Auditors as Storytellers: Turning Findings into Influence
- Orbis Leadership
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
By Donald Macintyre
Why do so many audit reports get ignored?
Auditors aren’t usually seen as storytellers. Spreadsheets and checklists aren’t the stuff of page-turners. But the auditors who create real impact don’t just report numbers – they narrate what the numbers mean for the organization: what’s working, what’s not and what may be going off the rails.
Leaders need more than a laundry list of what’s gone wrong. They need context, consequences and a clear path forward. Storytelling is how audit bridges the gap between detail and decision, turning auditors into trusted advisors.
On the All Things Internal Audit podcast, Doris Myles, director of internal audit at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, put it well:
“Influence can be more powerful than authority in internal auditing.” Her advice: know your audience, map relationships early and use narrative to build confidence well before fieldwork begins. “One of the things I stress is telling the story,” says Myles. “A lot of times we're in the data, we're so focused on the details … But you have to meet people where they are and bring them along the journey.”
That aligns with guidance from the Institute of Internal Auditors (the professional body that publishes the podcast) about the importance of communication for auditors who want to have impact. But what does this look like in practice?
Five Storytelling Habits for Auditors
Know your audience. What words, concerns or framing will resonate? Adjust the narrative accordingly.
Set the scene. Start with why the audit matters, what’s at stake and the potential impact.
Use real examples (without breaching confidentiality). Concrete stories build empathy and understanding.
Show the connections. Link observations to strategic goals, risks and performance.
Find your storyline. Anchor facts in a clear beginning-middle-end that helps your audience understand the message.
Shifting Perceptions
Nobody wants to be seen as the “policy police.” Use storytelling to shift perceptions so auditors come to be seen as valued partners. And – as a good storyteller – remember to frame the outcome as shared success, not a win for audit.
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