Which version makes a bigger impact?
- City receives $623,000.
- Part-time energy manager helps her near-bankrupt city to receive $623,000.
The first version tells the facts—a city received $623,000. The facts are correct, measurable…and pretty boring. But the second version tells a story.
- There’s a challenge—the city is near-bankrupt.
- There’s a hero—the part-time energy manager.
- There’s a victory—the city received $623,000.
- There’s drama—you mean she was only part-time? However did she do it?
The elements of this story create intrigue. You want to learn more.

So to make a big impact at work, either in proposing a new project to your boss, getting buy-in from your coworkers, or influencing your audience, try telling a story rather than just telling facts.
Presenting facts can be easier than telling a story—a quick Internet search can provide endless facts—but that doesn’t mean facts are the best option.
Telling stories is better than telling facts because: