From Neuroscience to The Boardroom: The Role of Storytelling in Business
As Jonathan Haidt says, the brain is not a logic processor, it is a story processor. To evolve and transform your business, you need to be able to tell them right:
Brains Love a Good Tale
Modern neuroscience shows that storytelling is our mind’s key method for making sense of the world. Our brains respond powerfully to stories, even releasing the hormone oxytocin. This reaction builds empathy, trust, and cooperation — the glue that holds businesses together.
Your Business is a Story
Yuval Noah Harari argues in Sapiens that “any large-scale human cooperation is rooted in stories.” This also applies to businesses. Using steps from traditional narratives — like facing challenges (opponents) and uncovering insights (revelations) — can transform company goals into compelling stories that drive action.
Storytelling is great for Problem-Solving
Narratives are fundamental tools for framing business problems in ways that drive solutions. By laying out issues in the form of a story and offering a clear vision of a path to success, your team can instigate a shared goal that motivates and unifies.
Encourage Co-creation for Ownership
Get your team involved in the storytelling process. Research shows that when people help create a narrative, it helps them internalize it, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment, and driving them to find solutions and achieve the story's end goal.
Blending neuroscience with the art of storytelling can turn your business narratives into journeys that engage, inspire, and drive action. Remember, clear stories, not clever facts, are what wins the day!