𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 - 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

Let’s face it: data alone doesn’t inspire action. You can throw statistics at your team all day, but without a story to hold them together, it’s like handing someone puzzle pieces without the picture on the box.

STEM professionals often pride themselves on logic, accuracy, and evidence - and rightfully so. But if your goal is to lead, influence, or inspire, you need more than just numbers. You need narrative. Storytelling isn’t fluff - it’s the bridge between information and impact.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀

Our brains are wired for stories. When we hear a story, multiple areas of our brain light up - not just the language-processing centers, but also the parts associated with emotion and memory. Compare that to a spreadsheet, which mainly lights up your forehead with stress. Stories give data meaning. Instead of saying, “Customer retention dropped 12%,” you can say, “We lost a loyal client of five years because they felt we stopped listening. And they weren’t alone.” Now the statistic has a face.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

This doesn’t mean abandoning precision. It means framing your insights in a way that connects. Use data to build credibility, but pair it with context, emotion, and outcomes.

For example:

• 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲: What was the situation?

• 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Who was affected?

• 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀: What challenge or turning point did you face?

• 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: What did the data reveal, and what did you do about it?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

As a STEM leader, your technical know-how gives you credibility. But your ability to communicate in a compelling, human way? That’s your differentiator. The ability to synthesize complex data into a clear, motivating message makes you invaluable. You don’t have to be Shakespeare. Just be clear, real, and relevant. Think of it as giving your data a heartbeat.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁

Pick one recent project or presentation. Ask yourself: Did I just report the data, or did I tell a story? Next time you share results or pitch an idea, experiment with structure. Lead with a challenge, walk through a turning point, and end with a resolution and takeaway.

𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽

If storytelling doesn’t come naturally - or if you’re not sure how to strike the right balance between data and drama - this is where coaching can make a huge difference. An executive coach can help you build communication skills that resonate, helping you lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact.