Reflection on STORYTELLING

Challenge      Storytelling as one of the strategies for design thinking requires more personal interaction

considering that it is an ‘essential human activity’.  It allows one to share experiences reflective of  his/her values and comes up with possible solutions through verbal and visual accounts.         It is in this context that the use of this as a strategy for design thinking in a formal

organization becomes a challenge.  The methodology for solving problems focuses more on asking  questions and requires more listening with empathy to the needs of the members of the  organization including its stakeholders. Apart from it, not all group members find it easy to share  their personal accounts.  The sharing of the narrative of the members can only be done once trust,  motivation and confidence are built between and among those who are within the organization.       Selection      Storytelling can be a powerful strategy for design thinking considering that it is provides

the “big picture” of the organization.  The organization’s including the members’ narrative are  presented in a manner that the story of each one completes the entire picture.  It will move the  organization in coming with the appropriate plan as demanded by the ‘stories’ of the group  members.        It is in this context that storytelling becomes a lead way in setting up goals and objectives

for the organization.  The consideration for these process is anchored on the personal accounts  and narratives of the group members who are providing the context for brainstorming and for  developing new insights which can utilized in coming up with organization’s plan.     Application      Storytelling as a strategy for design thinking have been utilized in my workplace.  As one

who is into the provision of capacity development activities which come in the form of training  and facilitation activities, this strategy has been applied.  Specifically, it is used to get insights from  the participants and members of the organization, to build empathy in reaching them emotionally  when they have to share personal ‘stories’ and in coming-up with possible conflict resolution  measures on some narratives of the group members or whenever it is required by the situation.      This strategy requires more personal interaction with the ones involved.  The ‘designer’

has to give due consideration on the personal ‘stories’ and narratives which are very personal in  nature to come up with possible solutions on the issues or concerns.  There should be more  ‘balancing’ of what the mind and heart takes to get a solution(s) which are appropriate on the  situation.

Insight      Storytelling is very powerful and at the same time an inspiring way to come up with

solutions.  The solutions are framed based on the stories and or narratives of the group members  and the stakeholder(s) involved.  The accounts of events including their reflections and insights of  a given condition or situation are real and experiential which make it very significant in the  organization. The stories which provide concrete details can easily move ‘designers’ in coming up  with solutions which are based on the experiences.  Further, it strategy which will allow designers  to get narrations can inspire to have more opportunities, ideas and solutions.     Approach      Storytelling as a strategy aids in explaining the interconnectedness between and among

the members of the organizations including the stakeholders, situations and settings or the  situations.  Further, it generates relevant lessons as it engages the ‘human’ side of the  organization, specifically the people.  To quote Tim O’Brien, writer, Storytelling is the essential  human activity. The harder the situation, the more essential it is. Thus, to come up with a design  that is giving due emphasis on the human side and at the same time getting better understanding  on the behavior and attitude of the people in the organization, storytelling as an approach in  getting solutions on the issues and concerns in the organization can be adopted and or  appropriated.

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Prepared by:      Lerato Salem  Ohio State  September 15, 2020

