Persuastion isn't a bad word. In fact, you do it all the time.

I just finished another workshop—this time with these six amazing women. 

And it started the same way. They were nervous. Some didn’t know each other. They were worried their stories would be too boring. Or too much. Or that they’d make a fool out of themselves. 

Totally normal.

We began by talking about why stories matter. There’s actual science behind it.

When we tell stories, we change how people think and feel. And that’s a fact. Stories are strategic. They're one of the most powerful tools we have as humans.

How do you think Cavewoman Sally knew not to eat those pretty berries? 

How did Jesus teach? 

How does Taylor Swift connect with so many people?

The answer - storytelling. 

So, after we talk about the WHY, we get to creating and telling stories. The HOW.

And, as always, something amazing happens. The stories start coming. One by one. Honest, beautiful, funny, heartbreaking stories. 

Every single one reveals something deeper: what someone cares about, what they’ve been through, what they’ve learned. 

The room shifts. People soften. They laugh more. They listen harder. Connection happens. All because someone chose to share a little piece of their life.

And they’ve learned how to connect a personal story to a challenge at work or to something happening in their personal lives.

But here’s the thing that gets people stuck: when I say stories are meant to persuade, some folks flinch. Like “persuade” is a dirty word.

I get it. “Persuade” can sound sneaky. Like a trick. But it’s not. It’s just trying to help someone see something in a new way.

If you tell your teenager a story about how you had to get a root canal in high school and missed the homecoming game in order to get them to brush their teeth - you’re persuading.

If you tell your team a story about bouncing back from a mistake so they don’t feel like failures themselves - you’re persuading.

If you tell someone on the verge of quitting how much their work matters, and how you’ve seen their impact - that story could change their mind. That’s persuasion too.

We’re always trying to move people in small, honest ways. And that’s a good thing. Helping people feel more seen, more hopeful, more open to change - that’s worth doing.

So don’t be afraid to tell your story. Don’t worry if it’s not polished or perfect. If it’s real, it’ll land. And it just might make a bigger difference than you realize.

And if you’d like to run a workshop for your team, just reach out.

Thank you to Carolyn Donaldson, VP, Community Engagement, Kish Bank

Linda Raftery, Screenwriter & Medical Script Consultant

Anita Woodman, Operations Improvement Consultant & Project Manager, Penn State

Jenny Hwozdek, Director and Teaching Artist, Ridgelines Language Arts

Pam Long, Associate Director of Development, Penn State

Christina Teeter, Sales Manager, Bobby Rahal Honda