Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection:

Storytelling is a great tool that I use all the time. I work with team of some entry level employee, MT-  who has just passed the college and also some are there in the company for a much longer duration.  While the old employee in the team have got adjusted, the new lot need lots of handholding so that  they can effectively understand the system/Process and the technical knowledge of the General  Insurance Product.  I spend a lot of time “opening people up” and finding ways to inspire them to  improve understanding on the subject matter and take interest in the company objective for the mutual  growth. When I work with seniors in the team, we share stories for different reasons. Often they have  issue with respect to the previous appraisal and felt that they are being sidelined or their growth path is  not being chalked out. I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals, and  sometimes we use stories to better understand their challenge, interest and thought processes. I use  this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more  confidence so that they can grow in their carrier and its win-win situation for all of us in the team.

Application:

I have a story about using storytelling. In discussing policy changes with a new recruited- MT, I was  trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach, among other things, and  in particular, of recognizing each person as a unique being, and addressing their individual needs first  and foremost. The MT was going with some trouble time with respect to the personal health and some  family issue. The clients and channel were chasing him hard for timely delivery of the service however  he was not able to address the issue at professional level because of his personal problems and he was  getting bogged down with all the escalation and his performance was getting further dropped.  I listened  to him with open heart and empathized with him. I explained how sometimes addressing the needs of  one individual can impact everyone for the better, even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary. I told  a story about when I had a similar situation in the past when one of my colleague and close friend had a  similar trouble at both personal/professional life. I had extended some moral support and had extended  some support to finish the work for my friend and given him some breather to manage the trouble he  was facing in the family.  and the same friend had supported me on another instance when I was looking  for some help and in both the situation we managed the official work so effectively that no one in the  company could take a clue of the issue & we won the team of the year award in that period.

Insight & Approach:

Well, that was an ice –breaker. This story worked really well for him as he really needed individual  attention for that brief time, and he ended up with that and a true support. I asked him if he has made  any close friend in the team who can back him up but since he was new, he lacked bonding. I offered  him couple of days off, and took his responsibility and shared some work among my other teammates.  After a gap of 10 days when he joined, he was amazed to see that there was no pending  escalation/service issue. He thanked all the teammates and took download on all the development in his  absence. I feel really happy to share that he eventually went to become the super-performer of the

team and is now actually leading a team and has the same level of empathy for his juniors.  Sometimes a  little story can do a lot of good. This course made me see this as a tool in a new way. When I've done it  before it was really "ad hoc," but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in  presenting my ideas and best illuminate them. I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset, but  I am so very grateful that it is!


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection : Storytelling is a great tool that I use all the time . I work with team of some entry level employee , MT- who has just passed the college and also some are there in the company for a much longer duration . While the old employee in the team have got adjusted , the new lot need lots of handholding so that they can effectively understand the system / Process and the technical knowledge of the General Insurance Product . I spend a lot of time “ opening people up ” and finding ways to inspire them to improve understanding on the subject matter and take interest in the company objective for the mutual growth . When I work with seniors in the team , we share stories for different reasons . Often they have issue with respect to the previous appraisal and felt that they are being sidelined or their growth path is not being chalked out . I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use stories to better understand their challenge , interest and thought processes . I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more confidence so that they can grow in their carrier and its win - win situation for all of us in the team . Application : I have a story about using storytelling . In discussing policy changes with a new recruited- MT , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . The MT was going with some trouble time with respect to the personal health and some family issue . The clients and channel were chasing him hard for timely delivery of the service however he was not able to address the issue at professional level because of his personal problems and he was getting bogged down with all the escalation and his performance was getting further dropped . I listened to him with open heart and empathized with him . I explained how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about when I had a similar situation in the past when one of my colleague and close friend had a similar trouble at both personal / professional life . I had extended some moral support and had extended some support to finish the work for my friend and given him some breather to manage the trouble he was facing in the family . and the same friend had supported me on another instance when I was looking for some help and in both the situation we managed the official work so effectively that no one in the company could take a clue of the issue & we won the team of the year award in that period . Insight & Approach : Well , that was an ice – breaker . This story worked really well for him as he really needed individual attention for that brief time , and he ended up with that and a true support . I asked him if he has made any close friend in the team who can back him up but since he was new , he lacked bonding . I offered him couple of days off , and took his responsibility and shared some work among my other teammates . After a gap of 10 days when he joined , he was amazed to see that there was no pending escalation / service issue . He thanked all the teammates and took download on all the development in his absence . I feel really happy to share that he eventually went to become the super - performer of the team and is now actually leading a team and has the same level of empathy for his juniors . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see this as a tool in a new way . When I 've done it before it was really " ad hoc , " but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them . I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset , but I am so very grateful that it is !