No shocker there. the repetitions. They “enable people to emotionally connect to a song without trying very hard,” says Spotify, summarizing the Goldsmiths analysis.
The same works for delivering a message. Consider, for example, all of the refrains in Nike’s commercial “Toward the end, the commercial becomes quite repetitive, using the word “crazy” 13 times. If there’s one thing viewers will remember about this ad, it’s the word “crazy.” This prepares them to remember the final line: “It’s only crazy until you do it.” Repeating an important word or phrase can prepare your audience to receive and retain your main point.
But the story arc itself—the underdog whose oddity becomes useful—fits a classic plot people find appealing time and time again. It’s the narrative of a group of under-appreciated office workers landing an opportunity to pitch their idea to a high-ranking boss. But even more than that, it’s the story of how they used Apple products as they prepared their pitch.
The leadership storytelling lesson? While audiences are hooked on a classic narrative and rooting for the underdog, they can also absorb other messages. You can deliver important information in a way they will enjoy. Whenever life is stressful, rushed, or even annoying— as it can be at the end of the year— we can learn to look for the leadership lessons. Stories are all around us, which means that leadership storytelling lessons are hiding in plain sight .