
Why Storytelling Is the Skill That Can Change Your Career
We All Need to Know How to Tell Our Stories.
Why Storytelling Is the Skill That Can Change Your Career
By Julia LeFevre
When Shelton Banks sat down with me on Wired to Lead, I expected to hear about his success building training programs and helping people land jobs. What I didn’t expect was how central storytelling is to everything he teaches.
Shelton grew up on the South Side of Chicago, dropped out of high school, and entered the workforce out of necessity. From selling Cutco knives to becoming a vice president in banking and later moving into the tech industry, he learned a powerful truth: people don’t connect with résumés, they connect with stories.
He told me about visiting retirement homes as a young knife salesman. He didn’t push the product. He sat with people, listened, and made them laugh. In the end, they bought from him because of who he was, not because of what he sold. That experience became the seed of his philosophy - your story is your strategy.
And when it comes to job interviews, Shelton says there’s always one question that matters most: Tell me about yourself.
It sounds simple, but he sees countless people stumble. They either overshare and drift too personal, or they recite a scripted list that feels flat. The real opportunity is to weave together personal and professional experiences into a narrative that shows not only who you are, but why someone would want to work with you.
This lesson goes far beyond job seekers. Leaders, team members, entrepreneurs - we all need to know how to tell our stories. Because at the core of every connection is the question, Do I like and trust this person enough to move forward with them?
So here’s the challenge for you: how would you answer if someone asked you to tell your story today? Would it feel authentic and connected? Would it show the value you bring while still sounding like you?
Storytelling is not fluff. It’s not optional. It is one of the most practical skills you can build, because it opens doors, builds trust, and creates lasting opportunities.
A Next Step for Leaders
If you want to unlock more creativity, collaboration, and growth on your team, start by helping people tell their stories. When individuals learn to connect authentically, teams move from surface-level performance to genuine thriving.
That is the culture I help leaders build through neuroscience and practical tools. If this resonates with you, let’s start a conversation.
In the meantime, listen to my full conversation with Shelton Banks on Wired to Lead.