Once upon a time | How storytelling training for managers & leaders could drive employee engagement - HR Grapevine

Editorial verdict

Opinion-based practitioner commentary with no empirical data — the storytelling-engagement link is asserted, not demonstrated, but the practitioner perspectives offer actionable framing for leadership development professionals.

Executive summary

This article addresses the role of narrative and storytelling as a leadership communication tool in driving employee engagement and managing organizational change. The author's central argument, supported by commentary from two practitioners, is that storytelling humanizes corporate communication, helps employees understand the 'why' behind directives, and creates conditions for authentic, employee-led communication cultures. Key evidence is drawn from the experiences of Michelle Jewell, Global Head of Leadership Development at Thoughtworks, and Bryan Vermes, Director of Employee Experience and Communication at Mimecast, both of whom describe internal applications of storytelling — including employee blogs, influencer identification, and leadership training initiatives. The article concludes that storytelling is a teachable capability that HR and leadership development functions can cultivate through training, feedback, and cross-functional collaboration with marketing. No empirical studies are cited, and the conclusions rest entirely on practitioner assertion and illustrative anecdote rather than controlled evidence.