Lessons in Story Telling by Leaders

Part 2: Rabindranath Tagore and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel demonstrated how storytelling can foster creativity, build trust, and unite people towards a common purpose. Their approaches offer valuable lessons for today’s business leaders who aim to create a collaborative and innovative work environment.


𝙍𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙏𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙚 – 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩, 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙡 𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚

➡Problem: In early 20th-century India, the traditional education system was rigid, focusing on rote learning and memorization, which stifled creativity and discouraged critical thinking. Tagore viewed this as a significant barrier to personal growth and societal progress.

➡Solution:  Tagore founded Visva-Bharati University in 1901, promoting experiential learning, creativity, and storytelling. He believed that education should extend beyond the classroom, emphasizing human emotions and real-world experiences.

➡Storytelling Lesson: In “The Kabuliwala,” Tagore highlighted themes of love, loss, and cultural connections, teaching empathy and understanding beyond societal norms. Through such stories, Tagore taught empathy, cultural understanding, and the importance of seeing beyond societal norms.

➡Corporate Takeaway: Tagore’s emphasis on storytelling to foster creativity and empathy in education applies to leadership as well. Corporate leaders can use stories to inspire innovation, inclusivity, and deeper emotional connections, fostering team engagement and meaningful contributions.


𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙧 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙝𝙗𝙝𝙖𝙞 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡 – 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧

➡Problem: After India gained independence in 1947, over 500 princely states had the option to join India, Pakistan, or remain independent. Many were reluctant to integrate into the new Indian Union, posing a significant threat to the country’s unity.

➡Solution: Sardar Patel, known as the “Iron Man of India,” was instrumental in unifying these states through diplomacy, strategic negotiation, and the art of storytelling. He connected with the rulers of these states by sharing personal stories and appealing to their shared values and cultural heritage .

➡Storytelling Lesson: Patel’s ability to blend empathy with persuasion, such as in the case of Junagadh, helped unify India peacefully by fostering rapport with rulers. By humanizing the negotiation process, Patel was able to build trust and ultimately ensure the peaceful unification of India.

➡ Corporate Takeaway: Patel’s use of storytelling to build trust and unity offers business leaders a model for aligning diverse teams toward common goals. Storytelling can enhance collaboration, strengthen organizational culture, and motivate employees towards a shared vision.