Episode
How Great Leaders Inspire with Stories, Not Slides, Featuring Paul Smith
- Podcast
- Chief Story Officer
- Published
- May 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2228
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://chief-story-officer.captivate.fm
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Summary
Paul Smith, bestselling author and business storytelling consultant, joins the show to share how surprise turns stories into unforgettable leadership tools and why the best business lessons don’t always fit on a slide. In this episode, we unpack why adrenaline-fuelled surprises make stories unforgettable, how dialogue trumps data in executive communications, and the simple shift from presenting slides to sharing moments that matter. We explore why even data-driven leaders can use storytelling to move teams, clarify strategy, and tackle scepticism head-on. Paul Smith reveals how a CEO's refusal to look at slides sparked his storytelling journey at Procter & Gamble, what over 300 CEO interviews taught him about memorable stories, and why structure matters less than authenticity. He shares the ten essential stories every leader should master, his effortless story collection method, and the science behind why surprise makes learning stick. Listeners will leave with tools to curate and organise their own stories, strategies to shift culture from “presenting” to “connecting”, and practical advice for nurturing a story-driven team. Plus, the one journaling habit that turns everyday events into your organisation’s most valuable assets. GUEST BIO & LINKS Paul Smith is a bestselling author, business storytelling consultant, and former head of consumer research for Procter & Gamble’s $6 billion global business. After 20 years in data-driven corporate roles, Paul shifted his focus to understanding what separates inspiring leaders from the rest and discovered storytelling as the missing skill. He has personally interviewed over 300 CEOs and executives across 25 countries, capturing more than 3,000 business stories and distilling them into three Amazon #1 bestsellers, in…