How to Turn Facts Into Action That People Actually Want

Leading with heart makes your message more relatable and effective.

Facts alone aren’t enough to inspire action. Your message must connect emotionally if it's going to stick. Filling your presentation with data, charts, and bullet points will not do the job.

Have you ever sat through a presentation packed with statistics but left feeling unmoved? That’s because facts speak to the brain, but stories speak to the soul. Research from Harvard Business School shows that people are more likely to remember and act on information when it’s tied to emotion or personal experience. In other words, if you want someone to care, you have to make them feel.

So how do you do that? Start with empathy. Understand your audience’s concerns, hopes, and values. Then, frame your message in a way that shows you’re on their side. Use stories, analogies, or even a simple “I’ve been there too” moment to build trust. Facts still matter, but they should support your message rather than carry it.

In project management, this is especially important. Whether you're pitching a new idea or guiding a team through change, leading with heart makes your message more relatable and effective. It turns resistance into curiosity and transforms passive listeners into active partners.

The bottom line is that if you want to move minds, start by reaching hearts. Facts may inform, but feelings inspire. And when people feel understood, they’re far more likely to engage, remember, and act. That’s not just good communication—it’s leadership. Are you Communicating with FINESSE?

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The elements of the FINESSE fishbone diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics. Communicating with FINESSE is a not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops.