Example Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is the fundamental part of every successful business. Since I work for non-profit  organization and I understand the most important task for people working in this kind of organization  is to communicate with communities, listen what their problems is and let them understand our  organization’s objectives. Storytelling is the main strategy in every communication where the society  needs realistic example instead of unrealistic scenarios. We are living in the world with full of  exaggeration until we can’t know what the truth is. Likewise, many people deal with oppression and  dysfunction in every aspect of their lives, they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to  empowerment. My main responsibility is to perform operational tasks but of course there are clients  regardless of external or internal, who needed advice or guidance from me. I use storytelling strategy  to communicate with them and wait until they open up the cause of their struggle so that I can give  subjective feedback and advice. The key to storytelling is to tell the truth and show the path to success.  What we overcome is what we have been tested. Often people in my environment believe that I am  one of the examples to show women in low level society to show how a woman with no background  can stand alone and fight the world. I share stories of my life, the struggles I face in order to help them  visualize a state of independence, I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain  their goals, and sometimes we share stories together. Upon their background, I set the examples in  line with the level of the person’s mindset so that they show their interests and participate more. I  develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in  the areas they find lacking in their lives.

Application

I have an example of storytelling approach I used. During staff retreat, staff were assigned to present  their perspectives and their suggestion to the organization. I was the Admin and Finance supervisor in  the field, and I learned that some staff in the field have negative understanding to the Head of the  Field Office and they want to use this as an advantage during their turn of presentation. I am also the  assigned HR focal in the field and luckily, I had enough time to find out the good and the bad already  in the office. I accept this is my duty as an HR focal to let them understand what should be and what  shouldn’t be in the field office therefore, I tried to understand the situation and make a note that I  wasn’t dealing with a single person who has difficulties in understanding organization objectives but  the opposite, I was dealing with a couple of people who wants to manipulate the office for their  benefits. What I did is I ask for my turn to speak up my presentation combined with my story. The story  is about my experience where I was a bad colleague who is stubborn, ignorant and narrow minded and  when I made mistake and struggled to pass, the team helped me out of the problem and show me the  way. The story was a bit long, but I gained the audience attention of how I become so optimistic and  diligent staff member in this job. I concluded the key to my story is the leadership and the importance  of the role of team members. I was trying to explain the audience that the team spirit is important and  without the support of the team, I won’t be here in this place. They are the people who offered their  help and showed me the way to overcome the problems with mentally, physically or financially  whenever in need. The audience listened and showed their appreciation in my presentation. I noticed  those people who have problems bowed their head while listening to my presentation and finally it  turned out that they realized their lack of team spirit is the main in this situation.

Insight & Approach

I think that was the eye-opener for them. They showed full participation later in every retreat activity  and even communicate happily with the Head of Field Office. I had a conversation with them and  listened what their insights. They were fully cooperative and showed improvement throughout the  whole conversation. I told them I was like them who disgrace to the whole team, but I changed myself  my career. I explained their performance matters and to consider about the career development and  the good career record. This worked really well. They behaved good and ended up as a flexible team  player later on. The story touched their heart and they avoid any bad impact for the team.

The senior management listened feedback from me about their improvement and accepted this as a  lesion learn for them without any action for them.  Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good.

This course made me see this as a tool in a new way. As a result, I can now prepare ahead and think  of relevant stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate the targeted audience.

