The Power of Storytelling in Inclusive Leadership

One of the top priorities of an inclusive leader should be to ensure their team members are valued. Doesn’t this sound great? We can tend to err on the side of simply talking about value while lacking practical application. We can nod our heads in agreement, but until we find tangible ways to incorporate it in our leadership, the effects will be hit-or-miss. One of those tangible methods in your inclusive leadership is storytelling.

Why is storytelling important?

• It builds trust
  
  Anytime you, as a leader, take the initiative to relate to your team, to be present, to be real, and to be accessible, you build trust. Storytelling can break down walls, help you find common values with those on your team, and pave an effective path to relationship. We often desire others to feel welcome to share their stories, but have you shown willingness to open up in this way to your team? 
  
  Jennifer Brown sums it up well in an article called Using Your Diversity Story To Connect In The Workplace when she says, “As a leader, you start to step off the pedestal, and you open yourself up to connection.”
  
  Younger generations entering the workforce are desiring authenticity, which leads to a trust in leadership. It’s not about maintaining a polished and untouchable reputation. It’s about real stories, real struggles, and real storytelling. While this takes courage, you’ll see how each time you step out of your comfort zone to be real with your team, the rewards will outweigh the possible discomfort.

• It sets the tone for an inclusive culture
  
  You’ve probably heard the popular phrase, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Setting the tone for an inclusive culture means you open up the door for storytelling. There is value in sharing experiences and stories. But even more than that, there is power in it. The potential for a healthy workplace is waiting. Are you willing to create space for it?
  
  One key way you as the leader can set this tone is by sharing stories and experiences involving people different from you. Be intentional as you pursue an inclusive culture. An article in Forbes called, “What is Leadership Storytelling, Anyway?” gives great questions to ask when reframing your leadership around storytelling:

  • Would a story make a difference here? 

  • Would it persuade or motivate my audience? 

  • Would it clarify complex information? 

  • Would it establish a stronger bond between us? 

  • Would a story make a difference? 

You can count on a “yes” more often than not in each of those scenarios.

• It’s the most effective communication tool
  
  Let’s get scientific for a quick minute. What is happening in your brain when someone communicates through a story? In an article about storytelling from Interact, neuroscience research shows us four key things happening in a listener’s brain during storytelling:

  • Neural coupling: This happens during storytelling when a part of the brain kicks on and allows the listener to frame the story within their own experiences.  

  • Dopamine: The brain releases dopamine during emotionally-charged storytelling. This allows for stories to be easier to remember, and generally greater accuracy in the details are remembered.

  • Mirroring: Between the listeners and the storyteller, science shows there is actually similar brain activity happening in each brain. 

  • Cortex activity: The better the storytelling, the more your brain will activate various areas (Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, motor cortex, sensory cortex, and frontal cortex).

Beyond the brain activity, you’ll simply find storytelling to allow for better communication. Studies conducted and presented on social and behavioral science have shown how stories influence and improve the quality of organizational learning.

So whether you’re trying to communicate something or trying to build overall inclusive leadership, focus on storytelling. Tell your story. This will open the door for others to share their stories. And see how your team is strengthened by this practical step of inclusive leadership.