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How frequently do you use storytelling to influence and lead people?

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Leadership

SmartPulse — our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership — tracks feedback from more than 190,000 business leaders. We run the poll question each week in our e-newsletter.

Last week, we asked: How frequently do you use storytelling to influence and lead people?

  • All the time — I’m constantly telling stories: 45.03%
  • Sometimes — I tell a story on occasion: 43.91%
  • Rarely — I’m not known for telling stories: 9.29%
  • Never — I don’t use stories at all to lead: 1.76%

Use the power of stories. Influencing and leading through stories is a tremendously powerful skill.  While some may think storytelling is too much of an art or a soft skill, it’s actually a simple process and a skill you can readily build.  Find examples of great stories and pay attention to how they’re crafted.  The better you are at telling compelling stories, the more effective you’ll be as a leader.

Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS and author of “One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership.”