Example Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

I am a mathematician.  I am going to talk about mathematics.  That alone gets many people nervous,  and it is my responsibility to assuage their fears, and explain technical concepts in easily understandable  terms.  A lot of people are not mathematicians, and do not want to have to learn mathematics in order  to achieve a task.  A good percentage of them have a bias against mathematics, and so I tell stories to at  least initially avoid the kind of language that might cause my audience to put up mental shields against  the concepts I am trying to communicate.  I learn how to read my audience, and how to present the  information in such a way that it is understood and accepted.  Math is language at its core, and stories  can be the most accessible form of language.

Selection

These terms often change with my audience.  When I am consulting a visual person, I create a lot of  visual diagrams to explain each concept.  I label each part individually, then use arrows to show what  sends what to where, and use circles to show scope and commonality.

If a person is verbal, I explain it in the simplest terms possible, and relate it as well as I can to the specific  fields of knowledge shared by my audience members.  People think in relative terms, and storytelling is  a great way to take advantage of that.

If an audience is mixed, I use both techniques at the same time, and I make sure to analyze my audience  while I am presenting, and adjust to their reactions to make sure they are all able to understand and  keep up.

Application

My main example of the success I’ve had with storytelling is my dissertation defense.  I had a mixed  audience made up of professors from various fields and businesspeople.  Each person had their own  field of knowledge, and had a previous understanding of a different part of the subject matter.  No one  was familiar with all of it, except for me, and it was my responsibility to make sure that they all  understood once I was done.  I used what I call “putting just enough salt in the water for the freshwater  and saltwater creatures to survive”, which is to describe it with just the right mix of detail and general  storytelling to be able to not only communicate what I had been doing, but why it was significant  enough for a Ph.D.

Insight

It was interesting.  Each person had their own questions, and their own challenges.  I would be patient,  listening to each person.  I would then make sure everyone understood what was being asked, and I  would address it directly, but without using technical language that would make the other professors  uncomfortable with aspects they were not familiar with.  Professors do not approve of ideas they do not  understand, or are not comfortable with.  Even when one professor seemed to be looking for an excuse  to not like my research, I remained patient, and I eventually settled the matter, and was able to  continue.  Eventually, I was done, and there were no more questions.  I then heard my dissertation chair

say: “Congratulations... Dr. Miller.”  I smiled, and I thought to myself: “They accepted your work, so  don’t say a thing.”  I then left... to more paperwork required for graduation, but that is another, less  interesting story.

Approach

I remember being frustrated at all the process I had to go through to get to that point, beyond simply  coming up with an original, useful idea.  I had to learn how to work with different kinds of people to  achieve a common goal, how to adapt with constantly changing circumstances, and communicate in  clear and interesting ways.  It was the beginning of my career as a professional  mathematician/statistician, and this course has been interesting regarding those aspects of the human  element that need to be understood in order to facilitate progress.  I’ve actually used some of this  material already in my conversations about other new ideas I’ve been working on, and I am eager to see  what I can really do with this knowledge.


Example Reflection – Storytelling Challenge I am a mathematician . I am going to talk about mathematics . That alone gets many people nervous , and it is my responsibility to assuage their fears , and explain technical concepts in easily understandable terms . A lot of people are not mathematicians , and do not want to have to learn mathematics in order to achieve a task . A good percentage of them have a bias against mathematics , and so I tell stories to at least initially avoid the kind of language that might cause my audience to put up mental shields against the concepts I am trying to communicate . I learn how to read my audience , and how to present the information in such a way that it is understood and accepted . Math is language at its core , and stories can be the most accessible form of language . Selection These terms often change with my audience . When I am consulting a visual person , I create a lot of visual diagrams to explain each concept . I label each part individually , then use arrows to show what sends what to where , and use circles to show scope and commonality . If a person is verbal , I explain it in the simplest terms possible , and relate it as well as I can to the specific fields of knowledge shared by my audience members . People think in relative terms , and storytelling is a great way to take advantage of that . If an audience is mixed , I use both techniques at the same time , and I make sure to analyze my audience while I am presenting , and adjust to their reactions to make sure they are all able to understand and keep up . Application My main example of the success I ’ve had with storytelling is my dissertation defense . I had a mixed audience made up of professors from various fields and businesspeople . Each person had their own field of knowledge , and had a previous understanding of a different part of the subject matter . No one was familiar with all of it , except for me , and it was my responsibility to make sure that they all understood once I was done . I used what I call “ putting just enough salt in the water for the freshwater and saltwater creatures to survive ” , which is to describe it with just the right mix of detail and general storytelling to be able to not only communicate what I had been doing , but why it was significant enough for a Ph.D. Insight It was interesting . Each person had their own questions , and their own challenges . I would be patient , listening to each person . I would then make sure everyone understood what was being asked , and I would address it directly , but without using technical language that would make the other professors uncomfortable with aspects they were not familiar with . Professors do not approve of ideas they do not understand , or are not comfortable with . Even when one professor seemed to be looking for an excuse to not like my research , I remained patient , and I eventually settled the matter , and was able to continue . Eventually , I was done , and there were no more questions . I then heard my dissertation chair say : “ Congratulations ... Dr. Miller . ” I smiled , and I thought to myself : “ They accepted your work , so do n’t say a thing . ” I then left ... to more paperwork required for graduation , but that is another , less interesting story . Approach I remember being frustrated at all the process I had to go through to get to that point , beyond simply coming up with an original , useful idea . I had to learn how to work with different kinds of people to achieve a common goal , how to adapt with constantly changing circumstances , and communicate in clear and interesting ways . It was the beginning of my career as a professional mathematician / statistician , and this course has been interesting regarding those aspects of the human element that need to be understood in order to facilitate progress . I ’ve actually used some of this material already in my conversations about other new ideas I ’ve been working on , and I am eager to see what I can really do with this knowledge .