How to Tell a Good Story About Yourself: A Leader's Guide to Authentic Storytelling
Every leader needs to tell their story. Whether you're pitching to investors, inspiring your team, or building your personal brand, knowing how to tell a good story about yourself isn't just a nice-to-have skill – it's essential for creating meaningful change.
But here's the challenge: How do you share your story in a way that's both authentic and impactful?
The Three Essential Elements of a Powerful Personal Story
Through my work with hundreds of executives and innovation leaders, I've discovered that every compelling personal story needs three key elements:
A Transformative Choice
A Shift in Perspective
Authentic Emotion
Let me show you how these elements work together by sharing my own story of transformation.
My Journey to "The End of the World"
I remember one New Year’s Eve when the future looked impossibly bright. My wife and I had traveled to Italy with my two brothers and their partners. At midnight, we sat atop our AirBnB and toasted each other with champagne as we watched the fireworks exploding in every direction.
Oh, should I mention the year: it was January 1, 2020.
At the time, I was running a very successful storytelling training business. 2019 had been my best year. I had traveled all over the world, flying to New York, San Francisco, Paris, Bangkok… to deliver my seminars to big name corporate clients. Everything I did was in person. My future looked as bright as those fireworks. I was planning growth, expansion… my first million was on the horizon!
To make a long story short… well, you know what happened next….
Flash forward a year, and my business was tanking… fast. My year over year revenue had gone down 75%, and I was starting to panic. What was I going to do? Should I folllow the trends and started selling online workshops and courses, like everyone else? This direction “made sense”, but it didn’t feel right… But should I trust my feelings? Or, was there some other, more creative option?
It was a big choice, and I didn’t know which alternative I should pick.
In the middle of all this, I traveled to Europe with my wife to walk the famous Camino de Santiago. For day after day, I agonized about my crisis. Our destination was a tiny town overlooking the Atlantic called Finisterre… or, in English, “The End of the World.”
I felt like I was walking towards the End of the World, myself.
Finally, at long last, I spotted the famed lighthouse on the horizon. It was late in the afternoon. The shadows were long, and the light was golden. I felt a swelling of emotion in my chest.
Suddenly, as I approached, I realized that what I needed to leave behind was an old idea of myself. My old self was over, and something new—something creative!—was waiting in its stead.
But what did that mean? What’s the business model? Will I be a success? I felt overwhelmed by confusion and fear.
Then, as the sun dropped into the Atlantic, I heard an inner voice say: trust yourself. In that moment, I realized that my journey to the End of the World wasn’t an End. It was the beginning.
The pandemic lockdowns emptied city streets… and tanked my business in the process.
How to Structure Your Personal Story for Maximum Impact
1. Start with a Transformative Choice
Every compelling personal story centers on a moment of decision. It's not about listing achievements – it's about sharing the pivotal choices that shaped your journey.
What to Include:
The context leading to your decision
The stakes involved
The moment of truth
The unexpected outcome
2. Show Your Shift in Perspective
Great personal stories aren't just about what happened – they're about how events changed your understanding of yourself and your world.
Three Layers to Consider:
Text: The actual events
Subtext: The meaning beneath the surface
Context: The bigger picture that makes your story relevant
3. Connect Through Authentic Emotion
The most powerful personal stories create an emotional bridge between storyteller and audience. This requires vulnerability and authenticity.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
Why am I sharing this story?
What do I want others to feel?
How can I make this relatable?
What universal truth does my experience reveal?
Using Your Story to Create Change
The real power of personal storytelling isn't just in looking backward – it's in how your story helps others imagine and create better futures. This is where the practice of Backcasting becomes crucial.
Backcasting starts with envisioning your desired future, then works backward to create the narrative bridges that will help others understand and contribute to that journey. Your personal story becomes a tool for transformation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Telling Your Story
Focusing Only on Success
Instead, share the struggles and uncertainties
Show your human side
Include the lessons from failure
Being Too Polished
Authenticity matters more than perfection
Let your personality shine through
Share genuine emotions
Missing the "So What?"
Connect your story to your audience's needs
Make clear why your experience matters to them
Show how your insights can help others transform
Ready to Develop Your Leadership Story?
Crafting and delivering an authentic personal story isn't just about following a formula – it's about developing your unique voice as a leader. Through my workshops and consulting services, I help leaders:
Identify their most powerful stories
Structure narratives for maximum impact
Connect personal experience to organizational transformation
Use storytelling to drive meaningful change
Want to Work Together?
I offer:
Contact me to discuss how we can develop your authentic leadership story
Jordan Bower is a transformational storytelling consultant who helps leaders create meaningful change through strategic narrative development. Through workshops, consulting, and keynote speaking, he helps clients move beyond surface-level communication to create authentic narratives that drive real transformation.
