How using emotions to influence analytical colleagues can offer a win💡💬

Most of my clients in STEM love data 🧪📊 — and assume everyone else does too. But there are ways to be using emotions to influence analytical colleagues.

Here’s the secret:
Even the most analytical minds are deeply influenced by emotion.

When I sat down with Rachel — a brilliant client of mine — we uncovered just how powerful that could be.

She Was This Close to Retiring…

Rachel is one of those quietly impressive women — accomplished, respected, and calm under pressure.

She came to our coaching session wondering if it was time to retire. She and her husband were financially secure. She’d ticked off most of her career goals. “The politics at work just aren’t worth it anymore,” she told me.

Sounded logical. Rational. Done deal, right?

Not quite…

“I Just Want to Reach 500,000 Users” ❤️‍🔥

👉 So I asked her: “If you had all the time and freedom in the world… what would excite you right now?”

Without skipping a beat, and without mentioning the holiday or family plans I expected, Rachel said:
👉 “I’d love to see our project reach 500,000 users.”

She almost surprised herself with the answer. Her voice shifted. Her eyes lit up.

That wasn’t logic talking. That was longing, desire, motivation.
Something still mattered deeply to her.

Coaching Helped Rachel Find HerWhy 🔍

We unpacked what reaching that goal would mean to her. The project had already exceeded expectations but she felt it wasn’t done growing.

But her answer wasn’t about the numbers. It was legacy. Impact. Pride.

But then came the sigh…

😩 “But my team’s full of hard-nosed engineers. They’ll want more funding to take it to the next level, and I’ll have to convince them — again.”

So I asked:
👉 “What if you didn’t just give them numbers… but helped them feel something?”

Using Emotions to Influence Analytical Colleagues

We brainstormed ways she could stir up some excitement in the room as she thought about what had already been accomplished💥

📌 Add a few real user testimonials
📌 Ask: “How does it feel to see this project 5X expectations?”
📌 Or even: “What would it mean to grow this impact further?”

Rachel smiled. “That’s not how those guys usually talk… but maybe it should be.”

The Breakthrough Moment 🌟

By the end of the session, Rachel wasn’t just rethinking her pitch — she was rethinking retirement.

“I’ll step away one day,” she laughed, “but not just yet. I’ve got work to do — and I might actually enjoy this next part!”

Coaching helped her see that emotion wasn’t a weakness — it was her most powerful influence tool.

If You’re in a Similar Spot… Try This:

✨ What secretly excites you, even if seem like it will be hard?

✨ If that hard thing felt easier — what could that open up?

✨ How could emotion help your data land more powerfully?

Relevant Resource from The Times:

📖 Emotion is an essential part of every good business
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/emotion-is-an-essential-part-of-every-good-business-enterprise-network-qth89mjdr