Leadership Storytelling builds trust

It’s pretty amazing what we will do for people we trust.

We jump through hoops, we push limits, we’ll endure all manner of stress and anxiety.

Relationships are anchored in trust.

And as humans we’re hard wired to seek it out. 

Trust lights up the pleasure seeking parts of the brain. It stimulates the production of oxytocin so it feels good to trust. We want to trust!

It goes without saying that great leadership requires trust.

So how do you get your team to trust you as a leader?

Storytelling!

Colleagues may admire your competence, appreciate your experience and rely on your expertise.

But they will trust you when they connect to your humanity, the part of you that lies beyond your professional skills. It's harder to demonstrate these things at work, so we tell stories to show them.

Storytelling invites your team into knowing who you are- your integrity, sincerity, values.

You don’t have to tell a 1 hour origin story, or bare your soul to your colleagues.

Short anecdotes with touch points of emotion are enough to generate that human connection necessary for inspiring trust.

So at the beginning of your next meeting, instead of a throwaway comment about the weather, share a short story that gives insight into:

Who you are, 
Why you're here, or
Who you’ve helped.

Share about a decision you made, and how it inspires you today.

Keep it short, make sure it's true and create an environment where others feel they can share too.

#storytelling #leadership #trust #speaking