The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: Why Communication is the Ultimate Talent

The longer I’ve been in leadership, the more I’ve realized the incredible diversity of talents among great leaders. Qualities like vision casting, decision-making, problem-solving, adaptability, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, strategic thinking, team building, negotiation, crisis management, coaching, financial acumen, time management, creativity, and resilience are all vital. But if I had to choose the most important talent a leader can develop, I would argue that it is communication—and at the heart of great communication is storytelling.

Miss America and the Story That Stole the Show

Miss Colorado, Kelley Johnson, demonstrated this beautifully in the 2015 Miss America pageant. Instead of a traditional talent performance, she stood on stage in her scrubs and a “doctor’s stethoscope,” delivering a powerful monologue about her experiences as a nurse. It was raw, moving, and unforgettable.

When TV hosts on The View mocked her for “not having a talent,” nurses across the country erupted in outrage. Why? Because storytelling—the ability to move people with words, emotion, and meaning—IS a talent. In fact, it may be one of the most powerful talents of all.

I love music. I sing every day, and I wish I had the grace of a pageant dancer. But if the purpose of talent is to capture hearts and change lives, storytelling might just be the greatest talent of all.

I would trade a thousand musical performances for one moment where a nurse like Kelley Johnson saves my life (or yours!) in a code blue. But perhaps, on that pageant stage, she saved even more lives than she ever could in a hospital room. Her story likely inspired thousands of people to pursue careers in nursing, medicine, and healthcare—forever shaping the future of patient care.

Why Leaders Must Master Storytelling

Storytelling is more than entertainment. It’s how we process the world, how we inspire action, and how we create lasting impact. Stories can build up or tear down, empower or manipulate, heal or harm.

Even the Miss America pageant itself seems to have recognized this. In recent years, its viewership has dropped dramatically—from over 7 million in 2015 to just a fraction of that. To revive interest, one thing they introduced was a TED Talk-style competition, giving contestants the opportunity to communicate meaningful ideas rather than simply showcasing traditional performance talents. Was this influenced by Kelley Johnson’s moment and the controversy it sparked? Perhaps.

More and more people are recognizing that the stories we tell define our lives, our teams, and our success.

Storytelling in Leadership

Great leaders don’t just give orders or present data—they tell stories that move people. Whether it’s guiding a team through change, resolving conflict, or negotiating a deal, the ability to communicate effectively through storytelling is what transforms ideas into action.

Without storytelling, even the best strategies remain just words on a page.

So, how can you use storytelling to inspire change in your team, your workplace, or your personal life? What’s the story you need to tell?