Stakeholders Want to Hear Relatable Stories. Here's How To Do It!

Have you ever presented a mountain of data to your stakeholders, only to watch their eyes glaze over? The numbers were solid, the charts were clear, but something didn’t connect. You could feel the disconnect—the room wasn’t engaged.​

Here’s the thing: stakeholders don’t just want numbers. They want stories. They want to hear how your data ties into their world—how it speaks to their goals, their challenges, and their priorities. Without that connection, even the most impressive data can fall flat.

Let me take you back to a moment in my own career, when I was preparing for a critical presentation. The data was perfect. I had spent hours fine-tuning every detail, making sure the numbers were rock-solid. But as I practiced, something nagged at me. The charts were great, but they didn’t tell the whole story. I realized I hadn’t connected the dots for my audience—they didn’t care about the data for data’s sake. They cared about how this data would impact their world.

So, I threw out the script and rewrote the presentation, making sure every number I shared spoke directly to their priorities. Instead of focusing purely on the facts, I framed the narrative around the potential impact on their team, the risks if we didn’t act, and the opportunity for growth if we took action. I simplified the message, showing them how the data would solve real-world problems, rather than just adding another layer of complexity.

When I finished the presentation, the room was different. It wasn’t just about charts and percentages anymore—it was about a story that resonated with what they cared about. Thirty seconds after I finished speaking, I had the buy-in I needed.

If you want to start telling stories that drive action, I’ve put together a collection of webinars that teach you how to do just that.

Inside the Executive Webinar Collection you will learn how to be strategic in your storytelling, deliver presentations masterfully while being viewed as a leader of influence.​

This collection of trainings, designed for busy leaders like yourself in mind and inside are topics ranging from:

• Strategic Thinking & Planning

• Managing Teams

• Executive Presence

• Confidence in Leadership

• Navigating Executive Burnout

• Leadership Storytelling
  

Click here to get instant access today!

About the Author

LaDawn Townsend is a storytelling strategist and keynote speaker recognized as a leading authority on influential storytelling. With a reputation for transforming how organizations communicate, LaDawn has worked with top companies including Amazon, NASA, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. Congressional Bipartisan Group, and a variety of nonprofits. Featured in Inc. Magazine and Fortune, she has coached high-performing brands, executives, and politicians to lead with purpose, craft compelling narratives, and create meaningful connections with their audiences. Through her dynamic approach, LaDawn empowers leaders to use storytelling as a tool for influence and impact.