Propaganda for Performance: Why Programs Without a Story Fall Flat

In this episode, Jannis Johannmeier discusses an uncomfortable truth: Many companies provide clear information, argue logically, measure everything, and yet still wonder why transformation isn’t taking hold. That’s because people don’t follow Excel logic. They follow stories, images, emotions, and leadership that visibly demonstrates a stance. With his concept of “Propaganda for the Good,” he aims to provide direction, spark change, and make performance effective in the first place.

The conversation focuses on the end of “Spaltmaß Deutschland,” the illusion of rational decision-making, the power of narratives, and the question of why CEOs today must also be Chief Storytelling Officers.

Our guest is Jannis Johannmeier, a communications expert, founder of the communications consultancy The Trailblazers, and author of the book *Propaganda for the Good*. His thesis: In a world overflowing with information, it’s not the most factual message that wins out, but the story that resonates with people.