Ch. 9: Storytelling and Communicating as a Leader

The use of storytelling by a leader as a powerful means of communicating is the topic of today's blog. 

When thinking about the past conferences I have attended and the speakers that engaged me the most at each of these events, one thing does stick out.  That one special thing is the use of stories. If the speaker can engage their audience with a story, they are more likely to keep them engaged the remainder of the talk. I find that the type of self-help books that I am drawn to are the ones that begin with the author's story. Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl, is a good example of this. The story drew you in and the made the lesson of it all even more meaningful. 

Storytelling is also useful for those in leadership roles. The text describes the use of storytelling as a way for leaders to go beyond simply conveying information and to extend into the persuasion and influence of others (Daft, 2018). Rather than the command-and-control style of leadership that prefers to bark orders, this useful skill engages the employees and team members. Paul Smith, the author of Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives that Captivate, Convince, and Inspire, discusses five ways that storytelling can help leaders be effective. These include setting a vision, teaching important lessons, inspiring the organization, defining culture and values, and explaining who you are and what you believe (Schawbel, 2012). Good effective leaders understand that all these skills are necessary for growth in organizations. 

An important aspect of storytelling is the use of active listening, even as the story teller. Listening is also the first step used in the art of persuasion for leaders in the text. Good effective leaders know that being attentive and utilizing active listening is the first step towards influencing others (Daft, 2018). Active listening has a major impact on job effectiveness in general, as well as the quality of our relationships (Active Listening, (n.d.)). An effective leader will know what areas to emphasize in storytelling by utilizing active listening in all situations. They will know what will engage an audience and elicit more active listening from them. The use of non-verbals in active listening is another key for leaders who utilize storytelling.  Some of these non-verbals include smiling, eye contact, and head nods to engage the audience.  Engagement is essential in storytelling as a leader. 

Not everyone is gifted in the art of storytelling. For those who are, however, they are generally better at drawing engagement from others, which is key as a leader. 

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