Great Leaders Use Emotion

What were you doing in the morning 43 days ago?

I bet you don't know.

But if I asked "What were you doing in the morning 5,043 days ago?"

You could probably answer in vivid detail.

Why?

5,043 days ago was September 11, 2001.

The emotional intensity of the experience seared that memory into your 'unforgettable' file.

In their book, Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath write about why some ideas and others survive.   When ideas are sticky, you remember them.

In a world where we're swamped by data, connecting people to emotions helps them to remember things.     

As a leader who wants to influence, it's vital that you help people connect to their emotions. This is what the best marketers and advertisers do.   Why do you remember your favorite TV commercials?  Because they draw on your heartstrings.  They make you laugh and/or cry.  

What matters most to the people you lead?  How can you help them connect to that?  What stories, images, music, or actions can prompt a visceral experience? 

It'll take an investment upfront to figure this out.  But the payoffs can be huge.  

What techniques have you used to connect people to emotion? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below.