Reflection – Storytelling (by Jan Fiala)

Challenge:

When I worked in Peru, my job was to implement a dual vocational education and training (VET) system, where  a company and a vocational school would train young people in co-managed programs, with structured training  plans and a common goal to educate specialists in the field of mechatronics for each company over a period of  3 years. For the duration of the program, students would receive full scholarships from their training company  (which was a huge economic benefit, as most students would have a middle-low socioeconomic background).

Once we finally finished the design and structure of the 3-year program (after a year of hard work with all  relevant stakeholders) we found out that besides all the advantages and opportunities, young Peruvians didn't  enroll/send applications for the program as we had foreseen – mainly because it was “too new” and they  wouldn't commit for 3 years.

Selection:

We needed to inspire potential students and show the advantages and opportunities this new program has to  offer them, while taking away their doubts. We wanted to win their engagement and that they feel they can be  part of a “new big thing” and the first ones to benefit. This is why I chose storytelling get the students on board  for our project, taking away their doubts along on a common journey, trying to connect to their emotions,  characters and values – or as Roberto Brown said in the video lecture: First, we had to sell the challenge.

As I started my carrier graduating from a VET program myself (Germany), I had a good starting point to share  my own story, in order to engage and visualize possible outcomes. This also helped them to open up, as I was in  a similar position, when I took a similar decision they are about to take.

Application

As I wanted to use storytelling, first I had to persuade the companies, vocational school and involved  institutions that our focus needs to be more human centered and we needed to address their individual needs  instead of only concentrating on hard facts. I wanted to visualize, where they can be if they participate and  which new paths open up. To start we invited all interested students for a workshop, in which I began as an  opener and then each company would present themselves to the students, to show them their commitment to  “be there for them” during all the program and that they´d had a common goal in an alliance of students,  companies and school.

I started by getting to know my audience, asking them why they came, where they come from, what are their  needs and most important their doubts “why wouldn't they apply to the program”? Then I tried to answer their  questions along with my story, why and how I decided for myself to start my career. Then I focused on the  unique chances and opportunities that opened up for them, if they participate in that program. I focused  strongly on soft-facts, as their mentioned doubts about the problem mainly came from this direction. Here I  could exploit the presence of the company representatives, showing and assuring that they really care about  them and their success within the VET program. They were even willing to give full scholarships during 3 years  as an investment for them, so there was a huge intrinsic interest of success from each firm. It was also  important to be honest, as of course there were some uncertainty, yet the program was new to all. But the  core message was to confirm, that the opportunities outweigh the risks by far and that nobody was to be left  behind in case of the unexpected: They would become part of a pact between school, institutions, companies  and students to guarantee each other support for success. And that all have the same goal: Ensure success of

the students in their companies and implement a new VET system with potential to solve the major issues in  the Peruvian economy – to be part of the future.

Insight

As most potential students had a middle-low socioeconomic background, we didn't expect that soft-facts were  the main issue to them. Later on they told us: The most important thing for them is to have a company that  cares for their needs and supports them (professional and personal) throughout the whole time. And that  every company trains with the interest for them to keep them after 3 years of training, which changed the  perspective of training for all participants. An additional and far deeper takeaway was, that companies started  to notice they need to be more attractive in the term of “soft-facts”: lifelong development, good atmosphere,  emphatic trainers, etc. to ensure the trained professionals stay with them after graduation. Companies in Peru  never invested in 3 year-VET-programs, now they had to rethink their strategy to retain the investment within  the company.

Approach

Even though the result was astonishing and a lot of the present students applied to the VET program,  application numbers wasn't portioned even between companies. Basically due to differences in  engaging/presenting techniques. The next time I´d like to prepare the firms representatives in a storytelling  workshop, to somehow level their approaches. I also want to mention, that this was a good example that  worked. But usually I just acted out of instinct and it didn't always work.

What I learnt in this course is that there is a lot of more structure and approach for storytelling that I was  aware of. This not only made me curious to learn more about storytelling as a tool, but also helps me to  prepare better for future presentations and asking the important questions. I like storytelling as a tool to get  people engaged and invested in a new project. I´d like to try it also as an opener for Design Thinking  workshops. Just like Roberto Brown said in the video lecture:  “First, we have to sell the challenge. You have to  help the audience understand how the current state is more dangerous than any other possibility out there. You  have to get them in the frame of mind that they want to take this on and make this challenge a cause that they  can invest in.”


Reflection – Storytelling ( by Jan Fiala ) Challenge : When I worked in Peru , my job was to implement a dual vocational education and training ( VET ) system , where a company and a vocational school would train young people in co - managed programs , with structured training plans and a common goal to educate specialists in the field of mechatronics for each company over a period of 3 years . For the duration of the program , students would receive full scholarships from their training company ( which was a huge economic benefit , as most students would have a middle - low socioeconomic background ) . Once we finally finished the design and structure of the 3 - year program ( after a year of hard work with all relevant stakeholders ) we found out that besides all the advantages and opportunities , young Peruvians did n't enroll / send applications for the program as we had foreseen – mainly because it was “ too new ” and they would n't commit for 3 years . Selection : We needed to inspire potential students and show the advantages and opportunities this new program has to offer them , while taking away their doubts . We wanted to win their engagement and that they feel they can be part of a “ new big thing ” and the first ones to benefit . This is why I chose storytelling get the students on board for our project , taking away their doubts along on a common journey , trying to connect to their emotions , characters and values – or as Roberto Brown said in the video lecture : First , we had to sell the challenge . As I started my carrier graduating from a VET program myself ( Germany ) , I had a good starting point to share my own story , in order to engage and visualize possible outcomes . This also helped them to open up , as I was in a similar position , when I took a similar decision they are about to take . Application As I wanted to use storytelling , first I had to persuade the companies , vocational school and involved institutions that our focus needs to be more human centered and we needed to address their individual needs instead of only concentrating on hard facts . I wanted to visualize , where they can be if they participate and which new paths open up . To start we invited all interested students for a workshop , in which I began as an opener and then each company would present themselves to the students , to show them their commitment to “ be there for them ” during all the program and that they´d had a common goal in an alliance of students , companies and school . I started by getting to know my audience , asking them why they came , where they come from , what are their needs and most important their doubts “ why would n't they apply to the program ” ? Then I tried to answer their questions along with my story , why and how I decided for myself to start my career . Then I focused on the unique chances and opportunities that opened up for them , if they participate in that program . I focused strongly on soft - facts , as their mentioned doubts about the problem mainly came from this direction . Here I could exploit the presence of the company representatives , showing and assuring that they really care about them and their success within the VET program . They were even willing to give full scholarships during 3 years as an investment for them , so there was a huge intrinsic interest of success from each firm . It was also important to be honest , as of course there were some uncertainty , yet the program was new to all . But the core message was to confirm , that the opportunities outweigh the risks by far and that nobody was to be left behind in case of the unexpected : They would become part of a pact between school , institutions , companies and students to guarantee each other support for success . And that all have the same goal : Ensure success of the students in their companies and implement a new VET system with potential to solve the major issues in the Peruvian economy – to be part of the future . Insight As most potential students had a middle - low socioeconomic background , we did n't expect that soft - facts were the main issue to them . Later on they told us : The most important thing for them is to have a company that cares for their needs and supports them ( professional and personal ) throughout the whole time . And that every company trains with the interest for them to keep them after 3 years of training , which changed the perspective of training for all participants . An additional and far deeper takeaway was , that companies started to notice they need to be more attractive in the term of “ soft - facts ” : lifelong development , good atmosphere , emphatic trainers , etc . to ensure the trained professionals stay with them after graduation . Companies in Peru never invested in 3 year - VET - programs , now they had to rethink their strategy to retain the investment within the company . Approach Even though the result was astonishing and a lot of the present students applied to the VET program , application numbers was n't portioned even between companies . Basically due to differences in engaging / presenting techniques . The next time I´d like to prepare the firms representatives in a storytelling workshop , to somehow level their approaches . I also want to mention , that this was a good example that worked . But usually I just acted out of instinct and it did n't always work . What I learnt in this course is that there is a lot of more structure and approach for storytelling that I was aware of . This not only made me curious to learn more about storytelling as a tool , but also helps me to prepare better for future presentations and asking the important questions . I like storytelling as a tool to get people engaged and invested in a new project . I´d like to try it also as an opener for Design Thinking workshops . Just like Roberto Brown said in the video lecture : “ First , we have to sell the challenge . You have to help the audience understand how the current state is more dangerous than any other possibility out there . You have to get them in the frame of mind that they want to take this on and make this challenge a cause that they can invest in . ”