Storytelling on LinkedIn: Why It (Now) Works

June 12, 2025
LinkedIn, Social Media, Storytelling

Once upon a time, LinkedIn was the land of copy-and-paste resumes, and humblebrag Headlines and About sections.
You posted a job update, maybe a work anniversary if you were feeling wild, and called it a day.

But somewhere along the way, (maybe starting in 2016?) things shifted. People started sharing stories. Real ones. Emotional ones. Personal ones. And surprise surprise — people listened.

LinkedIn got a work-to-personal upgrade. And that’s a very good thing.

Especially if you’re a thoughtful professional who doesn’t love the bragging (and advocating for yourself IRL) about your wins. Storytelling gives you a way to connect without selling. To show up with heart, not hype.

I dove into the data myself, and looked back at my top-performing LinkedIn posts over the past year. Not the ones packed with tips (though you know I love a good tip). Not the ones where I shared a new download or resource.

Nope. The best ones were the ones rooted in story.

Here’s what topped the (data) charts:

The “Hair Post” – about being told I wouldn’t get hired at a hotel brand because of my fantastic hair. Yes, that really happened. It opened up a dialogue about professional bias and being unapologetically yourself — fabulous hair and all.
The “Recycling Post” – a reflection on how doing the right thing isn’t always easy, especially when systems make it harder. It sparked comments from people who felt just as stuck in the “am I even doing this right?” spiral.
The “Imposter Syndrome Post” – because even after 15+ years in the industry, that sneaky little voice still tries to pop in. Turns out, I’m not the only one who’s felt like a fraud in a room full of experts.
The “I Lost My Job Post” – a vulnerable look at how a career detour turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. This one connected deeply — because who hasn’t faced a moment that felt like an ending, only to realize it was a beginning?

Each of these stories had one thing in common:
They were personal. They were human. People got to know ME better, not just about my service. And they struck a chord.

Why Storytelling Wins (Even on LinkedIn)

Here’s what I learned (and what I’ll teach in my upcoming workshop):

✅ Stories create community. When you share your real experience, you attract like-minded people who say “I feel that too.” I must have received dozens of comments and DMs from people with hair stories, or tattoo stories, from that “hair post”.

✅ Stories build trust. You’re not just another talking head giving advice that can be just as easily generated by AI. You’re someone who’s been there.

✅ Stories make you relatable. Vulnerability is not weakness (thank goodness that generation and line of thinking is dead)….. It’s a bridge. And people cross it to connect with you.

How to Tell Better Stories on LinkedIn: A Simple Framework

If the idea of storytelling makes you freeze up, I get it. You don’t need to be a novelist or even a “good writer.” Writing was never my strong suit either. If you’re just starting out, you just need a structure that feels safe and simple.

Try this:

The Hook: Start with a relatable moment or bold statement. Think “This almost cost me my dream job…” or “I almost didn’t share this story.”
The Heart: Share the real experience. Be honest, specific, and vulnerable. Include what you were feeling and why it mattered.
The Lesson: What did you learn? How did it shape you? Keep this part simple and sincere — your audience doesn’t need a lecture, just your insight.
The Tie-in: Relate it back to your audience. Ask a question, or reflect on how others might experience something similar.
The CTA (optional): Invite engagement — ask them to comment, share, or attend your workshop (more on that below ).

Want to practice? Here are 5 story starters to try:

“The moment I realized I was wrong about ___.”
“Everyone told me I couldn’t ___ — and they were almost right.”
“Here’s the one thing I wish I knew before I started ___.”
“This one small win changed how I show up at work.”
“I didn’t think I’d share this, but…”

Write just a few sentences using one of these prompts and see where it takes you. You might be surprised by what comes up.

Storytelling Doesn’t Mean Oversharing

Let’s be clear: Vulnerability doesn’t mean spilling your guts for likes.

It means sharing strategically — offering just enough of your story to make someone say, “Wow, I needed to hear that.”

You’re not writing a diary entry. You’re inviting your reader into a moment that shaped you — and showing them how it might shape them, too.

And for those stories you’re dying to share (they’re still raw, still oozing with real-time processing) and the lesson and tie-in are still a work-in-progress? Let them simmer. You can share that story once you’ve had time to work through all the elements, where you come out of it wiser, not hurt and still healing.

That’s the real power of storytelling:
It’s not just about you. It’s about how your story unlocks something in someone else.

Ready to tell your story (without the overwhelm)?

If you’re ready to infuse your LinkedIn posts with more YOU — join me for my LinkedIntensive Workshop on June 24th.

I’ll introduce you to a simple storytelling framework you can use to create your own scroll-stopping content, even if writing doesn’t come naturally to you.

To telling your story loud and proud (even if you’re an introvert),