EXAMPLE REFLECTION-STORY TELLING

CHALLENGE : Story telling is a fantastic tool I use amongst my team members, I work as a team lead in a  financial institution often times the challenge with managing a team in my organization is that they are  more focused with meeting their targets and KPI whilst others aspects of their lives suffers.

SELECTION: The environment could be tough, driven and rigid, so to ensure a little flexibility and  encourage staff to focus on other aspects of their lives, I remind them through story telling of their past  career growth, I tell them stories occasionally when we have meetings or team bonding sessions to keep  their business drive and nurture other life aspects so as to get staff who are all-rounders. Story telling as  a plot keeps the listeners engrossed as to where the story is headed and what morals can be gotten as  these stories are often reflected upon by the listeners.

APPLICATION: I have a team member who is focused entirely on meeting his new targets and he berets  himself if there are shortcomings in meeting these targets, often times forgetting how far he has come,  never mind that he is one of the strongest link on the team, who needs to be constantly reminded to  celebrate his small and big wins. So one Wednesday morning when we were having one of our brief  morning meetings at the conference room, I reminded everyone of a smart neatly dressed impeccable  gentleman who had joined the team two years back who meet his bi-annual targets within three months  of joining the organization, the executioner; as we fondly called him, he smiled from his sitting location  on the far right when I equally reminded other team members of the cash reward given to the team  upon managements recognition of his outstanding performance, I looked him straight in the eyes and  pointed out to him that those glory days were far from over, but he could do well to ensure such passion  and drive are inputted in other aspects of his life.

INSIGHT: I further spoke of my journey which lead to heading a team, I reminded those who were aware  of the journey and notified those who were new to the team, I told them how I strived for a work life  balance, never derailing from my passion to succeed in life. I also repeated that mental health was as  important as meeting KPI’S at work after which the team was dispersed and instructed to give their best  for the day.

APROACH: I observed that people went about their tasks this particular Wednesday with a different kind  of positive passion to deliver on the days task whilst trying to focus on other finer things of life, there  was also the constant teasing amongst team members on how the cash gift received courtesy the  executioner was shared and spent.

My design thinking background and story telling as a tool has oftentimes helped encourage a disgruntled  team, added humor to self-pitying minds and ultimately helped staff meet their targets amongst other  things.


EXAMPLE REFLECTION - STORY TELLING CHALLENGE : Story telling is a fantastic tool I use amongst my team members , I work as a team lead in a financial institution often times the challenge with managing a team in my organization is that they are more focused with meeting their targets and KPI whilst others aspects of their lives suffers . SELECTION : The environment could be tough , driven and rigid , so to ensure a little flexibility and encourage staff to focus on other aspects of their lives , I remind them through story telling of their past career growth , I tell them stories occasionally when we have meetings or team bonding sessions to keep their business drive and nurture other life aspects so as to get staff who are all - rounders . Story telling as a plot keeps the listeners engrossed as to where the story is headed and what morals can be gotten as these stories are often reflected upon by the listeners . APPLICATION : I have a team member who is focused entirely on meeting his new targets and he berets himself if there are shortcomings in meeting these targets , often times forgetting how far he has come , never mind that he is one of the strongest link on the team , who needs to be constantly reminded to celebrate his small and big wins . So one Wednesday morning when we were having one of our brief morning meetings at the conference room , I reminded everyone of a smart neatly dressed impeccable gentleman who had joined the team two years back who meet his bi - annual targets within three months of joining the organization , the executioner ; as we fondly called him , he smiled from his sitting location on the far right when I equally reminded other team members of the cash reward given to the team upon managements recognition of his outstanding performance , I looked him straight in the eyes and pointed out to him that those glory days were far from over , but he could do well to ensure such passion and drive are inputted in other aspects of his life . INSIGHT : I further spoke of my journey which lead to heading a team , I reminded those who were aware of the journey and notified those who were new to the team , I told them how I strived for a work life balance , never derailing from my passion to succeed in life . I also repeated that mental health was as important as meeting KPI ’S at work after which the team was dispersed and instructed to give their best for the day . APROACH : I observed that people went about their tasks this particular Wednesday with a different kind of positive passion to deliver on the days task whilst trying to focus on other finer things of life , there was also the constant teasing amongst team members on how the cash gift received courtesy the executioner was shared and spent . My design thinking background and story telling as a tool has oftentimes helped encourage a disgruntled team , added humor to self - pitying minds and ultimately helped staff meet their targets amongst other things .