Connection > Communication: Why “Data-Driven” Alone Doesn’t Move People—But Stories Do
We live in a business culture obsessed with being “data-driven.” Numbers, metrics, and dashboards dominate meetings. Don’t get me wrong—data is essential. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: data alone doesn’t move people. Facts can inform, but they rarely inspire. If you want to change minds, spark action, or create real influence, you need something deeper. […]
You’re Talking Too Much—And Listening Too Little: The Silent Barrier to Influence
I’ve been in enough boardrooms, sales calls, and leadership retreats to notice a consistent pattern. People think influence comes from saying more—more data, more slides, more reasons, more words. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the more we talk, the less we listen. And the less we listen, the less influence we actually have. If you’re […]
Connection > Communication: Why Surface-Level Messages Aren’t Enough
We live in an era of relentless communication. Notifications buzz our phones, emails fill our inboxes, and LinkedIn posts stream past our eyes like ticker tape. Everyone’s “communicating” all the time—but very few are actually connecting. At CI2 Advisors, I’ve seen firsthand how this glut of surface-level messaging leaves people numb. No matter how clever […]
Why People Tune You Out—and How Story Changes That
Why Your Message Isn’t Being Heard These days, people are drowning in communication. From Zoom meetings and email threads to instant messages and AI-generated briefs, the workplace is a flood zone of information. Yet something critical is being lost in the flood: attention. People don’t tune out because they’re lazy—they tune out because nothing about […]
From Information to Inspiration: Why Your Team Isn’t Buying In—And the Story You Need to Tell Instead
You’ve Shared the Plan. So Why Isn’t the Team Aligned? You’ve put in the work. You’ve defined the strategy. You’ve clarified the goals. You’ve even presented a compelling business case backed by data. And still, your team seems… flat. There’s minimal energy. Half-hearted agreement. Quiet resistance. You hear the “yes” but feel the hesitation. This […]
From Information to Inspiration: Why Data Alone Doesn’t Drive Change
The Overload of Information in a Data-Driven World We are living in the golden age of data. Across industries, professionals are empowered with dashboards, KPIs, algorithms, and predictive models. Organizations invest heavily in analytics to guide decisions, optimize operations, and measure performance. Logic suggests that with more data comes better results—more informed teams, smarter strategies, […]
The Real ROI of Human Connection in an AI-Driven Workplace
A New Era of Work—And What We’re Missing As artificial intelligence reshapes the modern workplace, productivity has taken center stage. Professionals are learning to prompt large language models, streamline workflows with automation, and extract insights from massive datasets. The pace is accelerating. The capabilities are impressive. But amid this digital transformation, one essential element of […]
Transformational Listening: The Most Underrated Communication Skill in Business
Listening Isn’t What You Think It Is In today’s workplace, communication is constant. Meetings, messages, pitches, presentations—professionals are expected to convey ideas clearly and quickly. But amid the rush to speak, share, and be heard, a crucial skill often goes ignored: listening. And not just passive hearing or polite nodding, but transformational listening—the kind of […]
How to Build Trust Through Story (Without Making It About You)
Trust Doesn’t Come From Telling. It Comes From Resonating. In an era where everyone is sharing, posting, and presenting, storytelling has become the gold standard of communication. It’s praised as the key to selling, leading, motivating, and connecting. And it’s true—stories are one of the most powerful ways to engage the human mind and heart. […]
Turning Complex Solutions into Compelling Stories with AI StoryBuilder
Questek innovations is a materials engineering and design company that empowers materials innovators. Founded by Dr Greg Olson, renowned materials scientist and professor at MIT, they have helped companies innovate with materials for over 20 years. Bill Mahoney, a seasoned software executive, was hired to lead the launch of a SaaS platform, ICMD™, that helps […]