Example Reflection – Story Telling

Challenge and Selection

The art of storytelling is something that has always intrigued me. I finished my Bachelor’s in  Engineering in May 2018 and was placed into one of India’s reputed automobile companies through  Campus Recruitment. The company provides a year’s training about the businesses and the verticals  within, for us to have a clearer understanding and ownership of the processes in place so as to make  the transition from campus to corporate smoother. The training started in August. We were a batch  of 120 new recruits of which I knew not even a single member personally. The situation was  challenging as it was tough for me to gel into an atmosphere of total unknowingness. This is when, in  a quest to get to know them better, I started sharing my life stories and also heard theirs. This allowed  me to compare and contrast the ways through which each one of us had to tread to reach the same  place. Individual sharing of stories is a long process to know each one of them, but the same is also of  paramount importance as networking proves to be one of the prime factors ascertaining the levels to  which you grow in an organization. This was when a challenge was put forward, which I would better  phrase as an opportunity. There was going to be an internal election for the selection of a group leader  who would facilitate the flow of information from the senior management to the trainees. Without  personally knowing more than 80% of the voters, it was ought to be tough to convince them to vote  for you, especially considering that there were a few colleges from where the company had hired in  huge numbers, and that the most popular members from their colleges were also competing  candidates.

Application

On such a stage, each of my competitors had a horde of achievements, participations and voluntary  activities to their name compared to my meagre few. It was clear to me that something different had  to be done in order to stand apart. This was also when I had enrolled in the design thinking course and  had already underwent some of the modules. Storytelling was one of the better tools that I found dear  and effective and felt would be the right fit for the job at hand. I would like to share a story of the  story that I presented that particular day.

Among the 10 candidates who were willing to contest, the 9 of them had delivered powerful  bulldozing achievements of theirs which only made the audience feel smaller. It was my turn to speak  before the polling would be open. I opened by saying that I have not much experience when it comes  to managing events or delegating things. Then I went on to share a small part of my life’s journey. I  had just completed my 10th and was awarded by the Governor of Maharashtra for being the boards’  topper of the entire Western Zone in the examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary  Education, India. There was a lot of praise and appreciation flowing in from all sides and talks about  how big I would make it in the coming days. That was also when the friendship between a real close  female friend of mine and me was blossoming into newer and higher avenues. All seemed rosy and  pitch perfect when one day she became the victim of a car crash. She died. It left me shaken. My  grandfather was who I was the next closest to and I’d sit by his side, hoping, that just maybe, maybe  it was all a nightmare and I’ll wake up soon. That was when my grandfather, who was among the fittest  guys in the neighbourhood, had a kidney failure. The entire household was in a state of panic. We had  to arrange for amounts of money that we never before had seen in our lifetimes. It is sometimes said  that when God gives, he gives aplenty. When he takes, he takes more than what you can withstand.

For a guy who was the zonal topper, now I had FAILED in two of my subjects in my 11th grade. I felt the  world coming crashing on to me. My grandfather finally made it out unharmed. But all of this had left  me and my family financially and emotionally drained. This was when I decided it was time to take the  plunge. To give it all I can to make things alright again. In spite of all the turbulence inside my head, I  made it a point to slog in the hours. I would sit and stare at my books regardless of what went inside.  I wrote the exams and I failed. This gave rise to further anger and frustration and I tried my best to  channel it into useful effort. I decided to not give up. As months passed, the emotional agony  alleviated and I started gaining stable ground. I studied like a madman and wanted to prove to myself  that it is me who decides my fate and not the circumstances. Fast forward to my exams, I did  reasonably well in my boards and aced the entrances to finally get into one of the premier institutions  of the country.

Insight and Approach

I followed up the story saying that I can’t say if I would be the best bet to be a leader. What I did assure  was that no matter what weight of expectation or responsibility I am bestowed with, I’ll make sure to  not give up. I believed that each one among the 120 had the capability to lead and that the best I could  do would be to just be a representative, a voice of the 120 who would hold each voice equally  important.

What I had observed through the course of life that this course could clearly convey is that humans  are creatures of emotions more so than logic. The way towards connecting with another human being  is empathy, which can be best generated through story telling. Each human being has at least once  gone through a bad phase and a similar experience being narrated by another gets them feel  connected much quicker.

I ended my speech and we had the voting and I eventually was selected. More importantly, after the  elections, a lot of people came up to me to know about my story and also to share a part of theirs.  This was, I have made more friends in a few days than I could have through the year. Sometimes, a  simple true story can do a lot to bring the otherwise unapproachable people together.

This course has really helped me reinforce the belief of the importance of storytelling as a design tool.  Now I can prepare ahead and also think of stories that I could tell designed according to the audience,  which would be great deal in expressing my ideas more clearly whilst also generating empathy.


Example Reflection – Story Telling Challenge and Selection The art of storytelling is something that has always intrigued me . I finished my Bachelor ’s in Engineering in May 2018 and was placed into one of India ’s reputed automobile companies through Campus Recruitment . The company provides a year ’s training about the businesses and the verticals within , for us to have a clearer understanding and ownership of the processes in place so as to make the transition from campus to corporate smoother . The training started in August . We were a batch of 120 new recruits of which I knew not even a single member personally . The situation was challenging as it was tough for me to gel into an atmosphere of total unknowingness . This is when , in a quest to get to know them better , I started sharing my life stories and also heard theirs . This allowed me to compare and contrast the ways through which each one of us had to tread to reach the same place . Individual sharing of stories is a long process to know each one of them , but the same is also of paramount importance as networking proves to be one of the prime factors ascertaining the levels to which you grow in an organization . This was when a challenge was put forward , which I would better phrase as an opportunity . There was going to be an internal election for the selection of a group leader who would facilitate the flow of information from the senior management to the trainees . Without personally knowing more than 80 % of the voters , it was ought to be tough to convince them to vote for you , especially considering that there were a few colleges from where the company had hired in huge numbers , and that the most popular members from their colleges were also competing candidates . Application On such a stage , each of my competitors had a horde of achievements , participations and voluntary activities to their name compared to my meagre few . It was clear to me that something different had to be done in order to stand apart . This was also when I had enrolled in the design thinking course and had already underwent some of the modules . Storytelling was one of the better tools that I found dear and effective and felt would be the right fit for the job at hand . I would like to share a story of the story that I presented that particular day . Among the 10 candidates who were willing to contest , the 9 of them had delivered powerful bulldozing achievements of theirs which only made the audience feel smaller . It was my turn to speak before the polling would be open . I opened by saying that I have not much experience when it comes to managing events or delegating things . Then I went on to share a small part of my life ’s journey . I had just completed my 10th and was awarded by the Governor of Maharashtra for being the boards ’ topper of the entire Western Zone in the examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education , India . There was a lot of praise and appreciation flowing in from all sides and talks about how big I would make it in the coming days . That was also when the friendship between a real close female friend of mine and me was blossoming into newer and higher avenues . All seemed rosy and pitch perfect when one day she became the victim of a car crash . She died . It left me shaken . My grandfather was who I was the next closest to and I ’d sit by his side , hoping , that just maybe , maybe it was all a nightmare and I ’ll wake up soon . That was when my grandfather , who was among the fittest guys in the neighbourhood , had a kidney failure . The entire household was in a state of panic . We had to arrange for amounts of money that we never before had seen in our lifetimes . It is sometimes said that when God gives , he gives aplenty . When he takes , he takes more than what you can withstand . For a guy who was the zonal topper , now I had FAILED in two of my subjects in my 11th grade . I felt the world coming crashing on to me . My grandfather finally made it out unharmed . But all of this had left me and my family financially and emotionally drained . This was when I decided it was time to take the plunge . To give it all I can to make things alright again . In spite of all the turbulence inside my head , I made it a point to slog in the hours . I would sit and stare at my books regardless of what went inside . I wrote the exams and I failed . This gave rise to further anger and frustration and I tried my best to channel it into useful effort . I decided to not give up . As months passed , the emotional agony alleviated and I started gaining stable ground . I studied like a madman and wanted to prove to myself that it is me who decides my fate and not the circumstances . Fast forward to my exams , I did reasonably well in my boards and aced the entrances to finally get into one of the premier institutions of the country . Insight and Approach I followed up the story saying that I ca n’t say if I would be the best bet to be a leader . What I did assure was that no matter what weight of expectation or responsibility I am bestowed with , I ’ll make sure to not give up . I believed that each one among the 120 had the capability to lead and that the best I could do would be to just be a representative , a voice of the 120 who would hold each voice equally important . What I had observed through the course of life that this course could clearly convey is that humans are creatures of emotions more so than logic . The way towards connecting with another human being is empathy , which can be best generated through story telling . Each human being has at least once gone through a bad phase and a similar experience being narrated by another gets them feel connected much quicker . I ended my speech and we had the voting and I eventually was selected . More importantly , after the elections , a lot of people came up to me to know about my story and also to share a part of theirs . This was , I have made more friends in a few days than I could have through the year . Sometimes , a simple true story can do a lot to bring the otherwise unapproachable people together . This course has really helped me reinforce the belief of the importance of storytelling as a design tool . Now I can prepare ahead and also think of stories that I could tell designed according to the audience , which would be great deal in expressing my ideas more clearly whilst also generating empathy .