Why Personal Stories Are the Best

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Over 30 years ago, I found myself at the advanced base camp of K2 in Pakistan. It was remote, wild and completely inhospitable. At 4.00am, I climbed a pass at 5,600 metres, without technical equipment, and as a solo team. It was the craziest — and most life-threatening — thing I’ve ever done.

I often think back to that trek when I talk about communication. Why? Because it carries powerful lessons.

Sometimes, I share the story in workshops to talk about teamwork: how I succeeded that day thanks to the team ahead of me, and the way they had to communicate and collaborate to reach their goal. Other times, I use it to talk about courage: trusting my guide, embracing uncertainty, and taking a leap of faith even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.

That’s the power of personal stories. They are relatable and deeply human. And because they are personal you can relive and refeel them.

Because the goal of communication isn’t information — it’s connection. And nothing connects more deeply than a story.

We crave them. They build empathy and rapport. Especially in the corporate world, where so much of what we hear can feel dry and abstract, a story cuts through.

And yet, most stories I hear in presentations fall flat. Why? Because they drag on too long, the delivery is flat, or the link back to the message is missing.

So, how do you make your stories work for you?

Here are five tips:

1. Set the scene

Say who was in the story, when it took place, and where. Give just enough context to ground your audience.

2. Bring characters to life

Use your voice, your body, even your position in the room to shift into different roles. Role play to bring the story to life.

3. Paint a picture

Make it vivid. Describe the scene, the people, the sounds, the sensations. The more sensory detail, the stronger the audience connection.

4. Watch your timing

Allow no more than one minute to set the scene. Two to three minutes maximum for the whole story. Brevity is key.

5. Link it back

Always connect your story to your communication goal. Otherwise, it’s just an anecdote.
You might say:

  • “The reason I’m telling you this is…”

  • “This illustrates why we must…”

  • “It’s relevant to us because…”

That’s how a personal story moves from “interesting” to “impactful.”

I wrote a blog back in January 2024 on storytelling in business presentations. That one shared the principles of storytelling. This one is more personal — because when you live your story, your audience can feel it. And that’s when connection truly happens.

And if you’d like me to run a workshop or group coaching in your organisation — whether as part of learning and development or a team event — why not book a call with me and let’s explore how stories can transform the way your people connect and communicate.