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In this episode, I’m joined by Yarona Boster to explore a topic many leaders ask about- how to speak in a way that truly engages and connects.
We often think it is about saying more, adding more detail, or sharing all that we know. In reality, it is the opposite. The most effective communicators are not focused on what they want to say, but on what their audience needs to hear.
We explore why storytelling is such a powerful leadership tool to create connection, clarity and understanding. From one-to-one conversations to large presentations, the principle remains the same. Start with the listener, not yourself.
Yarona shares her perspectives on how to use storytelling in a way that feels natural and relevant. This includes using simple examples, universal experiences and metaphors, rather than long personal stories.
Yarona Boster is an Advanced Certified Life Coach, Certified Speaker Coach, TEDx speaker, TEDx event moderator, and 2x international best-selling author with nearly 2 decades in human development, psychology and coaching. She helps people craft emotionally resonant messages for world stages, and empowers people to lead and connect with empathy, resilience, and purpose through transformative communication.
What you will learn in this episode:
- Why storytelling is about connection, not performance or volume
- How to focus on what your audience needs to hear, not what you want to say
- The difference between stories, examples and metaphors, and when to use each
- How to open with curiosity to immediately engage your audience
- Why strong endings create clarity, direction and hope
- How to communicate with confidence, even when you do not have all the answers
- Why letting go of perfectionism unlocks greater leadership impact
When you communicate, are you focusing more on your message or your audience?
Where could you use curiosity to engage your audience more effectively?
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Episode overview:
How often do you find yourself trying to explain more, add more detail, or prove your point with more evidence, data or information?
It is something I sometimes see with the leaders I work with. The intention is good- to communicate clearly, credibly and persuasively, but the result is often the opposite. Too much information can create distance rather than connection.
In a recent podcast conversation with Yarona Boster, we explored a powerful shift- storytelling is not about saying more, but saying what matters, in a way that connects.
Start With the Listener, Not Yourself
One of the most important insights from our conversation is that storytelling does not begin with the story. It begins with the person listening.
As leaders, it is easy to focus on what we want to say, what we know, and what we have experienced. But effective communication is about relevance, so what does this person need to hear right now, in this moment?
This shift changes everything- it moves you from broadcasting information to creating meaning. So, rather than asking: What do I want to say, ask yourself, What do they need to hear?
Storytelling Does Not Mean Long Anecdotes
The word storytelling can feel intimidating. Many people associate it with long, detailed narratives or standing on a stage delivering a polished talk. In reality, it is much simpler and far more practical.
Storytelling can be a short example, a relatable moment, or a simple metaphor that helps someone see things differently. Yarona made a helpful distinction between three approaches:
Personal stories, your own lived experiences
Examples, shared or common contexts that many people recognise
Metaphors and broader, universal ways of explaining an idea
In a professional context, you do not need to share everything. In fact, the opposite can be true- the most effective communicators say enough to make the point land.
Curiosity Creates Engagement
If you want people to listen, start with curiosity. We talked about how opening with a question or an unexpected insight can immediately shift attention. It invites people in, rather than pushing information at them.
This could be as simple as a ‘Did you know…’ question or something that makes people pause and think.
Curiosity lowers resistance, and it creates space for engagement. It is a far more effective starting point than trying to overwhelm people with evidence or data.
Use Humour Carefully, But Purposefully
Humour can be powerful, but it is not about being funny, instead think about it as creating lightness.
In leadership communication, everything can feel important, serious or needs to be emphasised. However, if everything carries the same weight, people can quickly lose the salient points.
A moment of lightness, when used well, allows people to breathe and helps them stay engaged and better absorb what you are saying. The key is to make it relevant and appropriate to your audience, so it feels natural, not forced.
Land the Plane, Do Not Just Stop
One of the most overlooked parts of communication is how we end when we’re speaking. Too often, presentations or conversations simply stop, and the final message gets lost.
A strong close is about helping people make sense of what they have heard and what it means for them. Yarona described this as ‘landing the plane’- bring your message together, acknowledge what may feel challenging, and then offer a clear sense of direction and possibility.
When people leave with clarity and a sense of what is possible, they are far more likely to take action.
Leading Without All the Answers
Perhaps the most important insight from our conversation is not about storytelling at all, but about certainty. Many leaders feel they need to have all the answers before they speak, that they must project confidence by being completely sure.
In reality, leadership today requires something different- the ability to hold uncertainty with confidence, to honestly share that you may not have all the answers yet, but are moving forward. To create a sense of stability, even when the path is not fully defined. This builds trust and allows others to step forward with you.
Let Go of Perfection
Underlying all of this is one common challenge- perfectionism. Trying to get it exactly ‘right’ can limit your impact as it narrows how you communicate and how you show up.
When you allow yourself to be more curious, more exploratory, even a little messy, new possibilities open up. You become more human, more relatable and more effective, and that is what creates real connection.
Where are you overexplaining, rather than connecting?
Are you focusing on what you want to say, or what your audience needs to hear?
Where might perfectionism be holding you back?
