Why Most “Stories” Aren’t Stories at All

A storyteller once submitted this to me for What’s Your Story Slam:

And on it went: flights, snacks, temple closing for lunch.

It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t a story.

Here’s what broke my heart: this person had just shared a family adventure to one of the most sacred places on earth. But the way they told it? It could’ve been a trip to the grocery store. Donkeys swapped for shopping carts, chocolate snacks intact.

Their story was precious. They just didn’t know how to unwrap the gift.

The Secret Ingredient of a Story

A story isn’t “this happened, then this happened.”

That’s an anecdote. A vacation recap. And to an audience, it’s often torture — the kind you can’t fast-forward or mute.

A real story has one job:
👉 Show us change over time.

• I used to think this… then something happened… now I think differently.

• I was this kind of person… then something happened… now I’m not the same.

Change = story. No change = report.

And here’s where it matters most: the workplace.

I’ve sat through too many boardrooms where leaders buried powerful insights under data points and timelines. They had stories that could move people to action. Instead, they put people to sleep.

I once heard a CEO tell his “transformation story.” Twenty minutes of org charts and KPIs. Zero transformation. It wasn’t a story, it was a hostage situation.

The Stories That Land

The ones that show change:

• Our team was stuck — until one small decision shifted morale.

• The client thought X was impossible — until Y happened.

• I used to lead this way, now I lead differently.

That’s when people lean in.

Try This Tonight

The next time you tell a business “story,” pause and ask:

• What’s the before-and-after?

• Who changes — me, my team, or the client?

• What belief or behaviour is different because of this?

If you can’t answer, you don’t have a story yet. You have… a LinkedIn status update.

Because your stories aren’t just communication tools. They’re gifts. And the world needs what you have to offer — but only if you know how to share it.

You’re Not Boring. You’re Reporting.

And that’s fixable. Once you start looking for the change hiding inside your experiences, you’ll see stories everywhere. I’ve coached 300+ leaders to make this shift from information-dump to story-driven influence.

Upcoming Ways to Learn & Experience Storytelling

👉 Seed to Stage Online – Starts Sep 6
A 4-week storytelling bootcamp where you’ll turn everyday experiences into stories people lean in to hear.

👉 What’s Your Story Slam: The Great Escape – Sep 9 at Spectrum by Phil Studio
Eight storytellers. One night of raw, live stories. Every ticket comes with a vote — you decide the winner. Oh, and you’ll hear me tell a story too!
Yes, we have a new space — thank you for your help!

Know someone whose “stories” are really status reports? Forward this to them.

Big Hugs
Anna