The Secret Ingredient To Convincing Anyone To Do (Almost) Anything

Do you remember that scene from Star Wars episode IV where Obi Wan Kenobi uses the ‘Jedi Mind Trick' for the first time?

You know, that famous line, “These aren't the droids you're looking for…”.

Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan have just left the site of Luke's former home where they find the smoldering corpses of his aunt and uncle.

The evil Empire has put out an all-points bulletin on the two droids. Kenobi and Skywalker are running for their lives.

But with a simple wave of Obi Wan's hand and his supernatural Jedi powers, imminent disaster is avoided.

Jedi Mind Control

Have you ever wished you had the power of Jedi Mind control – maybe even just a little bit?

I try to use it on my kids but fail miserably. Daily.

Instead they use it on me. Daily.

I don't know how to use Jedi Mind tricks, but in this brief article I'm going to reveal something almost as powerful.

Meet The Lizard Brain

First however, we need to take a short jaunt into evolutionary biology. Don't worry, it won't take long.

The amygdala, or the ‘lizard brain' in colloquial terms, is the part of the brain that recognizes sub-conscious queues in the environment around us.

Here's an explanation from PsychologyToday.com:

The amygdala is an evolutionarily primitive part of the brain located deep in the temporal lobe. It comprises several subregions associated with different aspects of perceiving, learning, and regulating emotions.

In plain English, the amygdala is responsible for our sub-conscious emotional reactions.

This part of our brain helped our ancient predecessors cope with the wild world around them – by avoiding danger and recognizing safety.

Your amygdala is what makes you afraid of the dark (here's an interesting article about a woman with no amygdala – who has no fear)

So here's the key: the emotional responses produced by the amygdala aren't directed by rational thought.

What that means, is that if you can communicate with someone's amygdala, you can motivate them to do things they wouldn't otherwise do.

Sort of like Jedi Mind control.

Storytelling: The Pathway To The Subconscious Brain

The amygdala doesn't understand words, it speaks and understands the language of emotion.

If you can cause someone to feel an emotion, you have a powerful ‘hook' into their psyche.

Do you remember the story I told at the beginning of this article?

The one about Luke and Obi Wan?

You may even remember what you felt when you first saw that movie scene.

As Luke's hovercraft is approaching the check point, you're thinking they're doomed.

There is no way out of this – they'll be caught and face certain death!

I distinctly remember how I felt when I first watched that scene – suspense and worry that they would be caught.

This is the power of a story.

Narratives and stories communicate directly with the subconscious brain.

Crafting Your Story

There are 3 steps to creating a story so powerful it moves people to action.

1. You must have a compelling idea or cause

This could be us vs. them. It could be God or religion. It could be government…or architecture. If you don't have a compelling cause or reason, then step 2 and step 3 won't work. Develop a compelling reason why someone must do what you want them to do. If you haven't watched Simon Sinek's TED talk, watch it now (18 minutes). Otherwise proceed to step 2.

2. Create a narrative around that idea or cause

You need to craft a story. And the story needs to contain the typical elements of a story: a hero, a protagonist, a conflict, a reversal, a resolution. Think of the Bible or the Koran – these compelling stories have shaped the fates of nations. Your's doesn't need to be as dramatic, but it must appeal to emotion.

3. Have a moral of the story that demands action

Your story will be hollow unless it invites and moves someone to action. Easy enough, huh?

There you have it, the 3-step formula to getting anyone to do almost anything (except the woman without an amygdala).

So how can you use this powerful principle as an architect?

There are many ways – client relations – anytime you need to convince someone of something or have them see your point of view.

If you want to dive deeper into how to use the power of story to be more convincing and persuasive, you must attend the upcoming Business of Architecture Summit.

Architect Collier Ward will be presenting on “Storytelling In Architectural Practice“. He'll be sharing how you can create a personal story that is compelling – and powerful for your architecture practice.

Get early-bird tickets and get access to all 12 sessions by clicking here.

So there you have it.

Harness the power of a good narrative, and you will be well on your way to becoming a true Jedi Master.

Just promise to use your new-found powers ethically and wisely.

[box type=”info” size=”large” border=”full”]

Author's Note: This post was written in response to the #Architalks theme “Architectural Storytelling”. Other archi-bloggers have also written about this topic. Visit their site and let them know you came from Business of Architecture!

Enoch Sears – Business of Architecture
@businessofarch
The Secret Ingredient To Convincing Anyone To Do (Almost) Anything

Bob Borson – Life of An Architect
@bobborson
Architectural Storytelling – It's My Thing

Matthew Stanfield – FiELD9: architecture
@FiELD9arch
Stories in Architecture

Marica McKeel – Studio MM
@ArchitectMM
Take the Time to Tell Your Story.

Jeff Echols – Architect Of The Internet
@Jeff_Echols
Architects can Improve their Marketing by Incorporating Storytelling

Lee Calisti, AIA – Think Architect
@LeeCalisti
architecture as storytelling

Mark R. LePage – Entrepreneur Architect
@EntreArchitect
AE048: Success Through Storytelling with Bob Fisher of DesignIntelligence

Evan Troxel – TRXL
@etroxel
It's Their Story

Lora Teagarden – L² Design, LLC
@L2DesignLLC
Architectural Storytelling: The Legacy of Design

Collier Ward – Thousand Story Studio
@collier1960
Architecture and Storytelling are Forever Linked

Cormac Phalen – Cormac Phalen
@archy_type
THE GENERATIONAL STORY – ARCHITECTURE AS STORYTELLING

Nicholas Renard – Cote Renard Architecture
@coterenard
The Story of a Listener

Andrew Hawkins, AIA – Hawkins Architecture, Inc.
@hawkinsarch
Architectural Story Books[/box]