About a month ago, I was working in my home office when my doorbell rang. I went to the door to find the mail carrier with a small package in his hand. He offered the padded envelope in exchange for $2.35, or C.O.D. While $2.35 is not a lot of money, I simply didn’t have any cash in my wallet. Plus, I was highly indignant that someone would even consider sending something C.O.D! How presumptuous of them!
I asked for a closer look at the package, specifically, the return address. I discovered it was sent by a friend of my husband’s who is doing international volunteer work. Sensing my hesitation, the mail carrier informed me that I could refuse the package and it would be returned to the sender. Guilt set in – it wasn’t even addressed to me, after all. Just then, I remembered a jar of spare change my husband keeps on a small table by the front door (where he empties his pockets each evening when he comes home from work). I scrambled to dig up the ransom and was eventually able to produce $2.35 in exchange for the mysterious package. Once in my hands, I felt compelled to open it. Inside was a small book about…storytelling! As I flipped through the pages, the message became clear. LIFE is an epic tale and we all have a role in that tale. A couple of lines in particular jumped out at me, “stories are equipment for living,” and “story is the language of the heart.”
So, just what does my story have to do with training? The power of storytelling has been known for thousands of years. Whether you’re a new Trainer or a seasoned professional looking for innovative ways to get your message across, stories are a wonderful tool! Stories help facilitate the learning process and make it more pleasurable for your learners. They can help you, as a trainer, bring your content to life. When I teach our How Adults Learn workshop and we come to the section on The Process of Learning, I always say “the mark of an advanced Instructor is one of being a good storyteller.” I once had a boss who said, “a good artist copies, but a great artist steals.” What she meant was when you hear or read a good story, take it and make it your own! Stories serve as ready-made resources to use in a variety of ways. I have several personal stories and anecdotes I already use, but am always looking for more. One of my favorite resources is, “Tales for Trainers,” by Margaret Parkin. It’s a “must-have” for Trainers, as it gives an anthology of 50 tales, wide-ranging in style and content. Perfect for those who need to “steal” a story and make it their own.
I’d love to hear about some of the stories you’ve used with success in your classes. Tell me, what’s your story?
Melissa
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