I went psycho in the gym this morning

I turned the whole place upside down searching for my phone. My trainer Phil, watched me and suggested, ‘Do you think you left it at home?’ Doh! That’s exactly where my phone was. Safe on my bedside table.

Before you judge me, please try this test. Put your phone in the next room for 30 minutes. Every time you feel the urge to check it, make a mark on a sheet of paper.

Don’t be surprised if, at the end of 30 minutes (hats off if you last that long), your sheet looks like a raccoon on meth attacked it.

Congratulations. You just completed the popcorn brain test, designed by Harvard physician Dr Aditi Nerurkar. Popcorn brain describes your brain’s constant jump from thought to thought, like popcorn popping.

As a leader, you’re contending with popcorn brain every minute of every day when you try to connect with your people.

Should you fight fire with fire? Conduct your next town hall as TikTok videos? Maybe not. Nothing is more embarrassing than watching your mum or dad try to be cool on TikTok.

There’s one technique that still works. Lean on the brain’s ancient wiring: storytelling.

Ideally, every time you speak, your audience hangs on your every word. Realistically, they are also thinking about lunch, Slack, school pick-up and whether they replied to that email from Brenda in Accounts.

But a good story gives their restless brains somewhere to land. It helps them understand what matters, remember it and do something with it.

Now is a great time to use that EOFY budget on a Storytelling Masterclass with me. It might be one of the best investments you make before June 30.

My Storytelling Masterclass is for you if you want people to stop nodding politely and start understanding, remembering and acting on what matters.

Please reach out to book a time for a conversation.