Human beings are deeply interested in other human beings.
That sounds obvious. But when you really take it into account, it gives you a powerful—and surprisingly non-intuitive—way to connect people to what matters most to you.
Many accomplished leaders make a predictable mistake when they care deeply about an idea: they lead with the idea. They explain the strategy, the data, the product, the mission, or the change they want people to support.
The audience may understand every word and still feel no reason to care.
Start with the human being
Your passion becomes contagious when people can find themselves inside it. Before you explain what you care about, help them understand why it matters to a human being. Let them meet the person, problem, choice, or possibility at the heart of your message.
This is not about making your communication less rigorous. It is about making your rigor available. Human beings make sense of information through meaning, emotion, and connection. When you create that connection first, people can hear the facts differently.
A practical question to ask
Before your next presentation, pitch, or important leadership conversation, ask:
“Who is the human being inside this idea—and why should the people listening care?”
Then make that person visible. Tell a brief, relevant story. Describe what is at stake. Show what changes if the audience acts—or if it does not.
In the short video below, I explain this principle and how you can use it to become a more memorable speaker and a more effective leader.
Try it—and pay attention to what changes
The next time you communicate something you care about, resist the urge to begin with everything you know. Begin with the human reason it matters. Then notice whether people lean in, ask better questions, remember more, or become more willing to act.
If you want to develop this skill further, explore Speak Like a Leader, subscribe to the Executive Speaking Success YouTube channel, or talk with us about coaching or training.
