Why No One Is Listening to You (And How Storytelling Can Fix It)

I’m sitting in an uncomfortable seat in a darkened auditorium. Onstage, a man is talking about his company. He’s the CEO, and today, he’s rolling out a new initiative. He’s told me It’s an important change in how the company does business.
Based on his performance thus far, I don’t believe him.
I look around. The audience — almost all company employees — have already checked out. Some are looking at their phones. Others are whispering. Some are making lists and doodling. Most look disengaged and bored.
Why?
The CEO doesn’t seem to care, either. He’s taken the stage to deliver a message, but he’s made no attempt to garner and maintain attention and engagement. He’s assumed that because he is standing on an elevated platform and has a microphone in hand, people are paying attention.
He’s assumed that because he’s the boss, people are engaged.
They're not.
If you think a stage, a microphone, a spotlight, or a job title will cause people to listen to you, think again.
If Jerry Seinfeld takes the stage and is not funny, people will stop listening.
If former President Barack Obama takes the stage to deliver a speech and is flat and inarticulate, people will stop listening.
If poet and activist Amanda Gorman stands at the podium and reads poems that fail to engage and connect, people will stop listening.
If you’re not relentlessly attempting to gain and hold attention at all times, you’re making a mistake. You’re assuming attention. You somehow believe that people want to hear you speak.
I see this mistake made all the time.
We live in an age where attention is an exceedingly valuable currency, yet so many people fail to understand how important it is to earn that attention.
The truth is this:
Nobody cares what you say unless you give them a reason to. Most communication today is round, white, and flavorless — utterly forgettable. We attend conferences and all-hands and demos and presentations and meetings of all kinds, yet so often, we forget almost everything that was said less than day later.
To stand out, be heard, and be remembered, you must engage the audience at all times. The secret to being heard isn't about speaking louder—it's about telling stories.
Why Your Message Isn't Sticking
If you feel like your audience tunes you out, you're not alone. One of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing too much on delivering facts and figures rather than engaging their audience emotionally. Humans are wired for stories, not data dumps. Without a compelling narrative, your message becomes just another forgettable piece of noise in a crowded landscape.
Consider this:
You're in a meeting, presenting a complex strategy with slides filled with bullet points and statistics. Eyes glaze over, phones come out, and your audience mentally checks out. The problem?
Probably a lot, but certainly this:
You're offering raw data without context—without a story to make it relevant.
Research shows that people remember stories up to 22 times more than facts alone. If you're presenting a pitch with endless slides filled with numbers, you're missing out on the opportunity to create an emotional connection that drives action.
The Science Behind Storytelling's Impact
Storytelling isn’t just a gimmick—it’s biology. And it’s more than just entertainment; it's a psychological tool that creates connection, trust, and influence. When you tell a story, your audience experiences a phenomenon called "neural coupling," where their brains sync with yours, making them more likely to engage, understand, and remember your message.
Moreover, storytelling triggers the release of oxytocin—the "trust hormone"—which helps build deeper relationships with your audience. When people feel emotionally connected to your story, they are more likely to take action, whether it's buying a product, supporting an idea, or following your leadership. Stories activate multiple areas of the brain, including those responsible for emotion, empathy, and decision-making, making them a powerful tool for influence.
Quite frankly, it’s stupid not to tell stories.
How Storytelling Can Fix Your Communication Challenges
If you want people to actually listen, you need to stop overwhelming them with information and start telling them why it matters. Whether you're delivering a keynote, running a meeting, or writing marketing content, effective storytelling can:
- Clarify Your Message: Stories help distill complex ideas into relatable experiences.
- Build Emotional Connection: People respond to emotions, and stories evoke feelings that resonate.
- Make You Memorable: A well-told story lingers in the minds of your audience, ensuring they remember your key points long after you've finished speaking.
Instead of selling a product by listing its features, you tell the story of a customer who used it and saw their life change.
Or even better, tell a story about how you interacted with the product. What do you love about it? How do you use it? Where did you come up with the idea for the product? Do your kids love it? How has it changed your life?
Suddenly, it’s not just a product anymore—it’s a solution. It’s a story they can see themselves in. And if you’ve placed yourself in the story, too, you’ve instantly become more trusted and reliable.
If you’ve managed to speak about yourself even a tiny bit, people will feel more connected to you, too. They will like you.
Where to Start: Building Your Storytelling Skills
Getting better at storytelling doesn’t mean reinventing yourself overnight. Start by finding the small, meaningful moments in your life and sharing them. Think about the struggles, the victories, and the surprises that shaped you—those are the stories people want to hear.
If you're serious about taking your storytelling skills to the next level, consider joining our FREE Storytelling Academy. Inside, you'll find valuable resources, expert guidance, and practical techniques to help you master the art of storytelling and make your message truly unforgettable.
Conclusion
If you find yourself struggling to get your message across, it's time to rethink your approach. Storytelling is the key to being heard, remembered, and trusted. Whether you're in business, leadership, or marketing, mastering storytelling can elevate your influence and impact.
Don't let your message be another forgettable pile of words. Flavor it with storytelling, and watch how people start to truly listen.
Take the first step today by joining our free academy and start crafting stories that captivate your audience and drive real results.
If you're ready to take your storytelling to the next level, check out my popular Storytelling courses and webinars.