Not only is it possible for your brand to have emotional intelligence…it’s crucial.

One of the ways your brand can have emotional intelligence is by strategically using stories that demonstrate empathy with your client.

Here’s what I mean by that.

If you’re an entrepreneur or a financial professor, then it’s highly likely you sit across from prospective clients—either at your desk or virtually over Zoom—multiple times a week.

They may be meeting you for the very first time, and a good way to start is to ask them a question that gets them to open up. Personally, one of my favorite questions to ask is, “What made you want to invest the time to talk with me today?”

A question like this will invariably get them to open up and share some of the challenges they’re facing.

Now, here’s where you need to be careful.

Oftentimes, we’re quick to jump into “solution” mode. You may get excited, thinking, “I have an answer to this problem!”

But here’s the thing: before you jump into solution mode, you need to be emotionally intelligent.

Before launching into all the different answers to the problem, you need to be able to empathize with your client, and say, “You know, I’ve had an experience just like this,” or, “I’ve worked with a client whose been in your exact shoes, and I want to share their story with you.”

Being able to be present with your client and empathize with what they’re going through FIRST is so much more important than diving directly into solutions.

It’s crucial that your client feels heard. You want them to feel that you understand them, relate to them, and aren’t immediately trying to sell them something.

Once they know this, then you can say, “I’d love to use the same systems I use with my other clients to get those same results for you. Would you like to take a look?”

See, it’s so important that you emotionally connect with your client BEFORE jumping headfirst into the nitty gritty of solving all their problems.

Remember: the people you work with are humans first, and clients second.

This mindset is not only going to be fulfilling for both you and your clients, but in the long run, it’s what is going to grow your business, too!