As most story tellers, of course, I had to start this article with a personal story before talking about how storytelling can build trust and lead to successful global leadership.
Back in 2017, my husband surprised me with a PlayStation game called Final Fantasy XIV. It’s a global, online fantasy game where players can fly, choose from a wide range of races, and interact with people from all over the world. Fantasy, diversity, and the ability to fly — he thought it was the perfect recipe to keep me entertained. His motto, after all, is, “Happy wife, happy life.” And he was right — at least about the game.
But what surprised me the most wasn’t the gameplay itself, although I loved it and still do. It was the way players talked about a certain “legend.”
This legend was called “Yoshi P.”
When Final Fantasy XIV first launched, it was a complete disaster. One of the worst game releases in history. The entire project was on the verge of collapse, and many believed it was beyond saving. But instead of letting it fail, Yoshi P — Naoki Yoshida — took an extraordinary approach. He shut the game down entirely. Then, he and his team rebuilt everything from the ground up. They called the new version A Realm Reborn.
The result? The game regained trust, won over players, and became a massive success. Fans now refer to the original, failed version as “Version 1.0” or “Legacy,” a reminder of how far it has come. Today, it stands as one of the longest-running MMOs in history — MMO stands for “Massively Multiplayer Online” — with an estimated 1.4 million daily active players and a total player base of over 68 million. (Data source: MMO-Population.com, February 3, 2025.)
Here’s a rare video capturing the final moments of Final Fantasy XIV before its legendary reboot. If you can’t see it due to your cookie settings, you can also watch it here.
Fortunately, someone recorded the last minutes before the game’s world was wiped and reborn, including the powerful cutscene that marked the transition.
Today, new players can’t experience these moments firsthand — this version of the game, along with its gameplay and original cutscenes, no longer exists inside the game. Instead, it lives on as part of the game’s lore, told as a piece of its rich history.
I often tell this story when I want to show that a massive failure can become a massive success — with the right mindset, the right attitude, and, most importantly, by truly listening to what the market wants. It’s a perfect example of a customer-driven mindset and how the environment for individuals can change depending on their own ways of thinking.
But today, I’m sharing this story with you for a different reason.
I want you to see the power of a well-told story. Yoshi P. didn’t just save a game (and the company’s pockets) — he became a legend. He’s so beloved by fans that he even became a character within the game itself. Why? Because he listens. He engages. He doesn’t just do great work with extraordinary performance; he shares the process — failures and successes alike — with the players. He walks the talk and talks the walk, a concept I recently shared in my book, Mastering Business Storytelling.
And that’s the real power of storytelling. It strengthens connections, builds trust, and turns both leaders and brands into something people truly care about.
In this article, I want to help you avoid the biggest storytelling mistakes leaders make. Here are five red flags to watch out for so you can craft stories that inspire, connect, and make a legendary impact.
5 Storytelling Mistakes Leaders Make (And How to Fix Them) 🎯
(Transform dull narratives into stories that connect and inspire.)
Great leaders aren’t just decision-makers — they’re storytellers.
Stories have the power to motivate teams, drive change, and establish strong leadership presence. Stories also aid in identity formation of the company culture. But even the most experienced leaders sometimes miss the mark. Below are five common storytelling mistakes leaders make — and how to fix them for maximum impact.
1- Focusing Only On Facts, Not Feelings
📊 A data dump isn’t a story. Numbers without emotion fail to engage.
✅ Fix it: Pair your facts with a human element — a relatable challenge or a moment of triumph.
Why it’s a mistake:
Leaders often rely on data to prove their points. While facts are essential for credibility, numbers alone don’t stir action. People connect with emotions, not spreadsheets.
Example:
Imagine an executive trying to inspire their team by saying:
“Our revenue grew by 15% this quarter.”
Sounds good, but it lacks emotional weight. Now, consider this alternative:
“Three months ago, we faced a tough challenge — customer churn was at an all-time high. The team rallied and revamped our approach, and as a result, we didn’t just slow the decline — we grew revenue by 15%! That’s the power of persistence.”
By adding struggle and human effort, the same fact becomes inspiring. Trust this from someone who worked in finance for almost 2 decades and learned this lesson the hard way. Facts alone are not only boring, but they miss the human connection element that can drive the action.
💡 Tip: Next time you share data, ask yourself, “What’s the human story behind these numbers?”
2- Skipping The Conflict
📉 Stories without tension are just timelines. Conflict keeps your audience hooked.
✅ Fix it: Highlight the obstacle you or your team faced and how you overcame it.
Why it’s a mistake:
A great story isn’t just a list of events. It needs a problem that creates suspense and keeps people engaged. Without tension, it’s just a corporate update. Don’t be afraid to share the struggle.
Example:
A leader might say:
“We launched a new product, and it became a success.”
That’s not a story — it’s an announcement. Instead, build the narrative by adding conflict:
“When we launched the new product, early feedback was brutal. Customers were frustrated with our interface. Our team had to act fast — we revamped the UX, tested new versions, and in three months, we turned a near failure into a market success.”
Notice how tension (customer frustration) makes the success feel earned rather than assumed.
💡 Tip: Think of any movie or book — there’s always a challenge before the resolution. Your business stories need the same structure.
3- Forgetting The Audience
🗣️ A great story loses impact if it doesn’t resonate with the listeners.
✅ Fix it: Tailor your story to their needs. Ask yourself, “What do they care about?”
Why it’s a mistake:
Not all audiences need the same story. A financial team might care about numbers, while a frontline team values real-world impact. If your story doesn’t align with what they value, they won’t engage.
Example:
A CEO presenting to investors may say:
“Our customer service satisfaction score is up 25%.”
Investors care about financial results, so instead:
“Our improved customer service increased retention by 10%, leading to a projected revenue boost of $3 million.”
For the customer service team, a better version might be:
“Your hard work has paid off — customer satisfaction is up 25%! More happy customers mean fewer complaints, more referrals, and a stronger brand.”
💡 Tip: Before crafting a story, ask:
- Who is my audience?
- What do they care about most?
- How does my story connect to their priorities?
4- Overloading The Details
📚 Too much information overwhelms and dilutes your message.
✅ Fix it: Stick to the essentials — Who? What? Why? How? — and keep it concise.
Why it’s a mistake:
A story with too many details loses focus. The more unnecessary details you include, the harder it is for your audience to grasp the main takeaway.
Example:
A leader might say:
“Three years ago, in April, we faced a sudden crisis. Our primary supplier, who we’d worked with for 12 years, unexpectedly shut down, causing delays. We then considered six alternative suppliers and eventually settled on one from Germany, which led to negotiations over three weeks before finalizing the contract…”
That’s too much! Instead, streamline it:
“Three years ago, our supplier shut down unexpectedly, putting operations at risk. We had to move fast — after careful selection, we secured a reliable partner in weeks, ensuring zero disruptions for our customers.”
💡 Tip: If a detail doesn’t support the main point, remove it. Keep your story lean and impactful. I know that depending on your cultural context, this might be hard. Use technology and AI to help you if you need a starting script!
5- Ending Without A Takeaway
🎬 A story without a lesson is just entertainment. Leaders need to inspire action.
✅ Fix it: Wrap your story with a clear insight, lesson, or call to action.
Why it’s a mistake:
People remember stories with meaning. If your story lacks a takeaway, it becomes forgettable. The best leadership stories drive action or spark reflection.
Example:
A leader might conclude a speech by saying:
“And that’s how we completed the project.”
That’s not a takeaway — it’s just an ending. Instead, offer an insight:
“This experience taught us that teamwork under pressure isn’t about avoiding mistakes — it’s about learning fast and adapting. So the next time you face a setback, ask yourself: What’s the lesson here? That mindset shift makes all the difference.”
💡 Tip:
- End your story with “So what?” What should people take away?
- Inspire action: “Try this next time.”
- Make it memorable with a short, impactful phrase.
Bonus Story: The Power of Storytelling Across Cultures
Storytelling isn’t just a tool for leaders — it’s an ancient practice that has shaped civilizations, passed down wisdom, and preserved cultural knowledge with community values for generations.
In many cultures, oral stories were a bridge for knowledge, the primary way to share history, teach life lessons, and unite communities. From the fables of Aesop to the legends of the Indigenous people, countless stories have influenced the way people think, act, and lead.
Take, for example, the African proverb: “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” This saying highlights how the art of narrative shapes perception and power. It’s a reminder that those who tell the story control the message — and in leadership, controlling the message can mean the difference between alignment and confusion, trust and skepticism.
In contemporary life, we see how the potency of storytelling serves various purposes — shaping political speeches, driving brand marketing, enhancing leadership communications, and even fueling social movements. The most impactful leaders are those who use narrative discourse strategically to inspire action, rally teams, and navigate complex challenges.
The takeaway? Contemporary storytelling plays a crucial role in human life and in shaping how people see you and the decisions you make. Leaders — and even the common person — who master storytelling create influence that lasts.
The Art & Applications Of Storytelling In Leadership
Great leadership isn’t just about making decisions — it’s about making those decisions resonate. That’s where storytelling comes in.
The art of storytelling draws people in, making abstract ideas tangible and memorable. Leaders who know how to tell the right story at the right time can navigate strategic challenges with confidence. Whether it’s motivating a team, pitching an idea, or reinforcing company values, storytelling creates emotional engagement that numbers and logic alone cannot achieve.
But storytelling in leadership goes beyond the artistic elements of oral stories and boardroom speeches. Today, digital storytelling has transformed how leaders communicate. From TED Talks to viral LinkedIn posts, leaders use digital platforms to tell their stories, build credibility, and inspire change at scale.
If you want to focus on the development of storytelling skills and apply them effectively in your leadership journey, my book, Mastering Business Storytelling, is designed to help. It dives deep into the applications of storytelling in leadership, showing you how to craft narratives that influence, inspire, and drive action. It’s also a great tool for coaching to individuals who want to learn, apply, and practice storytelling, equipping them with the skills to craft compelling narratives that enhance their leadership and communication.
Storytelling isn’t just a skill — it’s a strategic advantage. And the best part? It’s something you can learn and master.
Watch The Book Trailer:
Ready to elevate your storytelling? Get your copy of Mastering Business Storytelling today and start turning your stories into leadership superpowers.
Final Thoughts: Great Storytelling Is A Leadership Superpower
When done right, storytelling doesn’t just entertain — it inspires, influences, and drives action.
📌 Here’s your quick recap:
✅ Pair facts with emotions to create connection.
✅ Introduce conflict to make your story engaging.
✅ Tailor your story to match your audience’s needs.
✅ Keep it concise — cut unnecessary details.
✅ End with a powerful takeaway that leaves a lasting impact.
Next time you craft a leadership story, ask yourself: Does this engage, inspire, and drive action? If yes, you’ve nailed it.
At the end of the day, great storytelling isn’t about being the most charismatic speaker or having the most dramatic stories. It’s about exploring the critical element of connection.
A good story makes people feel something. A great story makes them remember it, act on it, and maybe even retell it. And that’s what makes storytelling such a powerful tool for leaders.
So whether you’re pitching an idea, rallying your team, or explaining a tough decision — use storytelling to make it stick.
Because the right story, told the right way, doesn’t just inform. It transforms.
If you are looking for a leadership development partner and consultant to help you master storytelling as a leadership tool, avoid common storytelling mistakes, and craft stories that truly connect and inspire, you can hire me as your executive and development coach. Have a Free Strategy Call with me. We will go over your specific situation, and devise together a methodical but fun way to turn your tables on this matter. We will implement practices and ideas together during our coaching journey so you can feel more confident and poised.
If you are interested in developing specific global leadership skills, personally or team-wise, check out our online Global Executive Leadership program. We go over all The Global Leadership Pillars™ during 9 online modules, specially meant for global leadership development. It’s a unique leadership training methodology that will change the way you think, relate, and strategize as a global leader. You can also subscribe to our global leadership podcast, The Leadership Nest.
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