Why This CEO Called Himself the “Chief Storytelling Officer”
A leadership lesson from Dr. David Feinberg
Geisinger Health had everything you’d expect from a top-tier hospital system—great doctors, strong outcomes, and efficient operations.
But something was still off.
Patients didn’t always feel cared for.
Not because the staff didn’t care, but because the system didn’t always show it. The experience lacked something human.
That’s when Dr. David Feinberg made a surprising shift.
He began every executive meeting with a patient story.
No dashboards. No metrics. Just one real, human moment.
He shared about the grandmother who waited four hours to be seen. The child was frightened in the MRI machine. The patient who felt more like a number than a person.
Why?
Because he understood what communication expert Carmine Gallo wrote in Five Stars:
“Stories are the most powerful tool in a leader’s toolbox.”
Feinberg knew a story could cut through noise like no chart could.
“If I start with a spreadsheet, they’ll forget,” he said.
“If I start with a story, they’ll feel.
And if they feel, they’ll care enough to act.”
That wasn’t just a clever line. It was a leadership strategy.
Over time, that single act—starting with a story—shifted the culture.
Doctors slowed down.
Nurses became more present.
Patients began to feel truly seen.
Feinberg half-jokingly called himself the Chief Storytelling Officer. But behind the humor was a profound truth:
Stories don’t just engage.
They align, inspire, and move people to act.
Carmine Gallo echoes this in Five Stars, arguing that in a world drowning in data, storytelling gives leaders a competitive edge. People don’t follow information; they follow inspiration, and that inspiration comes from the story.
In my own coaching work, I’ve seen this repeatedly. When I open a session with a story—something real and relatable—people don’t just listen. They lean in. The room softens, and the conversation deepens.
So here’s your gentle nudge:
Before your next team meeting, pause the status updates.
Start with a story.
Something that puts a face to your mission.
Something people will feel.
Because leadership isn’t just about clarity—it’s about connection.
And the shortest path to connection is a well-told story.
Reflection prompt
What story can you share this week that helps someone care more deeply about their work?