Two leaders I coach aspire to tell compelling stories. A no-nonsense leader might scoff, “Just the facts.”
Skillful leaders don’t simply share information. They create experiences.
- Facts fill minds. Stories move people.
- Narratives lower resistance. Advice is evaluated, but you enter a story.
- Examples outperform instruction.
- Stories bring ideas to life. The “Good Samaritan” gives life to “Love your neighbor.”
Why Some Stories Captivate
Tension invites people to lean in.
- Will the underdog prevail?
- Will the struggling leader figure it out?
- Will the company survive?
- Will the hero change?
No tension. No story.
Stories become compelling when someone struggles to get what they want. You engage with their journey. (The StorySelling Method)
Tension is the collision of reality with aspiration.
The 4 Scenes in Compelling Stories
- The situation: What was happening?
- The tension: What problem, obstacle, or conflict emerged?
- The resolution: What happened?
- The lesson: Why does it matter?
Example
I thought I was helping my team by answering their questions. Finally, one employee said, “You solve our problems before we have a chance to think.” That stung.
For the next month, I forced myself to ask questions before giving answers. The result? Ownership increased. I learned that leadership isn’t proving you’re smart; it’s helping others think.
Application
Every leader relates to the tension of trying to help but causing harm instead.
When you hear the story, you wonder, “Am I doing the same thing?”
Don’t begin with the lesson. Set the stage. Add tension.
Tension creates curiosity. Curiosity keeps people listening. The lesson satisfies curiosity.
Project: What can you share from your life that might move people?
The Vagrant – Leadership Freak
