There once was a leader who delivered the best Q2 performance review in company history. Everyone clapped politely. One person yawned. Another quietly updated their LinkedIn profile. They had every reason to be engaged, but they weren’t. Why? Because there was no emotional spark; just dry facts. It was like watching someone read a really enthusiastic obituary.
If you’ve ever wondered why your all-hands meeting doesn’t inspire, it might be time to ditch the death-by-data approach and try something else: storytelling.
You heard me: storytelling. It’s an ancient skill that built tribes, sparked revolutions, and – more recently – turned Succession into must-watch corporate drama. You might ask: What on earth has storytelling that cold, hard facts don’t? The answer: numbers explain. Stories connect.
Consider Succession’s Logan Roy. Yes, he’s a tyrant with the emotional warmth of a filing cabinet, but he understands narrative power. Every one of his children is hypnotized by the story he’s crafted about power, legacy, and “being in the room.” He didn’t build an empire with quarterly slides—he built it by controlling the narrative.
So why does this matter to you?
- People follow stories, not stats. The difference between “74% engagement” and “Let me tell you about the day our frontline team turned things around” is emotional impact. One gets archived; the other gets remembered.
- Your team wants to feel something. A story that sparks pride or purpose travels faster – and deeper – than a pie chart.
- You’re already a storyteller. Every time you explain your mission, share a challenge, or celebrate a customer win, you’re telling a story. The trick is doing it consciously and on purpose.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to be Shakespeare. You just need a carefully crafted beginning, middle, and end. It worked for cavemen, TED Talks, and Kendall Roy’s boardroom meltdowns. It can work for you too. So next time you want to connect with your team, ask yourself: What story can I tell? Make it real, make it human, and make it count.
If you want to learn how to turn storytelling into a powerful leadership skill, check out my course: The Powerful Presenter – Craft and Deliver Talks That Resonate.