The Power of Stories: Find, Craft, and Deliver Stories that Inspire

This blog is part of a three-part series on the power of storytelling in leadership. At The Humphrey Group, we’ve seen firsthand how compelling stories can inspire teams, build trust, and drive meaningful action.

Whether you're rallying a team behind a new vision, navigating change, or reinforcing your values, the ability to tell a compelling story helps you connect on a deeper level, build trust, and move people to action.

That’s why we created The Power of Stories™ , a program designed to help leaders bring meaning and emotion to their messages. In this series, we’ll explore:

• Why storytelling resonates so deeply 
• The Power of Stories: Find, Craft, and Deliver Stories that Inspire [below]
• From Data to Narrative: Bring Your Numbers to Life with Storytelling

Read on to discover how storytelling can transform the way you lead!

The Power of Stories

When leadership consultant Karen Eber took to the stage for her TED Talk, How Your Brain Responds to Stories—and Why They're Crucial for Leaders, she didn’t start by listing statistics or reading a dictionary definition of storytelling. What did she do? She started with a story, of course.

In this way, her talk wasn’t just about storytelling – it actively demonstrated its power. As she spoke, she pulled the audience in, activating their imagination and emotions, showing how stories resonate beyond facts alone.

Her approach was no accident. Our brains are wired to process and retain information in narrative form. It’s why we remember personal anecdotes more than bullet points from a slide deck, and why a great speech can stay with us for years while a quarterly report can be forgotten in days. A well-crafted story can turn statistics into something tangible that helps audiences feel connected to the data.

While understanding the science behind storytelling is crucial, leaders must also apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios.

How to Structure Stories That Resonate

To harness the full power of storytelling, leaders must learn to shape stories with intention. A well-crafted story has a clear structure that takes the audience on a journey. In our new program, The Power of Stories, we teach the STORY Framework.

The STORY Framework consists of five key components that provide leaders with a simple yet powerful approach to crafting narratives that resonate in any leadership context:

• S – Setting: Establish the context by setting the scene. By doing this, you immediately capture your audience’s attention, as they begin to visualize the situation and connect to the story.
  
  Example: "A few summers ago, I decided to learn to surf. I figured it couldn’t be that hard! So, I joined a beginner class, got suited up, and was ready to ride my first wave."
  
  
• T – Tension: Every compelling story has a problem to be solved or an obstacle to overcome. This element draws the audience in and creates emotional investment.
  
  Example: “Let’s just say, reality hit fast. I wiped out. Then again. And again. I was completely unable to find my balance and after an hour, I was exhausted, frustrated, and swallowing more saltwater than I was catching waves. I was ready to give up.”
  
  
• O – Opportunity: This is your chance to reveal an insight that can reframe a challenge as an opportunity.
  
  Example: "Then I noticed a kid, maybe around 12, paddling next to me. He didn’t seem to be overthinking it or trying to control the experience. He was just watching, waiting, and when the right moment came, he let the wave carry him forward. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, but he was getting way further than me. Then it hit me: Just as with other areas in my life, I was white knuckling surfing. It wasn’t happening for me, or even feeling fun, because I was fighting the experience.”
  
  
• R – Result: Provide closure by sharing the outcome. How did the story unfold, and what was the result?
  
  Example: "So I took a deep breath and decided to let go. And I actually – finally – caught a wave. It wasn’t graceful, it wasn’t long, but it felt great. And as cheesy as it may sound, it really taught me something.”
  
  
• Y – Your Message: Tie it back to the key takeaway. Why does this story matter, and what action should the audience take as a result?
  
  Example: "I may not have become a great surfer that day, but I realized the more I forced it, the worse it got. The moment I let go of my expectations, the experience changed. Isn’t that true for so many things? If we can allow ourselves to be in the moment and stop gripping the outcome so tightly, we may not only see better results, but we may actually enjoy the process.”

But crafting a compelling story is just one part of the equation. First leaders must recognize the moments that hold meaning, so they can then shape them into something that truly resonates.

Find and Craft Your Leadership Stories

One of the most common patterns our coaches observe in leaders who are just beginning to shape their stories is the persistent belief that they don’t have any stories worth sharing. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Great leadership stories don’t have to be dramatic or extraordinary. Instead, they often emerge from everyday moments of challenge, growth, or insight. The key is to recognize these experiences as opportunities to connect with others in a meaningful way.

Some of the most impactful narratives come from small, relatable moments – a lesson learned from a mistake, a shift in perspective after a conversation, or a challenge that required adaptability.

Once you start identifying these moments, the next step is to capture and refine them so you can draw on them when needed.

In our program, The Power of Stories, every participant begins building their own Book of Stories—a personal library of real experiences they can draw from to lead with authenticity and impact. It becomes a practical resource they return to again and again as they grow, reflect, and communicate to inspire.

Learn How to Captivate Your Audience

There is one more layer to storytelling as a leadership tool: stories are only as powerful as their delivery. Even the most compelling story can lose its impact if told in a way that feels rushed, monotonous, or disengaged. Powerful storytelling needs a narrator to bring it to life.

From vocal variation and strategic pauses to intentional body language, delivery shapes how a story is received. Effective storytellers know how to adjust their energy to match the tone of their message, engage their audience through eye contact and movement, and use pacing to build suspense or emphasize key moments. Even small adjustments, like a well-placed pause before a key takeaway, can transform how a message lands.

Mastering delivery takes practice. A lot of it. But the more you refine your approach, the more naturally you’ll be able to hold attention, inspire action, and create lasting impact through the power of narrative.

Unlock The Power of Stories

Storytelling is a leadership skill that builds trust, strengthens culture, and drives meaningful action. From one-on-one conversations to company-wide addresses, by honing their storytelling skillset, leaders can amplify their impact in every aspect of their communication.

That’s why we’ve created The Power of Stories, a program designed to help leaders tap into the full potential of storytelling. Are you ready to harness the power of storytelling in your leadership?

About The Power of Stories

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools a leader can use to build trust, inspire action, and create lasting impact. The Power of Stories is a signature learning experience designed to help leaders harness the art of storytelling, teaching them how to confidently deliver stories that inspire action. Ready to transform the way you communicate?