Storytelling In Corporate Presentations

I got fired twice because I had poor soft skills. Then, I became VP at Amazon, where my job was more than 80% based on soft skills. This was possible because I stopped being an outspoken, judgmental critic of other people and improved my soft skills. Here are 4 areas you can improve: Soft skills are one of the main things I discuss with my coaching clients, as they are often the barrier between being a competent manager and being ready to be a true executive. Technical skills are important, but soft skills are the deciding factor between executive candidates a lot more than technical skills are. Four “soft skill” areas in which we can constantly improve are: 1) Storytelling skills Jeff Bezos said, “You can have the best technology, you can have the best business model, but if the storytelling isn’t amazing, it won’t matter.” The same is true for you as a leader. You can have the best skills or best ideas, but if you can’t communicate through powerful storytelling, no one will pay attention. 2) Writing Writing is the foundation of clear communication and clear thinking. It is the main tool for demonstrating your thinking and influencing others. The way you write will impact your influence, and therefore will impact your opportunities to grow as a leader. 3) Executive Presence Executive presence is your ability to present as someone who should be taken seriously. This includes your ability to speak, to act under pressure, and to relate to your team informally, but it goes far beyond any individual skill. Improving executive presence requires consistently evaluating where we have space to grow in our image as leaders and then addressing it. 4) Public Speaking As a leader, public speaking is inevitable. In order the get the support you need to become an executive, you must inspire confidence in your abilities and ideas through the way you speak to large, important groups of people. No one wants to give more responsibility to someone who looks uncomfortable with the amount they already have. I am writing about these 4 areas because today’s newsletter is centered around how exactly to improve these soft skills. The newsletter comes from member questions in our Level Up Newsletter community, and I answer each of them at length. I'm joined in the newsletter by my good friend, Richard Hua, a world class expert in emotional intelligence (EQ). Rich created a program at Amazon that has taught EQ to more than 500,000 people! The 4 specific questions I answer are: 1. “How do I improve my storytelling skills?” 2. “What resources or tools would you recommend to get better in writing?” 3. “What are the top 3 ways to improve my executive presence?” 4. “I am uncomfortable talking in front of large crowds and unknown people, but as I move up, I need to do this more. How do I get comfortable with this?” See the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gg6JXqF4 How have you improved your soft skills?

Most people think storytelling is just for writers and filmmakers. But the best business leaders know better. They use stories to close deals, inspire teams, and build movements. After studying how the best in the world communicate, I noticed something fascinating. They don't wing it. They use specific frameworks that turn messages into movements. 💡 The Pixar framework? It turns any change story into something memorable. "Once upon a time, retail was only in stores. Every day, people drove to shop. One day, Amazon changed everything." Simple. Memorable. Powerful. 💡 Simon Sinek's Golden Circle works because humans buy into purpose before products. Start with why you exist. Then show how you're different. Finally, reveal what you deliver. Watch how Apple does this in every launch. 💡 The StoryBrand approach flips traditional marketing. You're not the hero. Your customer is. You're just the guide helping them win. 💡 The Hero's Journey isn't just for movies. It brings founder stories to life. The call to adventure. The obstacles faced. The transformation achieved. We see ourselves in their struggle. 💡 Three-Act Structure works because our brains naturally think this way. Setup. Conflict. Resolution. Beginning. Middle. End. It's how humans have shared knowledge forever. 💡 ABT (And, But, Therefore)? It's beautifully simple. Here's the situation AND here's the context. BUT something changed. THEREFORE here's what happens next. Clear thinking in three beats. These aren't scripts to memorize. They're lenses to see through. Each one helps you connect differently. Each one moves people in unique ways. The magic happens when you know which framework fits which moment. And sometimes, when you blend them together. Which one are you trying this week? ♻️ Repost if this resonates with you. Follow Desiree Gruber for more insights on storytelling, leadership, and brand building.

You’ve heard the advice, “Use stories in your presentations because people respond to stories!” Great advice. BUT… Your story won’t grab your audience’s attention and communicate your message unless it has these 6 elements. In fact, it could even have the opposite effect! Every story you use as the foundation of your high-stakes presentations needs to have: 1. A logical structure. A story needs a beginning, middle, and end with clear turning points between each section. Don't just jump between ideas randomly. Map your presentation flow on paper first so you can physically move sections around. The most persuasive structure builds toward your most important point. 2. An Emotional structure. In the middle of your story, create a rise of conflict where tension builds. This might be when your audience realizes their current approach isn't working or market conditions are changing rapidly. Plan moments where this tension rises before providing a cathartic resolve. Your audience will stay engaged through this emotional journey from tension to resolution. 3. A clear goal. The protagonist in your story must have something they're seeking–an objective that drives the narrative forward. In your presentation, position your audience as the hero pursuing something important. Whether it's reconciliation of different viewpoints or finding the solution to a pressing problem, make sure this goal is crystal clear. 4. Meaningful conflict. Every story needs the hero to face obstacles. This conflict might be with themselves, with others, with technology, or even with nature.  When preparing your presentation, identify what's standing in the way of progress. Is it internal resistance? Market challenges? Technical limitations? Acknowledging these conflicts shows you understand the real situation. 5. A resolution. Every narrative needs to resolve the conflict, though resolution doesn't always mean a happy ending. It could end positively (comedy), negatively (tragedy), or be inconclusive, requiring your audience to take action to determine the outcome. For business presentations, this inconclusive ending can be particularly effective as it prompts decision and action. 6. A lesson worth learning. While rarely stated explicitly (except in fairy tales), every story teaches something. Your presentation should leave your audience with a clear takeaway about what approaches to emulate or avoid. The quality of your story often determines the quality of your high-stakes presentations. Take time to really think through the stories you’re using. Hand-selecting the best ones will help you leave a lasting impact on your audience. #Presentation #StorytellingInBusiness #PresentationSkills

Everyone talks about big ideas, multilayered narratives, and endlessly complex campaign worlds, but..... Sometimes the most powerful brand storytelling comes from one simple, recognisable hook, played out consistently, creatively, and meaningfully across every touchpoint. And no one proves this better than Acne Studios 🎀 Each year, Acne takes its signature house bow, a single, tangible, deeply them brand element, and brings it to life in ways that feel festive, fresh, and unmistakably Acne. No long explanation needed. No dense narrative. Just a beautifully executed idea that says everything without saying much at all. The bow becomes a beacon. A gesture of gifting. A nod to craft and the creative process. A symbol of festive joy, wrapped in Acne’s iconic pink and scaled beautifully across formats. What makes it brilliant isn’t its complexity, it’s its clarity. You see the bow, and you instantly know the brand, the mood, the season, the story. From giant bows draped across facades, to tactile installations, CGI executions, social storytelling mechanics, window displays, product styling, and global touchpoints… the concept travels effortlessly. It adapts. It evolves. And yet it stays true. Because the strongest brand worlds aren’t always built from layers upon layers. Sometimes, they’re tied together by one smart, intentional, ownable asset, repeated, refined, reimagined, until it becomes part of the brand’s DNA. For me, Acne’s bow is a masterclass in: Storytelling without overexplaining. Consistency without repetition. The power of a single visual cue. Seasonal creativity done with restraint and impact. How to make a brand feel warm, festive, and human, but still unmistakably cool. It's a reminder that you don’t always need more. You need meaning. You need recognisability. You need a device that can stretch, scale, surprise, and still feel like home. Sometimes, the best campaigns aren’t wrapped in layers of complexity, they’re simply tied together with one clear, powerful idea that makes sense wherever you meet it. ________________ *Hi, I am Tim Nash. I help global brands build connected campaigns that resonate across every touchpoint. 🚀 #BrandStorytelling #ExperientialRetail #CreativeStrategy #DesignThinking #BrandExperience

Every human being lives in two worlds — the one outside and the one within. And, the bridge between the two lies in the stories we tell ourselves. These stories are not only reflection, but the architecture of our identity. Our inner narrative shapes our confidence, decisions and the way we interpret events.   Think about it: two people can go through the same experience — a setback, a missed opportunity, a difficult conversation — yet emerge with entirely different takeaways. One sees it as proof of inadequacy, the other as opportunity for growth. The difference lies not in the event, but in the story each person tells themselves about it.   Psychologist Dan McAdams describes this as narrative identity — the internal stories that create our sense of self. Studies have shown that people who tell “redemptive” stories (where setbacks lead to growth) report greater well-being and purpose. In other words, resilience is narrative before it becomes behavioural.   James Gross’s research on cognitive reappraisal shows that how we interpret events directly affects emotional outcomes. Essentially his idea states that changing how you think about a situation changes how you feel about it. People who use this approach experience more positivity, less stress, have better relationships and improved performance.   But long before modern psychology, spiritual traditions spoke about this. The Bhagavad Gita is, at its heart, a dialogue about reframing. Stoic philosophy teaches the same principle: “It’s not things that disturb us,” wrote Epictetus, “but our judgment about them.” Buddhism, too, frames suffering as a story of attachment and interpretation — liberation begins when we see that our narrative is not the ultimate truth but one possible version of it.   Our stories can shrink or expand the space we live in. When our internal narrative is one of scarcity (“I’m not good enough,” “This is always my luck”), we live in a world of limits. When it is one of growth and meaning (“I’m learning,” “This is shaping me”), we inhabit a larger, more empowered reality.   For leaders, this matters too. The story you tell yourself when faced with uncertainty and challenge becomes the story your team absorbs. The best leaders frame chaos into purpose and failure into learning. They understand that storytelling isn’t escapism; it’s how humans absorb change. Effective leaders reframe the story. “We failed” becomes “We learned” “The market shifted” becomes “We need to reinvent” They don’t deny the facts — they simply rewrite the meaning.   The ancient mystics and modern neuroscientists agree on one thing: the mind believes what it repeats. In the end, we live not just the life we experience, but the one we narrate to ourselves. The stories we tell ourselves can chain us in fear or propel us toward infinite possibility.   So, choose your story with care. Because while we may not always control the plot of our lives, we always hold the pen that writes the story we tell ourselves.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐈 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐢𝐧 2025? In today’s fast-paced business environment, stakeholders don’t just want data—they are hungry for insights to inform key decisions. Delivering that level of value requires going beyond traditional reporting. Here’s a framework I use to describe the three levels of reporting and how to elevate your team’s impact: 📊 𝐋0: 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐍𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤) This is foundational reporting—the “what” of the data. For example, a report might list customers' top product requests, leaving teams to interpret the data independently. While useful for making the data more available or accessible, this approach offers limited strategic value. 📊 𝐋1: 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤) Beyond providing general information, these reports add ‘observational’ context (what’s visible in the data) to the numbers. Either an analyst or AI agent 'single-clicks' into the report details, highlighting notable trends, patterns, relationships, or anomalies. This report version highlights that A, B, and C were the top product requests (all above 30%). It provides a key takeaway for stakeholders, making the report more informative and scannable. 📊 𝐋2: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤) This next level of reporting ‘double-clicks’ into what the data means (business context, strategic priorities, etc.) and potentially what actions should be taken. While it doesn’t offer a full analysis, it does represent a deeper interpretation of the results. At this level, the report highlights that requests A, B, and C were related to new security features—and adds that 90% of enterprise clients identified these features as top priorities. This progression represents what I call 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. While AI can excel at automating L0 and L1 reporting, 𝐋2 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 to provide the context, interpretation, and judgment necessary for strategic decision-making. 🚀 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐋3 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝? Once you move beyond L2, you’re entering the realm of analysis. This is where data storytelling becomes essential to translate your insights into compelling narratives that drive action. Teams that embrace narrative reporting position themselves as strategic advisors, not just data providers. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬? Let’s chat about how narrative reporting and storytelling can help your team bridge the gap between data and decisions. 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 📬 Craving more of my data storytelling, analytics, and data culture content? Sign up for my newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/gRNMYJQ7 📚Check out my new data storytelling masterclass: https://lnkd.in/gy5Mr5ky 🛠️ Need a virtual or onsite data storytelling workshop? Let's talk. https://lnkd.in/gNpR9g_K

Why narratives matter in policymaking - and what researchers can learn from them As a qualitative researcher, I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to make sense of complexity. In Narratives as tools for influencing policy change, Crow and Jones offer a useful framework for understanding the power of narratives for policymaking. The article outlines two common traps in policy communication: 🔷  The knowledge fallacy – the assumption that facts alone persuade 🔷  The empathy fallacy – the belief that authentic stories naturally evoke universal empathy Both overlook a crucial truth: people interpret information through the lens of their values, beliefs, and emotions. The authors propose a practical alternative: the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF). Rather than relying on instinct or anecdote, the NPF offers a systematic approach to understanding and constructing policy narratives. It identifies the key ingredients that appear across effective storytelling: 👉 Setting: the policy environment, including the social, legal, and institutional context 👉 Characters: heroes, villains, and victims who give the narrative moral texture 👉 Plot: the sequence of events linking causes and consequences, explaining how problems emerged 👉 Moral: the point of the story, often conveyed as a policy recommendation or call to action The strength of this framework lies in its applicability. It can be used by: 🔶 Researchers aiming to study how narratives shape policy debates 🔶 Practitioners seeking to frame issues in a way that resonates with specific audiences Crow and Jones also highlight where narratives can be used to influence policy: from defining problems and engaging with media, to shaping policy briefings and public consultations. This piece is a useful reminder that effective communication isn’t just about evidence or emotion- it’s about how we tell the story. #Policy #Storytelling #PublicPolicy #ResearchImpact

I rejected 47 portfolios yesterday. All beautiful websites. All great craft. All are getting rejected for the same reason. They're using websites for the WRONG thing. Let me be clear: Websites are PERFECT for your landing page. But for CASE STUDIES? That is where you are losing us. Why? You can't control the narrative when I control the scroll. Think about it: You spent 60 hours perfecting that case study ON YOUR WEBSITE. I spent 60 seconds scanning it. → Scrolled past your impact metrics → Skipped your process → Never saw your best work → REJECTED 🫠 Sound familiar? The designers getting $20K above asking? They split their portfolio strategy: Landing page → website (style, aesthetic, brand) Case studies → decks (narrative, control, story) "But Lena, everyone puts everything on their website!" Yeah. Everyone also gets rejected. Your website should be your gallery. Your first impression. Your vibe. But case studies need something different. After reviewing thousands of portfolios, I can tell you: Pitch wins for case studies. Every time. Here's why: 1️⃣ Total narrative control One slide = one message. Better narrative flow. Those "transition slides" with just "CONTEXT" or "IMPACT"? They reset my brain. They build anticipation. They control the story. 2️⃣ Analytics that actually matter Finally see if companies opened your work. Which cases they viewed longest. Where they dropped off. No more guessing - just data. 3️⃣ You're in the room (without being there) Record yourself presenting each case. Right there on the slides. Update typos without breaking links. Add missing metrics on Sunday night. Same link works Monday morning. The designer I hired at 20% above budget? STUNNING landing page on their website. Every case study? Linked to Pitch. They understood the game: Website = Your design gallery (set the vibe) Pitch deck = Your case narratives (land the job) See the difference? Different tools for different jobs. Together, they change everything. 🖤 #PoweredByPitch

Asking your people for stories doesn’t work. Here’s what does. I see this a lot. Leaders are excited about activating the power of story. So they say to their people, “send us your stories! (Written, or recorded on your phone.)” You’ll be disappointed by the results. You may get some good statements. But you probably will NOT get the rich, human stories you are looking for. 👎🏼 Your people aren’t used to this. 👎🏼 They don’t know what “good” looks like. 👎🏼 Or they don’t think they can tell great stories. This requires a bit of facilitation. Instead of saying “send us your stories,” what if you created a story event? Bring people together. (Virtual works.) Ask for the kind of story you’re looking for. Use “Tell me about a time when…” language. Share a simple story framework. Everyone responds to the STAR model because it is so simple. (STAR is Situation + Tension + Action + Result.) Or you can use my free Story Canvas to build a richer and more nuanced story. (DM me and I’ll send you the Story Canvas!) Have them build their stories, working individually. Then put them in circles to tell stories to each other! The circle format is essential for breathing life into the stories. Use a form to have participants capture their stories after the event so you can sort and review. (I have a form I can share with you. DM me and I’ll send it.) While you are focused on the outcome of gathering stories, something else significant is happening. 💥 People are connecting. 💥 They are building culture in the moment. 💥 They are activating the mission and values. 💥 They are building their own voice of leadership It is a powerful experience. They will say “wow, why don’t we do that more often?” 😊 What stories do your people need to tell? #storytelling #culturetransformation #leadershipdevelopment

If you are looking for a roadmap to master data storytelling, this one's for you Here’s the 12-step framework I use to craft narratives that stick, influence decisions, and scale across teams. 1. Start with the strategic question → Begin with intent, not dashboards. → Tie your story to a business goal → Define the audience - execs, PMs, engineers all need different framing → Write down what you expect the data to show 2. Audit and enrich your data → Strong insights come from strong inputs. → Inventory analytics, LLM logs, synthetic test sets → Use GX Cloud or similar tools for freshness and bias checks → Enrich with market signals, ESG data, user sentiment 3. Make your pipeline reproducible → If it can’t be refreshed, it won’t scale. → Version notebooks and data with Git or Delta Lake → Track data lineage and metadata → Parameterize so you can re-run on demand 4. Find the core insight → Use EDA and AI copilots (like GPT-4 Turbo via Fireworks AI) → Compare to priors - does this challenge existing KPIs? → Stress-test to avoid false positives 5. Build a narrative arc → Structure it like Setup, Conflict, Resolution → Quantify impact in real terms - time saved, churn reduced → Make the product or user the hero, not the chart 6. Choose the right format → A one-pager for execs, & have deeper-dive for ICs → Use dashboards, live boards, or immersive formats when needed → Auto-generate alt text and transcripts for accessibility 7. Design for clarity → Use color and layout to guide attention → Annotate directly on visuals, avoid clutter → Make it dark-mode (if it's a preference) and mobile friendly 8. Add multimodal context → Use LLMs to draft narrative text, then refine → Add Looms or audio clips for async teams → Tailor insights to different personas - PM vs CFO vs engineer 9. Be transparent and responsible → Surface model or sampling bias → Tag data with source, timestamp, and confidence → Use differential privacy or synthetic cohorts when needed 10. Let people explore → Add filters, sliders, and what-if scenarios → Enable drilldowns from KPIs to raw logs → Embed chat-based Q&A with RAG for live feedback 11. End with action → Focus on one clear next step → Assign ownership, deadline, and metric → Include a quick feedback loop like a micro-survey 12. Automate the follow-through → Schedule refresh jobs and Slack digests → Sync insights back into product roadmaps or OKRs → Track behavior change post-insight My 2 cents 🫰 → Don’t wait until the end to share your story. The earlier you involve stakeholders, the more aligned and useful your insights become. → If your insights only live in dashboards, they’re easy to ignore. Push them into the tools your team already uses- Slack, Notion, Jira, (or even put them in your OKRs) → If your story doesn’t lead to change, it’s just a report- so be "prescriptive" Happy building 💙 Follow me (Aishwarya Srinivasan) for more AI insights!