The Power of Your Leadership Story

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By April Townsend
July 12, 2024

One thing I enjoyed as a kid was spending time visiting my Uncle Jess. I remember fondly how he always had a story to tell, often with a sparkle in his eye. He usually started with, “Once upon a time…” Then the hours would melt away as he would bring to life experiences, people and settings that seemed so different from my own.

I realized later how the stories he shared did a number of different things. While we certainly were entertained, through his stories we learned about the value of friendship, the importance of keeping your word and the satisfaction that came from helping others. He taught us about life.

Thinking about Uncle Jess has helped me more deeply appreciate the statement “when you choose to share your story, you share a piece of yourself.” He shared the things that his life experiences had taught him and through that he conveyed to us the things that he most valued.

Storytelling: A Useful Leadership Skill

Perhaps because of the influence of my Uncle Jess, I’ve always been particularly interested in the leadership story of President Abraham Lincoln. One of the things I’ve come to admire the most about him is the way he would use stories to educate, to connect people with different points of view or to inspire those around him to achieve a common goal. President Lincoln was known for seeing the potential in people and using his skills as an orator to encourage the development of that potential. His leadership legacy is filled with examples of how he used stories to teach and develop others.

Everyone has a story to tell. But until you decide to share it, no one can truly know your story. By sharing your leadership story, you can inspire those around you. While the people you work with may be aware of certain career milestones you’ve had and how you’ve advanced through the ranks, no one can really understand how those experiences have shaped who you are as a leader.

Crafting Your Leadership Story

Crafting your leadership story goes beyond the job titles and bullet points you include on your resume. Instead, your story revolves around the pivotal learning experiences you’ve had during your career, particularly those experiences that helped you gain clarity on the things you value.

Because leadership is about people, clearly communicating what great leadership means to you and to your organization can provide those on your team with a common direction and a shared understanding of the vision you have for the future. Making an effort to create clarity around your own leadership story, and then sharing it with others, can be quite powerful. It not only helps define what is important to you as a leader, it also creates a space for the life lessons that have informed your values and shaped you as a leader.

Getting Started

One of the most valuable ways to begin your own leadership story is to take time for reflection. This self-directed, informal process requires both curiosity and honesty. It’s looking at your career experiences in a way that helps you understand what worked and what didn’t. When you think about your own leadership journey, identify the times you’ve had to handle a new situation or navigate a conflict. Spend some time reflecting on struggles you’ve experienced, or how you’ve navigated conflict, disagreements or misunderstandings. As you explore your own leadership story, consider:

• As a leader, what do you value?
• What experiences have you had in your personal or professional life that make these values important to you?
• What have you found to be the most rewarding part of your career to this point? Why does this stand out to you?
• Was there a time when someone unexpectedly helped you or supported you? What did you learn from their support?
• What feedback have you received from someone that influenced how you viewed yourself as a leader?
• What challenging experiences (either personal or professional) have you had that have helped define who you are as a leader?
• What mistakes have you made that helped you learn more about yourself, others or your assumptions?
• What impact do you want your leadership to have on others? Who in your career has modeled that for you? (could be either a positive or a negative example)
• Finally, what is important to you about leading others?

Conclusion

As you refine your leadership story, focus on what you’ve learned, particularly how your experiences have contributed to what you value and how you think about yourself as a leader. Taking the time to do this can provide clarity on the skills you’ve developed, how your strengths and your weaknesses have shown up and how others may have helped you in ways you didn’t fully understand or appreciate at the time. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to share your story with others.

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Author: Dr. April Townsend has published numerous reports and articles focused on leadership, particularly the challenges faced by women leaders. She worked in the public sector for over 30 years, holding a variety of executive leadership positions. She is a credentialed International Coaching Federation coach and founded Townsend Consulting, LLC where she provides executive leadership coaching. Her email is: April@ Townsend.Consulting.  Twitter handle: @AprilT2014

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