Reflection – Storytelling & Visualization

Challenge & Selection

As a Team Coach, I work with teams to help them create shared identities and aspirations. I  have recently started to make use of both the Storytelling and Visualization tools in my  workshops. Using LEGO bricks as a prop, I guide the participants on creating metaphors using  the LEGO bricks and then sharing telling the story of their model. More often than not, teams  have their own internal politics and it can be a challenge for the participants to share freely  their feelings and views on team issues. Through the use of metaphors, we present to the  participants a means to share their stories without pointing fingers at someone in particular.

Application

I work with teams across different levels and function all the time and it is always interesting to  listen to the stories told by the participants. The ability to visualize exactly what is being  narrated provides the storyteller and the listener an excellent opportunity to be drawn into the  situation and create a bond between the storyteller and the listener. I worked with the logistics  and stores department of a construction company once. The culture of this company was  extremely traditional and hierarchical and the participants told a story of how they felt about  where they stood in the scheme of things. The participants saw themselves as being at the very  bottom of the organization with everyone on top. They felt unappreciated and unnoticed  because the boss of the company was all the way right at the top.

Because no one was able to visualize their concerns before this, they were unable to view their  feelings in perspective. Now that they have a 3-D model representing their issue, I invited the  participants to pick up the model and try to see it from various perspectives to see if they can  view their issue differently and they were able to do so - instead of seeing themselves as 'stuck  on the bottom' they saw themselves as the foundation of the organization; without them  issuing stores and handling logistics, the company would not be able to operate its construction  vehicles.

Insight & Approach

Prior to using the storytelling and visualization tools, it was difficult to get participants to open  up to the issues of concern to the team. And then it was a challenge to understand what the  participants were saying because people tend to beat around the bush when it comes to  sensitive topics that they feel uncomfortable sharing.

The tools have helped me to run better and more successful workshops than before as the  participants became more engaged and felt that they were able to share freely as they were  telling stories of situations that affected them.


Reflection – Storytelling & Visualization Challenge & Selection As a Team Coach , I work with teams to help them create shared identities and aspirations . I have recently started to make use of both the Storytelling and Visualization tools in my workshops . Using LEGO bricks as a prop , I guide the participants on creating metaphors using the LEGO bricks and then sharing telling the story of their model . More often than not , teams have their own internal politics and it can be a challenge for the participants to share freely their feelings and views on team issues . Through the use of metaphors , we present to the participants a means to share their stories without pointing fingers at someone in particular . Application I work with teams across different levels and function all the time and it is always interesting to listen to the stories told by the participants . The ability to visualize exactly what is being narrated provides the storyteller and the listener an excellent opportunity to be drawn into the situation and create a bond between the storyteller and the listener . I worked with the logistics and stores department of a construction company once . The culture of this company was extremely traditional and hierarchical and the participants told a story of how they felt about where they stood in the scheme of things . The participants saw themselves as being at the very bottom of the organization with everyone on top . They felt unappreciated and unnoticed because the boss of the company was all the way right at the top . Because no one was able to visualize their concerns before this , they were unable to view their feelings in perspective . Now that they have a 3 - D model representing their issue , I invited the participants to pick up the model and try to see it from various perspectives to see if they can view their issue differently and they were able to do so - instead of seeing themselves as ' stuck on the bottom ' they saw themselves as the foundation of the organization ; without them issuing stores and handling logistics , the company would not be able to operate its construction vehicles . Insight & Approach Prior to using the storytelling and visualization tools , it was difficult to get participants to open up to the issues of concern to the team . And then it was a challenge to understand what the participants were saying because people tend to beat around the bush when it comes to sensitive topics that they feel uncomfortable sharing . The tools have helped me to run better and more successful workshops than before as the participants became more engaged and felt that they were able to share freely as they were telling stories of situations that affected them .