*What’s the one thing your brain loves more than a happy ending?*

A *surprise*.

Not a twist for the sake of drama.
But a moment that breaks the pattern–just enough to wake up the brain.

Here’s the science:
A 2023 study published in *Nature Human Behaviour* found that **prediction errors**–moments when the brain’s expectations are violated–trigger a dopamine release.
That’s the same chemical linked to motivation, learning, and memory.

So when your story takes an *unexpected* turn, your audience doesn’t just notice.
They *remember*.

Try this:
Add a *micro-plot twist* to your next story.
It doesn’t have to be huge–just something that shifts the direction.

Examples:
[?] “I thought the meeting was going to be a disaster. It turned out to be a promotion.”
[?] “We built the product for one audience. The people who loved it? Completely different.”
[?] “I was sure I’d failed. Then the client said, ‘That’s exactly what we needed.’”

That moment of surprise = attention spike.
It keeps your story sticky.

One thing to try:
Take a story you’ve told before.
Now ask: *Where can I add a small twist that flips the expectation?*
Even a 5% shift can create a 100% stronger impact.

Because the best stories don’t just inform.
They *interrupt*.

#Storytelling #BusinessCommunication #PresentationSkills #NarrativeStrategy #PublicSpeaking #LeadershipDevelopment #NeuroscienceOfStorytelling #ExecutivePresence #EmotionalIntelligence #AudienceEngagement