The Flunker’s Story

Challenge and Selection

I love to tell stories to drive my point. I am an accountant and when I am talking about numbers

– profit, assets, liabilities – I see people in front of me starting to yawn and feel sleepy. But when I give  stories as an example, my audience or people attending meetings I am facilitating come alive.

Many effective and efficient managers I know are able to convert into stories their plans for the

future or solutions for problems  that even the simplest employee belonging to the rank and file can  understand what they want to convey.

Application

In our college where I work as instructor, during a meeting, we were discussing what we should

do to our graduates who are failing in their licensure examinations, some not just once. In the meeting, I  shared my personal story where I failed the licensure examinations twice. I told them that the first time  around, I felt like it was the end of the world for me; that I was not able to meet the expectations of my  family, friends, teachers and everyone I knew. I told the group that I decided to look for a job instead,  and thankfully, I got hired immediately. However, I experienced being discriminated but I decided to  endure it. Six years passed and I found the guts to try again. Due to the many updates in accounting  standards which came about during the six years that I was out of circulation, I missed so much that  when I again took the examinations, I flunked. But this time, I was determined to review and take the  examinations again. Thanks God, I made it!

Insights and Approach

My colleagues were able to realize from my story that giving up on our graduates is not an

option. Instead, as a group, we were able to come up with a policy we named “call-back”. From that  time on, we did our best to follow up on our flunkers and gave each of them the support we can give:  free reviews sessions, free review materials, moral support, brotherly advices, among others. Plus, if I  get the chance to tell each one of the flunkers, my story of how I struggled and succeeded, I always  make sure I will not miss doing so. And, this solution works each time.

Simple as it may seem, I consider storytelling as a small stone thrown into the lake and creates a

ripple.  When used to help solve a problem, lives are changed for the better: both that of the storyteller  and the one who heard the story and caught the values that go with it.


The Flunker ’s Story Challenge and Selection I love to tell stories to drive my point . I am an accountant and when I am talking about numbers – profit , assets , liabilities – I see people in front of me starting to yawn and feel sleepy . But when I give stories as an example , my audience or people attending meetings I am facilitating come alive . Many effective and efficient managers I know are able to convert into stories their plans for the future or solutions for problems that even the simplest employee belonging to the rank and file can understand what they want to convey . Application In our college where I work as instructor , during a meeting , we were discussing what we should do to our graduates who are failing in their licensure examinations , some not just once . In the meeting , I shared my personal story where I failed the licensure examinations twice . I told them that the first time around , I felt like it was the end of the world for me ; that I was not able to meet the expectations of my family , friends , teachers and everyone I knew . I told the group that I decided to look for a job instead , and thankfully , I got hired immediately . However , I experienced being discriminated but I decided to endure it . Six years passed and I found the guts to try again . Due to the many updates in accounting standards which came about during the six years that I was out of circulation , I missed so much that when I again took the examinations , I flunked . But this time , I was determined to review and take the examinations again . Thanks God , I made it ! Insights and Approach My colleagues were able to realize from my story that giving up on our graduates is not an option . Instead , as a group , we were able to come up with a policy we named “ call - back ” . From that time on , we did our best to follow up on our flunkers and gave each of them the support we can give : free reviews sessions , free review materials , moral support , brotherly advices , among others . Plus , if I get the chance to tell each one of the flunkers , my story of how I struggled and succeeded , I always make sure I will not miss doing so . And , this solution works each time . Simple as it may seem , I consider storytelling as a small stone thrown into the lake and creates a ripple . When used to help solve a problem , lives are changed for the better : both that of the storyteller and the one who heard the story and caught the values that go with it .