Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is a great tool to use in an organization. I work with large number of populations who are  economically disadvantaged people. Many of these people deal with extreme challenges and dysfunction in  every aspect of their lives, they need to be heard and helped. I spend a lot of time “opening people up” talking  to them and finding ways to guide them to improve their circumstances. When I work with them, we share  stories for different reasons. Often they're lonely and are so happy to share stories of their lives with me to  understand and empathize. With my developing clients I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize  a state of financial security, I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals, and  sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and thought processes. I use this information to  develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in the areas  they find lacking in their lives.

Application

I have a story about using storytelling. In discussing policy changes with a social service agency, I was  trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach, among other things, and  in particular, of recognizing each person as a unique being, and addressing their individual needs first  and foremost. Before its clients were failing in this non-empathetic, rigid structure. I was also explaining how  sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better, even if it seems  extreme or out of the ordinary. I told a story about when I ran an emergency shelter after a natural disaster.  Everyone was doing really well except for one man whose stress was making him very emotionally volatile. I  could tell he needed attention. I made him a cup of tea and sat down with him and let him talk. It turned out  that his daughter, who was with him, had survived a brain tumour and she was terrified that she would get  trapped or that some other crisis would befall her during this disaster while in the shelter.

Insight & Approach

Well, wow, that was super emotional. His daughter was a calm presence and doing very well. Clearly it was  time for me to open up with my story. I told her how scary it was when my father had his brain aneurysm in  front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was. I shared how he  recovered well, and then tied us together, by noting how she and I both have parents who survived brain  aneurysms. This worked really well. She really needed individual attention for that brief time, and she ended  up with that and a true support.

So I told this story to the agency, and I think it had a big impact on people there. The policies are being  revaluated and the caseworkers are going through new training. Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good.

This course made me realise how important story telling is as it gives a really personal touch to an organization  and the clients feel more connected and heard. It gives a real character to the company and the clients have an  emotional aspect towards it.


Challenge & Selection Storytelling is a great tool to use in an organization . I work with large number of populations who are economically disadvantaged people . Many of these people deal with extreme challenges and dysfunction in every aspect of their lives , they need to be heard and helped . I spend a lot of time “ opening people up ” talking to them and finding ways to guide them to improve their circumstances . When I work with them , we share stories for different reasons . Often they 're lonely and are so happy to share stories of their lives with me to understand and empathize . With my developing clients I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize a state of financial security , I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and thought processes . I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more independence in the areas they find lacking in their lives . Application I have a story about using storytelling . In discussing policy changes with a social service agency , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . Before its clients were failing in this non - empathetic , rigid structure . I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about when I ran an emergency shelter after a natural disaster . Everyone was doing really well except for one man whose stress was making him very emotionally volatile . I could tell he needed attention . I made him a cup of tea and sat down with him and let him talk . It turned out that his daughter , who was with him , had survived a brain tumour and she was terrified that she would get trapped or that some other crisis would befall her during this disaster while in the shelter . Insight & Approach Well , wow , that was super emotional . His daughter was a calm presence and doing very well . Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story . I told her how scary it was when my father had his brain aneurysm in front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was . I shared how he recovered well , and then tied us together , by noting how she and I both have parents who survived brain aneurysms . This worked really well . She really needed individual attention for that brief time , and she ended up with that and a true support . So I told this story to the agency , and I think it had a big impact on people there . The policies are being revaluated and the caseworkers are going through new training . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me realise how important story telling is as it gives a really personal touch to an organization and the clients feel more connected and heard . It gives a real character to the company and the clients have an emotional aspect towards it .