When you tell data-driven “Me” stories, you become short-sighted about the outcomes that decision makers look for when deciding to fund, invest and buy.
Are the stories you tell well-balanced or out-of-sync with the stories people are listening for?
As STEM professionals and left-brain thinkers, we take pride in being the smartest people in the room. Over time, the story we tell ourselves is that when people in the room cannot understand our data, they are not “smart enough.” Smart enough to hang out with us in meetings and conference rooms.
Do you tell yourself this professional story? From time to time? Or, all the time?
Now, flip your thinking around. Consider whether the story you tell yourself becomes the only professional story – and professional brand – that you become known for. Are you an intellectual intimidator or a communication facilitator? Which story are you willing to leverage for your career trajectory? Especially in today’s continuously changing, connected Internet of Things workplaces?
Check out my YouTube video on Professional Intimidation. Have I described a professional habit we can work through, together? If so, contact me right here to get started.
Consider that storytelling is either engaging or intimidating, especially when you tell data-driven “Me” stories.
Now, if you are a STEM professional, or an analytical left-brain thinker, you make lots of presentations to audiences of peers. In addition, as a data master yourself, the focus often is on all of the elegant tools within your data collection and analytics arsenal.
However, is your anticipated outcome from telling that story focused on you? Does your storytelling skill set, perhaps even unconsciously, target the outcome of receiving praise and recognition from peers? If this is your desired outcome, the only story you tell your workplace is a story all about “Me.”
Isn’t it time to balance out your skill sets so the story you tell is relevant and valuable across your organization? What are the implications for your own career trajectory, by leveraging more balanced storytelling skills?
Telling data-driven”Me” stories is engaging when you go for Win-Win outcomes.
When you translate stories so the story is accessible to people who do not think the same way that you do, you create a Win-Win environment.
- First, you win for yourself and open up a new professional role, as a go-to resource for demystifying all the intimidating words used in various departments. You balance your story for everyone.
- Then, you win for the people listening to your presentation or reading your story. Because they feel smarter than they were when they first walked into the conference room or read your article online or bought your book.
- As a result, you leverage “We” in your data-driven stories, rather than only “Me.” And you become more relevant, visible and valuable to your own organization and your clients’ organizations.
Let’s go for creating Win-Win “We” results that impact your career trajectory. Contact me to start creating the “We” stories which engage. Why continue to intimidate colleagues, co-workers, partners, stakeholders and clients?
Babette Ten Haken’s One Millimeter Mindset® Storytelling for STEM Professionals and Left Brain Thinkers Speaking Programs leverage engaging storytelling to catalyze your purpose-driven professional success. Become more visible, relevant and valuable, not only to your employer but also to your strategic partners and clients. Find out more about Babette’s professional story here. Babette is a member of SME, ASQ, SHRM and the National Speakers Association. Her playbook of communication tools and methods, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com. Babette’s speaker profile is on the espeakers platform. Contact Babette here.
Image source: Adobe Stock
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