Challenge and Selection

Storytelling is a powerful tool that I do not underestimate in anyway. Over time I have come to realize  its ability to change perspectives and give people the right mindset/frame to work or express  themselves. I work in bank supervising tellers. Often, we have staff leaving and there is need to recruit  new staff and when this is done, I am left with giving the new staff hands-on training. The nature of our  job is mind demanding and requires full attention and attention to details.

One of the activity/process in tillering cash withdrawals and there are procedures/policies and  guidelines that govern this process. On no account are we to give cash to customers without due  verification. We do this in order to ensure we give cash to the right customer or third-party customer in  some cases.

I observed with time that due to the overwhelming influx of customers, due diligence was being  compromised. This was a great risk for the Team and the bank has a whole and despite several  reminders to do the right thing, it proved abortive.

Application

I started by talking to them individually, during lunch breaks and at informal places and I got to realize  that they found it tedious and monotonous to be consistent with following the ‘many procedures and  policies’ on just one process out of many others. I began to realize that they were losing motivation and  needed their minds ‘re-calibrated’.

I began sharing my experience with them. When I started out as Teller, I after some time on the job I  began losing interest and motivation because of the procedures involved for instance, cash withdrawal.  During this process we had to key in the customer’s number, check account balance, ensure the account  has no restrictions, check the picture and mandate on the account to ensure the customer in front of  you is the verified owner of the account and check the signature against what is on the system.

Honestly it was quite a lot of procedure for one customer and having to do that for all the customers  coming in was cumbersome and tedious. But I was made to understand that it was necessary because  the customers trusted us with money, some of them their life’s savings and we had a duty to protect  their interest and savings from unauthorized access. It was the least we could do. With this  understanding I was able to focus and with time it became a part of me.

This Storytelling changed their perspective on how they saw the job and were able to focus.

Insight and Approach

What I have discovered with the storytelling approach is that people want to know they are not alone in  whatever difficulties they are going through. Once they understand they are not alone it gives them  some sort of comfort.

I have used this approach not only at my place of work but generally in life and it is awesome to see the  transformation in people this approach brings when relating with them.

Telling a story, especially one that your audience or listeners are experiencing or currently going through  goes a long way and works like magic.


Challenge and Selection Storytelling is a powerful tool that I do not underestimate in anyway . Over time I have come to realize its ability to change perspectives and give people the right mindset / frame to work or express themselves . I work in bank supervising tellers . Often , we have staff leaving and there is need to recruit new staff and when this is done , I am left with giving the new staff hands - on training . The nature of our job is mind demanding and requires full attention and attention to details . One of the activity / process in tillering cash withdrawals and there are procedures / policies and guidelines that govern this process . On no account are we to give cash to customers without due verification . We do this in order to ensure we give cash to the right customer or third - party customer in some cases . I observed with time that due to the overwhelming influx of customers , due diligence was being compromised . This was a great risk for the Team and the bank has a whole and despite several reminders to do the right thing , it proved abortive . Application I started by talking to them individually , during lunch breaks and at informal places and I got to realize that they found it tedious and monotonous to be consistent with following the ‘ many procedures and policies ’ on just one process out of many others . I began to realize that they were losing motivation and needed their minds ‘ re - calibrated ’ . I began sharing my experience with them . When I started out as Teller , I after some time on the job I began losing interest and motivation because of the procedures involved for instance , cash withdrawal . During this process we had to key in the customer ’s number , check account balance , ensure the account has no restrictions , check the picture and mandate on the account to ensure the customer in front of you is the verified owner of the account and check the signature against what is on the system . Honestly it was quite a lot of procedure for one customer and having to do that for all the customers coming in was cumbersome and tedious . But I was made to understand that it was necessary because the customers trusted us with money , some of them their life ’s savings and we had a duty to protect their interest and savings from unauthorized access . It was the least we could do . With this understanding I was able to focus and with time it became a part of me . This Storytelling changed their perspective on how they saw the job and were able to focus . Insight and Approach What I have discovered with the storytelling approach is that people want to know they are not alone in whatever difficulties they are going through . Once they understand they are not alone it gives them some sort of comfort . I have used this approach not only at my place of work but generally in life and it is awesome to see the transformation in people this approach brings when relating with them . Telling a story , especially one that your audience or listeners are experiencing or currently going through goes a long way and works like magic .