Understanding Personal Impact and Storytelling in Leadership
Personal impact—it’s not about being extra-Ordinary in the traditional sense. It’s about being you, fully and authentically. Whether you’re leading a team, presenting to clients, or simply navigating day-to-day interactions, your presence speaks volumes.
“Stop trying to be extraordinary and be a bit human,” says Noa Maxwell, personal impact specialist and storytelling expert. True influence doesn’t come from trying too hard to impress. In fact, it’s the opposite. The real magic happens when you relax into your natural self—what I like to call “shoulders down” leadership. That’s where you connect, inspire, and create meaningful impact.
How can mastering personal impact and storytelling transform the way you lead and communicate, helping you strike that perfect balance between authenticity and authority? Let’s find out:
Personal Impact and How to Build It
At its core, personal impact is the impression you leave on others—physically, vocally, and emotionally. It’s about how you show up in professional and personal spaces and how others feel after interacting with you.
The key is to top chasing perfection and start embracing authenticity. When you let go of the pressure to be “exceptional" and focus on being real, you unlock deeper trust and connection.
Personal impact isn’t one-size-fits-all. It sits on a spectrum and changes with how you show up and are perceived. For young leaders and seasoned professionals alike, the secret lies in two words: authenticity and relatability.
Authenticity: Stay grounded in who you are. People trust and follow leaders who are real.
Authority: Exude confidence and decisiveness. Your team wants to feel guided and supported.
Great leaders find where these two overlap, balancing strength with approachability.
The Power of Storytelling
Here’s the thing about storytelling: it’s not just for campfires or the pub with friends. It’s a tool—one of the most powerful ones in a leader’s toolkit.
Dry, logical communication often falls flat because it’s missing something human. Stories bridge that gap between logic and emotion, transforming your message into something memorable. I mean think about it—what sticks with you more: a bulleted list or a well-told story?
“Stories are a way of reaching bits of our brain that logic can’t. They engage people not just intellectually but emotionally,” say Noa.
Whether you’re pitching to a client, motivating your team, or presenting your vision, storytelling brings your message to life.
Practical Ways to Elevate Your Personal Impact
If you’re ready to step into your full potential, here are practical techniques to integrate into your leadership:
1. Use Visual Storytelling
Paint a picture—literally or metaphorically. Whether through sketches, metaphors, or analogies, visuals bring clarity and energy to your message. For instance, describing leadership as a “gate post” highlights being grounded, dependable, yet adaptable.
2. Balance Authenticity and Authority
The magic of leadership lies in contrast. Be approachable yet strong. Be serious yet playful. Embrace the dynamic tension between these qualities to connect and inspire.
3. Harness the Power of Pause
Pausing during a presentation or conversation adds weight to your words and gives your audience time to reflect. It’s a simple but powerful tool for:
Clarity: Helping messages land.
Authority: Exuding confidence.
Connection: Allowing space for thought and interaction.
4. Get Creative with Engagement
Switch up the energy when the room feels flat. Take meetings outdoors, break into small groups, or use art and metaphors to spark fresh perspectives. Leadership doesn’t always happen in straight lines.
5. Share Stories of Challenge
Stories of failure, first attempts, and resilience resonate because they’re real. Leaders who share their challenges build trust and show their teams that growth is a journey.
Own Your Impact
In Noa’s words, great leadership is “Grounded, useful, and fun.”
When you focus less on being “extraordinary” and more on being real, that’s where you’ll discover the magic—turning the ordinary into something extra-Ordinary.
00:00:00: Introduction
00:01:02: What does extraordinary leadership mean to Noa?
00:02:50: The concept of personal impact
00:07:00: Importance of storytelling in business
00:13:39: Translating storytelling into practical business scenarios
00:19:00: Techniques and importance of metaphors in storytelling
00:21:09: Introduction to the concept of linguistic relativity
00:21:57: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and cultural differences in language
00:23:00: Reframing and rephrasing in communication
00:23:29: Using energy quality to improve communication
00:24:34: The power of metaphor in storytelling
00:25:13: Techniques to engage and relax clients
00:27:14: The importance of cognitive space and creativity
00:28:02: Addressing stiffness and physical presence in presentations
00:30:10: Avoiding linear and monotonous presentation styles
00:31:04: Balancing authenticity and authority in personal impact
00:34:02: The role of polarities and dualisms in business communication
00:36:52: Embracing multidimensional thinking and the colour spectrum
00:37:36: Embracing personal authenticity and unique stories
00:38:49: Discussion on qualities and Venn diagrams
00:39:01: The importance of story and purpose
00:39:31: Story of the Cuban American advocate
00:41:09: The advocate's story and underlying purpose
00:42:18: The metaphor of the underwater propeller
00:42:54: Personal anecdotes on parenting challenges
00:44:46: Reflection on personal challenges and purpose
00:45:51: Helping businesses find their future story
00:46:18: Questioning personal motives in business
00:47:52: Challenges and defining personal stories
00:51:02: Strategy in business and personal sticking points
00:52:07: Importance of failure and learning
00:53:16: Experience of failing in public speaking
00:54:24: The power of pause and authority
00:55:07: Final question on extraordinary leadership
00:55:35: Introduction to the gate post
00:56:09: Using the gate post as a pen holder
00:56:22: Analogies on leadership
00:57:23: Closing remarks and contact information
