Storytelling for Leadership
Week 3 – Guest Hunter Gatewood
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Week 3 – Guest Hunter Gatewood
This week, we welcomed friend of the studio Hunter Gatewood for a rich and practical conversation on storytelling as a leadership tool. We chatted about how stories connect, teach, and create meaning across teams, clients, and communities. It was a lively conversation filled with insights – below are just a few.
Stories in transitions: Hunter’s story about leading a team through a leadership change revealed how stories help groups honor loss, recognize strengths, and carry forward what matters. The process itself builds trust and shared identity.
Inviting others’ stories: Sarah noted the power of inviting people to tell their stories—how that simple shift creates ownership and connection. As Hunter put it, “Good leaders make space for others to tell the story.”
Forward-looking storytelling: Dan introduced the idea of creating stories for the future—inviting teams to imagine and co-author the next chapter rather than simply recounting the past.
Storytelling tips: Hunter shared practical tools for building stronger stories:
- Include stakes—something that matters or could go wrong.
- bonus tip: an embarrassing story is almost always a hit! “Tell the story you least want to tell.”
- Start in the action to draw listeners in.
- Use specific details to reveal the universal human truths beneath.
- Be willing to share vulnerability or imperfection—stories land when they’re real.
- Rehearse intentionally—a good story sounds natural because it’s practiced.
Emotional closure: Athene asked how to help people “exit” a story session when strong feelings arise. Hunter emphasized follow-up conversations, one-on-one care, and transitions that acknowledge both change and continuity. (also – Anthena was rocking a fab hoodie from Green Heffa Farms, a Black woman owned and operated organic tea farm and company in North Carolina. I’m def getting myself some merch!)
Whether spoken from a podium or shared in a hallway, storytelling turns leadership into connection. A good story doesn’t just describe the work – it becomes the work of building trust, identity, and shared purpose. If you missed the session you can catch the recording below:
- Include stakes—something that matters or could go wrong.
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