“A character starts in their ordinary world. They cross the threshold — think Wizard of Oz — to this new magical world, where they meet people… they have a moment of transformation, and they return to the ordinary world.”

These wise words belong to Brian Chesky, Airbnb Cofounder and CEO. This was when he launched Trips, a service specifically for Airbnb customers that allow them to book tours and experiences. Chesky stressed on the importance of storytelling and was quite instructive about it during this presentation. The bottom line is quite simple. This entire offering is designed with the sole purpose of letting people create their own stories, and it is also the inspiration behind Trips.

Chesky further adds, “People remember the magic of an experience.”

This very magic that is colossally life altering is what drives people to achieve the unachievable! You as a CEO of your company are expected to bring this to the table if you intend to inspire action and motivate your employees.

It is going to be a huge responsibility, but sharing your stories and life experiences is a great way of giving your business a purpose. It does not just work to solve a problem, but to put forth a completely unique perspective. You will find numerous reasons to share your life lessons and your journey with your employees, and some of them have been elucidated below:

·         Business Development

Every success has a story behind it. Every business idea has a relatable situation that leads to its fruition. Your audience needs to know that.

·         Attention And Understanding

Stories are always engaging. They also help you understand your audience better.

·         Higher Employee Efficiency

Your employees are the best assets of your company. The right inspiration creates the right culture. It is through your struggles and successes that they will derive their inspiration.

·         Humanize Yourself

The moment you decided to put down your CEO cape and mingle with the “common folk”, you humanized yourself. You became one of them.

·         Convey Your Values And Beliefs

It is because of your values, upbringing, struggles, beliefs and your faith in yourself that you have achieved this position. Give them a glimpse of what it is to be you so that in the future they can inspire many others like you do today.

But How Will You Go About It?

How Do You Intend To Share Your Experiences And Stories?

How Will You Inspire Your Teammates, Partners, Associates And Employees?

·         Leave interesting notes and messages on their desks

·         Pick a day during the week when all you will do is speak to them heart-to-heart

·        Send out a letter to your employees and especially to the ones you think will benefit from your story the most

·        Post something fun and life changing; perhaps a short snippet from your long journey on your social media profile that inspires and drives them to do better

In the end, let’s just talk to one another about our lives and its lessons. And this goes for everyone in your company. Convey what you feel and want them to achieve. Listen to them. You will see a spark lighting up in the corner of their eyes as you conclude your success story.