Challenge

In today’s highly competitive work environment, the organization that trains in the most effective

and efficient manner possible will always gain the cutting edge. The toughest part of being a training

professional is to ensure learner engagement.  It refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest,

optimism, and passion that leaners exhibit when they are learning which extends to the level of

motivation they have to learn and progress in their education. The passive approaches employed for

the past generation of learners are now obsolete. Classrooms and lectures are now slowly becoming

a thing of the past.

Selection

It was the need of the hour for me to come up with active learning methods to ensure learner

engagement. So, I decided to adopt storytelling.  Stories have been around for millennia. Ancient

cultures used them to pass on traditions and wisdom to subsequent generations. In corporate

training, storytelling is a medium that can be used in new hire training (introducing new employees

to the company’s history, goals and visions), product training (the story behind the creation of a

certain product and its uses, including testimonials), application training (the steps involved to move

from point A to point B) and soft skills training (e.g., the consequences of poor time management

and how to rectify it). I decided to employ story telling in all these four types of training programs

carried out in my organization. According to the video lecture on storytelling, it is about the

connection that we give to people about a piece of information that we're trying to share. A good

story at it’s essence, is simply conveying a message that has logic.

Application

The foundation of a great story starts with knowing the audience. Sometimes we make a lot of

assumptions about who our audience is. Mostly, we assume that they are like us and that is not

always the case. I also often see organizations too broadly define their audience, which is also not

helpful. So, before starting any training program, I decided to go for a thorough discovery process to

get to know the real audience including their demographics and previous experiences. The second

part of a good story is a clear sequence of events. A great story is characterized by a clear sequence

of events that moves it from the beginning to an end and has its moments of reflection. So, I took

extra care is arranging the story in proper order to ensure that the audience will be able to capture

the essence of it. The third part is about selecting the most appropriate story which suits the

context. There's a variety of stories that a trainer can tell during the training program. So, I do a lot

of research to narrow down the story that best fits the situation and suits the audience.

Insights

Including story telling as an integral tool in the training process was a fruitful exercise for me. In the

process of getting to know my audience better, I was able to uncover their soft, mushy emotional

side. As much as forming an emotional connection is important, I was able to help the audience see

parts of themselves (or their lives) in the story. The biggest insight I got was the fact that ultimately,

the audience isn’t concerned about you, your process or your expertise. They are concerned about

how the message you are there to deliver is going to impact the business, from whatever

perspective they see it. In understanding this, I see the importance of customising my message.

Customisation involves knowing who you are speaking with, what drives them and then determining

the best way to connect with that audience.

Approach

So, next time, I will ensure that all my training programs will be learner centred rather than being

content centred or trainer centred.  First, I will think before I speak. Before I speak, I will construct

the story. And to construct the story, I will think about my audience and consider the world from

their perspective. It’s not about me, the trainer – it’s about them and the business. To communicate

my story effectively, trainer must be heard. To be heard, I must connect with my audience with a

message that is relevant to them, and delivered in a way they can understand.


Challenge In today ’s highly competitive work environment , the organization that trains in the most effective and efficient manner possible will always gain the cutting edge . The toughest part of being a training professional is to ensure learner engagement . It refers to the degree of attention , curiosity , interest , optimism , and passion that leaners exhibit when they are learning which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education . The passive approaches employed for the past generation of learners are now obsolete . Classrooms and lectures are now slowly becoming a thing of the past . Selection It was the need of the hour for me to come up with active learning methods to ensure learner engagement . So , I decided to adopt storytelling . Stories have been around for millennia . Ancient cultures used them to pass on traditions and wisdom to subsequent generations . In corporate training , storytelling is a medium that can be used in new hire training ( introducing new employees to the company ’s history , goals and visions ) , product training ( the story behind the creation of a certain product and its uses , including testimonials ) , application training ( the steps involved to move from point A to point B ) and soft skills training ( e.g. , the consequences of poor time management and how to rectify it ) . I decided to employ story telling in all these four types of training programs carried out in my organization . According to the video lecture on storytelling , it is about the connection that we give to people about a piece of information that we 're trying to share . A good story at it ’s essence , is simply conveying a message that has logic . Application The foundation of a great story starts with knowing the audience . Sometimes we make a lot of assumptions about who our audience is . Mostly , we assume that they are like us and that is not always the case . I also often see organizations too broadly define their audience , which is also not helpful . So , before starting any training program , I decided to go for a thorough discovery process to get to know the real audience including their demographics and previous experiences . The second part of a good story is a clear sequence of events . A great story is characterized by a clear sequence of events that moves it from the beginning to an end and has its moments of reflection . So , I took extra care is arranging the story in proper order to ensure that the audience will be able to capture the essence of it . The third part is about selecting the most appropriate story which suits the context . There 's a variety of stories that a trainer can tell during the training program . So , I do a lot of research to narrow down the story that best fits the situation and suits the audience . Insights Including story telling as an integral tool in the training process was a fruitful exercise for me . In the process of getting to know my audience better , I was able to uncover their soft , mushy emotional side . As much as forming an emotional connection is important , I was able to help the audience see parts of themselves ( or their lives ) in the story . The biggest insight I got was the fact that ultimately , the audience is n’t concerned about you , your process or your expertise . They are concerned about how the message you are there to deliver is going to impact the business , from whatever perspective they see it . In understanding this , I see the importance of customising my message . Customisation involves knowing who you are speaking with , what drives them and then determining the best way to connect with that audience . Approach So , next time , I will ensure that all my training programs will be learner centred rather than being content centred or trainer centred . First , I will think before I speak . Before I speak , I will construct the story . And to construct the story , I will think about my audience and consider the world from their perspective . It ’s not about me , the trainer – it ’s about them and the business . To communicate my story effectively , trainer must be heard . To be heard , I must connect with my audience with a message that is relevant to them , and delivered in a way they can understand .