I recently had the pleasure of joining Nadia V. Gil on her Leadership, Strategy + AI podcast to explore a topic that sits at the heart of my work: how storytelling in leadership is not just still relevant—but more essential than ever.
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Why Storytelling in Leadership Still Wins
We’re living in an age of generative AI, instant content, and decision fatigue.
But no matter how much technology advances, people still follow people, not just data. And people are moved by stories.
Storytelling is the fastest way to create empathy, build trust, and spark action—especially in high-stakes or high-complexity environments.
“Storytelling is the quickest, cheapest, and deepest way to influence.”
It’s also the skill that connects strategy to execution, and culture to behavior.
What AI Can—and Can’t—Do
I’m excited about AI. I use it. It accelerates productivity and enhances creativity.
But let’s be clear about what it can’t do—yet.
“AI is a great co-author. It’s a terrible author.”
Storytelling in leadership requires judgement, timing, vulnerability, and lived experience. AI can help shape a message, but it can’t replace the meaning behind it. And it certainly can’t replace you as a leader.
Why I Care: From Fiction to Strategy Rooms
I left school at 15 to write novels. By 17, I was a published author, giving talks around the world. That’s when I learned that you can have brilliant ideas—but if you present them abstractly, you lose the room.
Later, I worked alongside senior leaders at a UN partner organization. These were seasoned diplomats, generals, CEOs. But even they sometimes bored the room—until they told a personal story. That’s when everyone leaned in.
That contrast shaped my career. Today, I teach leaders to bring strategy, values, and culture to life through story.
Storytelling Is the Bridge Between Culture and Strategy
Your strategy may be brilliant. Your culture may be well-intentioned.
But if your people can’t imagine it, they can’t implement it.
“Culture is what people do when no one’s watching. And culture is shaped by stories.”
Storytelling aligns behavior with purpose. It’s how you scale beliefs, not just broadcast instructions. That’s why I often refer to this work not as “business storytelling,” but mission-critical storytelling.
Want to learn more about that? Check out my Business Storytelling keynote.
How to Build Your Leadership Story Muscle
You don’t need to be a novelist. But you do need to be intentional.
Here’s where to start:
1. Capture Stories
Start your personal story bank. Use Notion, Google Keep, or anything searchable. Tag stories by theme: leadership, failure, innovation, team wins.
Need a system? I teach this in my Storytelling Trainings.
2. Know Your 3 Power Stories
Have these ready:
- Vision Story – what future are we building?
- Origin Story – why do we do what we do?
- Change Story – why can’t we stay the same?
You don’t need 50 stories. You need the right 3 to start.
3. Use Stories Every Day
Don’t save stories for your next keynote. Use them in meetings, onboarding, 1-on-1s. Storytelling in leadership works best when it’s part of your daily communication style.
Want to Influence Without Manipulating?
Leaders today are pulled in too many directions. Communicating clearly shouldn’t be another drain.
That’s why I wrote Business Storytelling: From Hype to Hack—a short, practical guide to help you put storytelling into practice on day one.
Because let’s face it: the best story wins.
Let’s Talk
If you’re a senior leader or team looking to align strategy, culture, and communication through story, get in touch. I offer:
- Keynotes & learning journeys
- Executive coaching
- Team storytelling intensives
Let’s make your strategy stick.
Jyoti Guptara is a bestselling author, keynote speaker and story strategist. His Story-based consulting and training programs help leaders successfully implement strategy so they and their teams can experience more success with less stress.
Jyoti is a business storytelling expert based in Switzerland. He serves as MD of Europe at Momenta, a global corporate training company.