What Stories Make Visible - a Leadership Example
In my last article, I shared how telling stories about my Grandaddy helped me more clearly see the quiet gifts he passed on to his grandkids. That same week, something similar unfolded in a coaching session with a nonprofit leader.
She came in saying she wanted to “be more strategic in her thinking.”
We didn’t start with definitions or frameworks. Instead, we explored how she moves through her work; how she makes decisions when things are uncertain, how she chooses partnerships, and how she holds competing priorities. As she talked, patterns began to surface.
She realized she was already thinking strategically. It was embedded in how she collaborated, how she made decisions, and how she connected daily work to long-term purpose. What changed in our conversation wasn’t her skillset; it was her understanding of what she was already doing well.
That new perspective sparked momentum. She began to see new places to apply the same kind of thinking beyond her department, across the organization. She left the session energized because she could now name and build on what was already there.
Want to explore what’s already in your stories?
Think back to a few recent decisions you made when things felt unclear or high stakes. Reflect on these questions:
What helped you choose a direction?
What habits guided you?
What do you now see in hindsight that you didn’t name at the time?
Tell a story about each situation, either to yourself or someone else. What patterns do you notice in your stories? If you share them with others, ask what patterns or insights they notice too.
