The key trait that makes leaders impactful communicators
Rajesh Gangwani
Executive & Leadership Communication Coach | My work lies at the intersection of leadership and communication. I enable senior and emerging leaders to leverage the power of their presence to create influence and impact.
Listening to an old Peepal tree at Port Blair, Andaman Island reinforced the answer!
We were visiting the Cellular jail (notorious by its name ‘Kala Pani’), now a national memorial of great historical importance.
What is remarkable is the presence of an old Peepal tree in its premises. The tree stands tall as a mute witness to the British cruelty, the sufferings of the freedom fighters and revolutionaries and their brave defiant spirit.
It was the same Peepal tree that became the ‘sutradhar’(storyteller), in the well- choreographed sound and light show, to bring alive the poignant story of valour and sacrifice in the face of brutality.
The magical storytelling stayed with us as we left with heavy hearts. Not the liberal facts, details and timelines that the guide shared but the power of human connection made by the story.
An authentic story which is well told, trumps any other story or reams of data in connecting with people.
What makes storytelling such a powerful tool for leaders?
The most fascinating part for me is how the ‘personal’ travels and becomes ‘universal’ in its appeal. As the famous Carl R Rogers said ‘What is most personal is most universal’
Something that comes from a lived self-experience magically becomes the lens through which other people see their own stories.
The most personal stories are also the purest and honest. They come from deeply embedded memories of pains and joys, successes and struggles.
And they carry huge emotional resonance.
Imagine how a leader’s inspiring personal story galvanizes an army of followers to put everything on the line.
Reflect on the vivid rollercoaster journey of an entrepreneur, which impacts the lives of many young adventurers to write their own success story.
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Visualize the creative expression of an artist, musician, filmmaker or author which cuts across language, culture and geographical barriers. To touch several hearts and live in peoples senses.
Your personal story therefore becomes their story. They fill in the gaps to make it their own.
This transfer is the essence of great storytelling. Moving the needle from ‘me’ to ‘we’ and our shared humanity.
Crafting stories that emanate from the?core personal self and evoke a strong emotional?response. Making us care truly and deeply.
Executive presence is about impactful communication and the art of storytelling is a key trait of that.
Connect with me on DM or call on +919820753383 to know more about building your powerful executive presence.
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Mindful Leadership & Executive Coach I ICF ACC PCC Assessor I Certified Mentor Coach I Prosocial & DEI Facilitator l Founder, Mindful Solutions & Showers of Compassion I Woman of the Decade, WEF
7 个月“The most personal stories are also the purest and honest. They come from deeply embedded memories of pains and joys, successes and struggles.” I can totally relate with it Rajesh Gangwani. Connection is one the most fundamental need of a human being. By being vulnerable and authentic, we can create connections. Being a coach, you and I experience it so often in our conversations with our clients.
Retires Scientist G & Scientist In charge MERADO Ludhiana CSIR / CMERI and Ex Commander (Indian Navy)
7 个月yes when heard first time , invariably fingers touch wet eyes
Leadership Coach/Advisor
7 个月Reading your post, I got in touch with my own experiences/stories of power, powerlessness, struggle, cruelty, taunts, camaraderie and the inborn resilience of the human spirit that moves us forward every time... Thank you Rajesh ????
Catalyst for your self-expression: person branding coach, book writing coach, writer, professional speaker
7 个月A good message, Rajesh. I can imagine how moved you must have been. What's deeply personal is also deeply universal because all of us are joined by more similarities than we are separated by differences. Most if not all of us undergo similar experiences, have the same (or similar) motivations and needs, are moved by the same things, respond the same way to many situations...and so on. This is us, humanity, a collective. We forget this often, though. This leads me to something I believe, and tell others, regarding writing books (when they ask me, 'Should I write it for myself or for the world?'). We must do it first for ourselves. It has to speak to US. Then it will automatically speak to several others. This applies to making films and telling stories too. :) Sorry for the longish reply. Rajesh Gangwani