A room full of nodding heads may be the most misleading data a leader ever collects. The analysis can be sound, the recommendation logical—and nothing changes.
StoryLab founder and bestselling author Philipp Humm joins Jim Koetting to explore why stories reach people when facts, instructions, and arguments fail. They examine what story does inside the mind, why people can recognize truth in someone else’s experience while resisting direct advice, and how leaders can make important ideas memorable enough to influence behavior.
Philipp explains why demand for storytelling is growing in the age of AI, the mistake that ruins many business stories, and how to move from the “helicopter view” into a specific moment. He challenges Jim’s thinking about first-person storytelling, explains why vulnerability creates connection, and reveals how leaders can tell stories without sounding rehearsed, theatrical, or manufactured.
The conversation also explores Philipp’s transformation from an analytical professional at Bain & Company and Uber into an internationally recognized storytelling teacher. He shares how constructive embarrassment helped him overcome his fear of public speaking, why an imperfect story told today is more valuable than a perfect story never shared, and three exercises that can make anyone noticeably better in seven days.
Connect with Philipp Humm:
StoryLab: https://storylab.co/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Philipp-Humm
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipphumm/
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