Story Forward Leadership

“You can have the best technology, you can have the best business model, but if the storytelling isn’t amazing, it won’t matter. Nobody will watch.”

Jeff Bezos - Founder/CEO of Amazon

What is story forward leadership and how can it help you gain influence?

Story forward leadership is a narrative-driven approach where leaders use storytelling to inspire, motivate, and guide their teams towards a shared vision or goal. This method can effectively convey complex ideas, foster a sense of unity, and drive change.

It’s hard to believe Sheryl Sandberg once felt reluctant to share her own personal tale of tragedy in her public speeches. The former Facebook COO, masterfully delivers revealing, intimate stories in her talks, and these make her messages powerful and stirring.

One of Sandberg’s most effective uses of personal storytelling happened during her 2016 UC Berkeley commencement speech, after she tragically lost her husband Dave Goldberg to heart disease in 2015. Sandberg chose to harness the painful tragedy to deliver a talk which was profoundly affecting and inspiring.

She described her experience losing her husband, then explained how she was able to rise from her unbearable grief to become a stronger, more resilient person. She said, “…when life sucks you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again…you can choose joy and meaning.”

TIP: Be willing to be share your most humbling moments with people in your sphere of influence. They will respect you for your vulnerability. Emotional connection = greater influence in life and business.

Sandberg’s exhortation was powerful and uplifting despite its origin in a tragedy. She figured out how to unlock the power of a personal setback story for a presentation message which inspires and drives forward movement.