Skip to main content

Story Telling is a powerful training tool

Yes, undoubtedly Story Telling is a powerful training tool. Not only in training but stories can be used powerfully in presentations, group motivation and discussions. My personal belief is that bulleted conversations has it's strengths but if one can use a appropriate story, the understanding is far better and deeper.

I believe, "Leaders who use stories with their teams communicate much powerfully".

As a Trainer, when using stories, I find the participant reflection richer and the retention longer ... and not necessarily only factual stories. Even fables, stories from the panchatantra etc. have the desired effect.

But how many Trainer's use Stories?

At times we get so involved with concepts and processes that the motivational aspect of why should one learn the skill or the behaviour is not at all tackled

An additional thought:

In India, (where I majorly deliver my training interventions), our culture supports Stories.

Most of us live in a joint family system (nowadays changing!). The role of the grandparent was to entertain kids with stories. The stories used were from our epics... the Mahabharata or the Ramayana etc. Other stories of Buddha, Panchatantra were narrated. The fight was between the Rakshashas (evil) and with the Gods. Thus was imbibed in a child "family values". Values which became part of one's conscience.

We didn't require any training on Principles and Values for inside we knew what it meant.

Presently I see that Grandparents are themselves busy in the corporate world and dont retire... they are sooo busy. Further due to the break-up of the joint family system, grandchildren are not under the 'guidance' of the grandparents... so no stories.

Is there a co-relation between this and the fact that we are seeing a lot of compromise on one's "value" system and thus more and more scams?

Comments

GOVIND GADIYAR said…
Hey Ajit

Stories help the listen to digest the principle behind the story and also retain the memory as well.

I teach at NMIMS and use stories to bring home the point.

More stories we use better it is. Also it creates interest and improves participation and interaction.

Best Regards

Popular posts from this blog

Dealing with late-comers in workshops

One of the challenges every Facilitator / Trainer has to deal with is the learners coming in late. My advise: If more than half of the expected learner group are in the room, I kick-off my program.  When the late-comers arrive, I acknowledge them with 'eye contact' - at times integrate them with a quick recap of what I have covered. If less than half are in the room, then I ask the sponsor (HR / Business) what should be done? - most of them advice a wait of at least 15 mins. We then announce this to those present - so that they can have coffee or maybe catch up on a call or two.  In the meantime the sponsor starts calling/texting the no-shows to find out what is happening. After the extended time lapses, we just start. I won't be harsh with penalty because in most of the India cities, traffic can be unpredictable. In certain regions of India (where late-coming is seen as okay), I would start with a fun/intro/ice-breaker activity which takes about 15 to 20 m

13 Ways to Engage Gen Z - published by Human Capital December 2017 issue

We have for ever lived in hierarchy. We had Rajwadas, and Raja’s and Rani’s! And then the Maha Mantri, the Mantri’s and the Peshwa’s. We lived in Hierarchy. Then came the Queen from land-afar and this took the whole hierarchical bit 100 notches higher. And then in spite of democracy for the about last 70 years, we still are deep-rooted in hierarchy.  Organisations are legal entities and yet we have similar hierarchical structures that define many aspects in an organisation from decision-making, office-cabins, cafeterias (esp. in manufacturing) and where one is allowed to Park etc. In some places even the Washrooms are hierarchical rules of entry. Funnily, many curse these discriminations however the same people aspire promotions not for the challenge of the enhanced deliverables or for the sense of leading people, but mostly for the ‘power’ that they would enjoy in those positions. However, as Bob Dylan professed in the 60’s in his song The Times They Are A-Changin'

"Improvising For A Culture of Collaboration" published in Human Capital Jan 2018 issue

(This is the text version of my article that appeared in the magazine Human Capital January 2018 issue Vol.21 No. 8) Usually Managerial responses to any proposition ranges from a direct “No” to “NO, but” and then “Yes, but” to a direct “Yes.”. The magic of “Yes,…. And” is acceptance, and then acts as a building brick, a movement forward to the original idea. Improv is a short form of the noun improvisation . And Improv! can happen anywhere and everywhere! Anyone who has viewed the UK fav show “Whose Line is It Anyway” would know the speed in which the actors improvise on the show builds a hilarious, fun-filled banter. Improvisation has been used as a Drama tool for many years and it can train an artist to agility & in-the-moment thinking especially when a co-artiste forgets a dialogue or goes wrong on a particular action. I have used this tool to train Public Speakers especially