You are not telling your story — have you heard this before?
How many times have you heard someone say, “You’re not telling the story properly”? Whether it’s about the updates you’re providing, the products or services you’re responsible for, the goals you’re driving, or the teams you’re leading, this feedback is all too common. If you’re anything like me, you’ve heard it more than once in your career, and chances are you’ll hear it again.
Now, you might feel frustrated or even defensive when you get this feedback. But let me tell you, it’s actually a good thing. When someone tells you to improve your storytelling, it means they care enough to listen. Whether they have a personal stake in the outcome or are just trying to help, they’re paying attention. And that’s the point I want you to keep in mind: if someone’s asking for a better story, you’ve got their interest. It’s a positive, even if it’s inconvenient at the moment. Let’s remember this as a guiding principle while reading rest of the article.
So, what can we do about it? Why do people say we’re not telling our story correctly? In my experience, this feedback usually boils down to three things: communication skills, audience changes, and the level of trust in the relationship. Let’s walk through these three areas and see how we can get better at telling our story.
1. Communication Skills: this one is always a journey
Communication is something we’re always working on. None of us are born with perfect skills in this area. Whether it’s the words we use, our body language, the way we structure our ideas, or even our timing, these are all things we learn over time.
Some people have had more coaching or mentoring than others. Some have put in more effort to improve their communication. But no one is finished with this journey. We’re all still learning.
When you get feedback on your communication, take it seriously. Listen, reflect, and do your best to improve. Yes, it’s hard to change long-standing habits, but it’s also necessary. You might see results in a few weeks, or it might take years. But the alternative — not improving — isn’t going to help you. So, even if you’re frustrated by the feedback, keep trying.
The goal is progress, not perfection.
2. The Audience: Is there a change in the audience?
We all know how important it is to tailor a presentation to the audience. But what’s even more critical is recognizing when the audience has changed.
Maybe there’s been a shift in leadership at your company. Maybe you’ve moved into a different team, or your peers have changed. Perhaps the company’s priorities have shifted. Whatever the case, your audience isn’t the same as it was before, and they need to hear your story differently.
You might feel like you’ve told this story a hundred times already. You might even be tempted to say, “We used to do it this way.” But that won’t help. The new audience won’t care what you did before. They care about what’s relevant now, and you’ll need to adapt your story to fit their needs.
One year, you might have one type of audience; the next year, it could change completely. And then, after some time, it might revert-back to a similar group. All too familiar! Questions might change, the focus might shift, and the story needs to adjust accordingly. It’s just the nature of the business.
Each audience has its own way of understanding things, engaging, and making decisions. You must meet them where they are. So, when you get feedback that your story isn’t landing, don’t take it personally. Adjust it, reframe it, and try again.
3. Trust: it might be time to re-build
Here’s the third and perhaps the most important reason why people might tell you that you’re not telling your story well: trust.
We all form opinions about others over time. Whether you’re a manager, a peer, or someone in talent management, you’ve probably noticed that biases — conscious or not — exist in every relationship. These biases can influence how we view someone’s story, especially if we don’t have a long history with them.
If you’ve worked with someone for five or ten years, you’ve likely developed a good sense of their strengths and weaknesses. But if you’re working with someone new, that level of trust isn’t there yet. You’re still forming opinions about each other.
It’s important to assume positive intent on both sides. If someone seems skeptical of your story, they’re likely not being difficult on purpose. They just don’t know you well enough yet. It’s going to take time to build that trust.
And here’s the key: trust is built on transparency. If you approach every situation with transparency, you’ll create the space for trust to grow. People can usually tell when you’re only highlighting the positives or when you’re withholding information. Be open about the reality — whether you’re talking about a product, a service, or a project that’s still in progress.
Also, be yourself. Yes, you’ll continue to work on self-improvement, but don’t try to be someone you’re not. Authenticity is crucial in building trust. Your audience needs to accept you as you are, and you need to accept them in return.
Conclusion: Never ending life of telling Your Story
In summary, there are three key reasons why you might hear that you’re not telling your story properly: communication skills, changes in your audience, and trust in relationships. Improving your storytelling isn’t about mastering a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about continuously refining your communication, adapting to new audiences, and building trust through transparency and authenticity.
Remember the guiding principle I mentioned earlier: if someone is asking you to improve your story, that’s a good thing. They’re interested in what you have to say. You control your communication skills, so never stop improving. You can’t control changes in your audience, but you can adapt to them. And trust? That takes time, but it’s built through consistency and transparency.
You must put the effort.
Finally, this isn’t the end of the conversation. I’ve shared my thoughts, but I’m sure there’s more to add. Let’s keep the dialogue going. You have valuable insights, so share them. Together, we can all become better storytellers.
Thanks for engaging with me today! Until next time, Cheers,
Amit
