Telling Better Stories, Leading with Optimism, and Bringing Out the Best

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The Daily Coach has explored powerful lessons on the value of storytelling, the difference between authentic positivity and blind optimism, leading without having all the answers, and what truly defines elite coaching.

For this week’s Saturday Blueprint, we’ve gathered some of our favorite insights on these themes to help us communicate more effectively, lead with hope and conviction, stay relentlessly curious, and bring out the best in those we serve.

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On the Stories Leaders Tell:

What I’d say about data in particular is that it’s not an over-reliance on it, but if you don’t create meaning for people and are just putting up data, it’s like putting up an inkblot. Everybody’s going to view it through their own experiences and make their own assumptions. What storytelling is doing is helping take people from their assumptions and come to a common understanding so you can have a discussion. The caution is not thinking through the story you want to tell and the basic pieces you can expand on. Otherwise, you’re rambling and telling a story that’s not relevant for your audience and doesn’t make sense.

I can tell you my favorite story ever, but if it doesn’t focus on the audience or connect to you, it doesn’t mean anything. If it’s just rambling and lacking any structure or detail, it’s just a status update of events and not anything that makes me feel like I’m there.

― Karen Eber, best-selling author, storytelling expert

On Positivity vs. Delusional Optimism:

People think positivity is pollyanna. It’s not about seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. It’s knowing that you have the power to overcome the thorns. It’s not about ignoring reality. It’s about maintaining optimism, belief and faith in order to create a better reality. It’s O.K. to say, “This stinks. This is hard.” But how are we going to overcome it and find a way forward?

If you’re not a positive coach or positive leader, how can you rally your team to create a successful future? Pessimists do not change the world. It’s the optimists, it’s the believers, the dreamers, the ones who say, “We can win with what we have. We’re going to find a way to be our best, to out-scheme, out-coach, sometimes out-talent.”

Optimism causes you to be innovative and adapt to navigate the pitfalls and challenges.

― Jon Gordon, best-selling author, keynote speaker

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On Leading Without Expertise:

My biggest thing is accept the position you’re in and ask why. Just be curious — and be annoyingly so. Don’t assume everyone knows where you’re coming from or where you’re trying to get to. There’s always ego involved, things like that, but you have to park that and go “Why? Why? Why?”

It’s the one thing I say about being a designer. Every time I send a deck out or information, I think, “Please, poke holes. Rip it apart. That will make me stronger next time.” You have to be a sponge about information and learning people’s goals and motivations. People love talking about their passions.

― Tara Mustapha, Code Coven CEO

On Elite Coaching:

To me, the best coaches are the ones who are the biggest and best managers of individuals and egos. Establishing a common goal, establishing an identity, establishing a balance and chemistry within the team, the ones who are more convincing in getting the individuals to buy in.

How do you keep everyone engaged and contributing to the common good and to team success and fulfilling their role to the best of their ability?

That’s where the great coaches, Phil Jackson to me being the one at the top of the list, Hubie Brown, Gregg Popovich and Sergio Scariolo who I’ve had in my career, those coaches can do that at a very high level.

Beyond the tactics, the playbook, the Xs and Os, it’s really about managing the ups and downs and the emotions throughout a season and the egos. It’s not easy to motivate each individual in a different way so they can play their best and do what you need them to do knowing sometimes they probably could or should do more. But what they’re doing is what the team needs.

― Pau Gasol, Basketball Hall-of-Fame Inductee

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