Idealized storytelling creates perfect story scenarios in which products, services, programs are placed. Not surprisingly, these stories always seem to have fairy-tale outcomes, where everyone lives happily ever after. Mostly, due to the outcomes created by our products, services and programs.
Then, the next step in your business development process is that you ask decision makers for their business. Sign on the dotted line.
Not so fast, there.
Consider that idealized storytelling is just that: an idealized picture of your client’s business universe. And, it just could be that your client’s experiences serving their own clients are far from ideal. In fact, their experiences are rock-solid real.
Which is why your prospective clients become extremely skeptical about making a decision to move forward and do business with you. Are you and your people going to have their backs when things do not go fairy-tale perfectly?
Before you tell one more business story, or make one more startup pitch to investors, take a solid look at your story’s credibility. Not from your own perspective: you are already sold on you. Next time take that business or technical decision maker’s perspective. In real-time, relative to the specifics of their own businesses.
Your idealized storytelling strategy can backfire, creating decision making skepticism.
Because your stories sound sanitized and well-developed to apply to a large group of clients. Instead of customized and realistic for each client you serve, even if they are grouped into particular segments. Every client is unique, in their own minds. And their business ecosystem is far from idealized, due to strategic and tactical issues which overwhelm them.
Does the idealized story you tell add to business decision making overwhelm? Or, do you tell realistic stories. About how you and your people take small, one millimeter steps forward with clients. So everyone gets to where they need to go. Together. One millimeter at a time.
Are you ready to move your first, one millimeter step forward and start telling the real-life, boots-on-the-ground stories employees and clients really need to hear? Then, click on this link and let’s start one millimeter mindset storytelling. Together.
I leverage design-driven storytelling to translate across communication disconnects between people and professional disciplines. Together, we optimize strategic business and human capital value in individuals, workforces and organizations. Contact me here. Let’s storytell. To get to where you need to go. Together. One millimeter at a time. Find out more about my professional story here.
Image source: Adobe Stock
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