is to support 100,000 leaders worldwide to become (more) inclusive.

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???????????????????? Check out my?158?previous blogs. Let me know what you think after you read them!