Somewhere in the mid-day blur of childhood, after lunch but before outside time, I would sit cross-legged in front of The Magic Garden, utterly entranced by Carol, Paula, and Sherlock the squirrel. There were songs and silliness, yes, but something else too. A feeling like this was a secret meeting of people learning how to listen.
And then the song: “There are no locks on the storybox…”
A reminder that every story is meant to be heard, and every listener worthy of its treasure.
I didn’t know then that I’d grow up to live inside stories. That I’d build a career around pulling meaning from moments and spinning it into something others could use. But I did know this was important. Not just the plot, but the telling of it, the how.
Because storytelling is an art and a SKILL.
And if you’re in HR, L&D, change, or leadership, you’d better start treating it that way.
We’ve all sat through the PowerPoint parade of bullets and bar charts. And we’ve all forgotten it by morning. Why? Because facts are fragile.
But stories stick. They connect knowledge to people, moments, consequences, and choice.
So, when I talk about SNAK (Skill, Network, Activities, Knowledge), I’m not just talking about content delivery. I’m talking about intentional storytelling that starts with a spark and ends with someone else holding the torch.
Allow me to explain.
Yesterday I wrote a piece about Intent (below.) On the surface, it was about professionalism. Emotional intelligence. The micro-moments we like to pretend are “no big deal.” But underneath, it was a story, a mirror.
It began in a familiar moment: someone typing a caption, maybe sharing a win. But there’s that tinge, a flicker of doubt. A question: Why am I really sharing this?
That moment is the hook, “the inciting incident.” But instead of a plot twist, what comes next is reflection. Humor. A slowly unspooled examination of how our words can carry a double edge.
And by the end you have an invitation.
To check yourself. Change your phrasing. Ask before you share.
That’s what a good story does. It unlocks you and gives permission to look at your own story and maybe rewrite it.
That article was built to move people through SNAK in the context of intent:
Skills: The ability to self-regulate.
Network: Who are you really addressing?
Action: Check your motive, soften your edge.
Knowledge: The psychological and emotional weight of communication
And none of that happens without the story.
Yet we love to pretend storytelling is for creatives. Writers. Public speakers. Bedtime.
It’s not. It’s for HR onboarding, performance reviews, and anyone else trying to translate insight into action.
And if you’re avoiding it because you’re not “a natural storyteller”? Let me say this: There are no locks on the storybox.
But you do need to practice lifting the lid if you want your audience to remember.
And the best way to do that?
Start with a story.
Then leave the box open.
