This is a story about storytelling.

Steve Jobs strolls into the employee break room and starts making himself a bagel.

The staff chew their lunch warily.

Then, out of the blue Jobs addresses the room: "Who is the most powerful person in the world?"

A few names are nervously put forward. One employee suggests Nelson Mandela.

"NO! You are ALL wrong" says Jobs. The most powerful person in the world is the story teller. The storyteller sets the vision, values and agenda of an entire generation that is to come and Disney has a monopoly on the storyteller business."

"You know what?" he continues "I am tired of that bullshit, I am going to be the next storyteller" and walks out with his bagel.

I dug this story up from a long Quora thread about chance encounters with Steve Jobs.

I think Jobs was spot on here. Human beings follow people who tell stories. Even more, they value people who people follow. 

As a communicator, you're well positioned to carve out your own 'monopoly' on storytelling in your organisation.

Nobody will ever tell you to do this. And when you do, sometimes it will feel uncomfortable. But if you do grab this opportunity, you'll have the 'Steve Jobs' of your organisation eating out of your hand.