Why Fiction Makes Us Better Leaders

“What if?”—The Leader’s Superpower

Every great innovation begins with a question.
“What if we tried it this way?”
“What if there’s more to this story?”
“What if we fail… and learn?”

Fiction, at its heart, is the art of asking what if?

And so is leadership.

The best leaders I know are not just decisive or analytical; they are curious, empathetic, and wildly imaginative. They can envision a better future, build narratives people want to follow, and step into other people’s shoes.

Those are the muscles fiction trains us to use. And when we flex them regularly through reading, writing, or even daydreaming, we grow more than just our vocabulary. We grow our ability to lead.

Fiction Grows Empathy

Reading fiction rewires our brains. Neuroscience has shown that immersing ourselves in a story activates the same regions we use for real-world social interaction.

When we connect with a character’s struggle, we’re training our empathy, something every leader needs more of.

Empathy isn’t weakness. It’s the foundation of trust. And trust is what moves teams, cultures, and companies.

Fiction Sharpens Vision

Storytelling isn’t fluff. It’s strategy.

Leaders cast vision. We paint pictures of the future and invite others to help us build it. Fiction teaches us how to see the invisible, how to take raw data, emotion, and conflict, and weave them into a coherent whole.

That’s not just useful in a novel, it’s essential in business.

Want to inspire a team? Don’t just give them a goal. Give them a story.

One of my favorite educational activities was taking Visioning classes at ZingTrain in Ann Arbor, MI. The process taught me how to imagine a better future while removing any boundaries that may currently exist. It's a very freeing process and opens up your creative mind to endless possibilities.

Fiction Teaches Us to Sit with Ambiguity

In fiction, not everything wraps up neatly.
There are plot twists, unreliable narrators, and characters who fail or change course.

Leadership is no different.

In an age of constant change, the ability to sit with uncertainty and hold space for complexity is a superpower. Fiction helps us become more comfortable with the gray areas and being more open to listening, and more capable of adapting.

Fiction Encourages Reflection

Fiction doesn’t hand us answers, it asks better questions.
It gives us mirrors and metaphors that help us process our own lives.

Some of the most profound leadership growth I’ve experienced has come after I closed a book, when a character’s courage, failure, or transformation made me stop and ask, “Where am I in this story?”

Fiction Fuels Creativity

Let’s not forget: fiction is fun!

When we read stories, especially ones outside our usual genres, we’re filling our creative well.

That spark of inspiration might not seem “productive” in the moment, but it shows up later when you need a fresh idea, a new approach, or a courageous move.

Creativity isn’t a luxury.
It’s a leadership requirement.

The Hero’s Journey Isn’t Just a Plot Device

Joseph Campbell famously mapped out the hero’s journey, and most of us can recognize that arc in our favorite stories.

But what if leadership is a hero’s journey, too?

You answer the call.
You face the unknown.
You fail.
You grow.
You return, transformed, and then help others do the same.

Fiction helps us practice this over and over, in low-stakes environments, so we’re ready when it’s our turn to lead.

So the next time someone tells you fiction is escapism? Smile.
Because you know the truth:
Fiction doesn’t take us away from real life, it helps us show up for it more powerfully.

💬 What’s one fictional story that’s shaped the way you lead?
Drop it in the comments, or better yet, hit subscribe and join the conversation.

Let’s build a world where stories make us stronger!