Challenge  I attended a course, in which Presentation Skill was one of the modules of the course. During the lesson, all  students were asked to present something within 2 minutes. Instead of presenting something related to my  work, I decided to share a book “Second Half of Life” which I was recently read. I was inspired a lots by that  book and would like to share it to the classmates. However, my challenge was how could I summarize the book  and share the important and meaningful messages within 2 minutes. And as a result, my classmates could be  benefit from the sharing.

Selection   I have applied “Storytelling” in my presentation, especially for sharing a key concept of the book – “Just  Enough”. I believed that many of us might hear this concept before. If I explain the concept, it might be bored  and created no impact to audience. However, a story is much better than thousand words of explanation.  Story also has a power that can contain a lesson or meaning to be communicated effectively to the audience.  Furthermore, using storytelling is not only able to draw people attention, but the audience can remember it  easily as well.

Application  In my presentation, I would like to introduce one of the key ideas of the book, which is “Just Enough” versus  “Never Enough”. Instead of explaining it likes a preaching, I have presented a story which was about a soldier.  Here I shorten the story for illustration. This solider was rewarded by his emperor. The emperor told the  soldier, “you can go out of the palace, wherever you set foot on the place, I will give it to you. As long as you  go out and mark them, you return to palace and report to me, then they are all yours.” The soldier went out  for dozens of miles. When he started to return to the palace, then he thought the marked land seemed  insufficient for his sons, so he decided to go out for dozens of miles again. The land was now ready, and the  soldier headed towards to the palace again. When he saw the palace, he suddenly thought that it might be not  enough for my grandchildren’s children. Therefore, he went out for the land again. Another 10 years passed,  he was very old, and he has marked many lands now. He returned to the palace, but then he was unable to  report his work to the emperor. Because he was too old and died outside the palace gate. The soldier used his  life to prepare for the future, but finally he was unable to enjoy all his hard work.

After the story, I shared a slide which was a  comparison of “Never Enough” and “Just Enough”.  Because the story has already explained the idea  itself. Therefore, I did not need to spend much time  to explain the idea further. After my presentation,  classmates had feedback that many of them were  impressed by the story and has a reflection from it.  I think I made a right decision of applying  storytelling here and it was applied effectively as  well.

Insight  I found that storytelling is a very powerful tool. It motivates people to add interests and connect with the  content. I believed that storytelling is a very useful tools to design thinking as well. Because design thinking  involves convey message to stakeholders, so a good story helps a lots. Besides, same as design thinking, a good  story is designed for the audience, defining audience and customizing content are essentials in both design  thinking and storytelling.

Approach  When I encounter similar challenge or I would like to connect people with content that I want to share, I will  use storytelling again. It is because I really like this tool and I found it is very powerful to impress and inspire  people, and convey message. A good story is much better than “explanation” and people can remember it  easily.     When I prepare and plan the story next time, I will try to set up audience by creating curiosity, adding humour  and trying to dramatize the story, so that the story can be more attractive. Again, defining audience will be  important point that I should take care as well.


Challenge I attended a course , in which Presentation Skill was one of the modules of the course . During the lesson , all students were asked to present something within 2 minutes . Instead of presenting something related to my work , I decided to share a book “ Second Half of Life ” which I was recently read . I was inspired a lots by that book and would like to share it to the classmates . However , my challenge was how could I summarize the book and share the important and meaningful messages within 2 minutes . And as a result , my classmates could be benefit from the sharing . Selection I have applied “ Storytelling ” in my presentation , especially for sharing a key concept of the book – “ Just Enough ” . I believed that many of us might hear this concept before . If I explain the concept , it might be bored and created no impact to audience . However , a story is much better than thousand words of explanation . Story also has a power that can contain a lesson or meaning to be communicated effectively to the audience . Furthermore , using storytelling is not only able to draw people attention , but the audience can remember it easily as well . Application In my presentation , I would like to introduce one of the key ideas of the book , which is “ Just Enough ” versus “ Never Enough ” . Instead of explaining it likes a preaching , I have presented a story which was about a soldier . Here I shorten the story for illustration . This solider was rewarded by his emperor . The emperor told the soldier , “ you can go out of the palace , wherever you set foot on the place , I will give it to you . As long as you go out and mark them , you return to palace and report to me , then they are all yours . ” The soldier went out for dozens of miles . When he started to return to the palace , then he thought the marked land seemed insufficient for his sons , so he decided to go out for dozens of miles again . The land was now ready , and the soldier headed towards to the palace again . When he saw the palace , he suddenly thought that it might be not enough for my grandchildren ’s children . Therefore , he went out for the land again . Another 10 years passed , he was very old , and he has marked many lands now . He returned to the palace , but then he was unable to report his work to the emperor . Because he was too old and died outside the palace gate . The soldier used his life to prepare for the future , but finally he was unable to enjoy all his hard work . After the story , I shared a slide which was a comparison of “ Never Enough ” and “ Just Enough ” . Because the story has already explained the idea itself . Therefore , I did not need to spend much time to explain the idea further . After my presentation , classmates had feedback that many of them were impressed by the story and has a reflection from it . I think I made a right decision of applying storytelling here and it was applied effectively as well . Insight I found that storytelling is a very powerful tool . It motivates people to add interests and connect with the content . I believed that storytelling is a very useful tools to design thinking as well . Because design thinking involves convey message to stakeholders , so a good story helps a lots . Besides , same as design thinking , a good story is designed for the audience , defining audience and customizing content are essentials in both design thinking and storytelling . Approach When I encounter similar challenge or I would like to connect people with content that I want to share , I will use storytelling again . It is because I really like this tool and I found it is very powerful to impress and inspire people , and convey message . A good story is much better than “ explanation ” and people can remember it easily . When I prepare and plan the story next time , I will try to set up audience by creating curiosity , adding humour and trying to dramatize the story , so that the story can be more attractive . Again , defining audience will be important point that I should take care as well .