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Develop Your
Storytelling Skills
Harvard Business + Follow
Review
Improving the practice of
management
Published Oct 11, 2023

Every leader knows storytelling can be a

powerful tool. But what kinds of narratives
are most effective? That depends on what
you’re trying to achieve. Here are three
types of stories you can use — and when
to use them.

Trust stories humanize you as a leader.

When you demonstrate vulnerability by
sharing a personal story, others will be
inspired to reciprocate, creating a virtuous
circle of trust.

Teaching stories allow you to simplify

complex topics by providing easy-to-
follow models for behavior and skills. While
a trust story is built around you, a teaching
story can also be an indirect narrative —
using someone else’s story, a fictional one,
or a parable to deliver your message. Just
make sure your audience can identify and
empathize with the protagonist so that
they want the same thing for themselves.

Action stories inspire people to do

something. With these, you want to leave
the audience thinking, “If we do this (insert
your desired action here), then we will get
that (the desired result).” Entrepreneurs
can use action stories to launch new
business ideas. Senior leaders might use
them to inspire organizational change.

Read the article: "5 Types of Stories

Leaders Need to Tell," by Nick
Westergaard

Learn more:

What’s Your Leadership Origin Story?

Your Strategy Needs a Story

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Tip of the Week
4,736,917 followers

Michelle Charles 54m

Trainer | Teacher | Writer | AI

I love this! I've recently started sharing

stories of my career change journey and
how I have tapped my sense of resilience to
help carry me through. Storytelling is the
new superpower!

Like · Reply

Alexandre Daumain 55m

Directeur Expérience Client Groupe chez Nexity

Thomas Fauchon & Laura Bianchin

Like · Reply 1 Reaction

Moola Sipalo 1h
Head Domestic Operations at United Bank For A…

I love this perspective, the best leaders I

have had the opportunity to work with were
also great story tellers and I still use the
knowledge from their stories, this is an
important skill

Like · Reply

Beatrice Ngalula Kabutakapua - … 1h

Business Storytelling Coach & International Spe…

Every leader *does not* know storytelling

can be a powerful tool. And that’s a missed
opportunity.

From coaching and training hundreds of

leaders in storytelling, I understand how
difficult it is to step out of the corporate
communication to actually share a story.

My invitations are:
- start small,
- look at your own stories too
- listen to more stories

It’s amazing the effect it has on how you

bring teams to take action

Like · Reply

Nnaemeka Emmanuel M.Tech, CS…1h

Project Management | 17+ Years in Production O…

So true! storytelling is a powerful tool to

engender the much needed organic
connection between the leader and
subordinates. It helps humanize their vision
and inspires all to a shared journey towards
a common goal.

Like · Reply

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