How Stories Happen David Burkus: Stories about others should still say something about YOU
20 snips
Nov 8, 2025 
David Burkus, a bestselling author and sought-after speaker on workplace performance, dives into the art of storytelling. He emphasizes why industry-specific tales can limit audience engagement and shares his unique system for collecting anecdotes. One standout story is about Alan Mulally's Ford turnaround, which illustrates the power of transparency and trust. Burkus also discusses the importance of vivid details and how to adapt storytelling for different audience sizes, making communication impactful and relatable.
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Use Adjacent Stories To Hook Audiences
- Don't limit case studies to your audience's industry; use adjacent examples with the same problem.
- Prompt listeners to do the mental work of applying the story to their context.
Collect Stories Before You Need Them
- David collects surprising stories in Evernote long before they are useful and revisits them later.
- He saved a curling 'Team Reject' story and used it years later to illustrate the underdog effect.
Trust Is Shown, Not Just Declared
- Trust is not built by parties and dinners alone; it's shown by how leaders respond to people speaking up.
- Respecting vulnerability publicly creates psychological safety that enables real problem-solving.
