No matter who you are you have been
told a story that either moved or provoked something inside of you.
Grandparents are a prime example of this old adage. Storytelling is not a new
method in teaching adults; in fact storytelling happens every day in some form
of learning structure. Storytelling is the art of relaying a message for the
purpose of learning and understanding (a TSC definition). Storytelling adds a
personal touch to the message being given. As stated by Diana Oreck of
Ritz-Carlton, the VP of their Leadership Center “stories add colors to facts” Weinstein, (2014). Adults are constantly seeking
the “why” in everything we do. Simply stating a fact to an adult will not
satisfy the craving to understand the why, however a story will perhaps meet
that need. Stories allow the “teller” to be transparent and the “receiver” to
understand and build trust. Storytelling works well in many settings such as
one-on-one mentor sessions, lecture/classroom, conference, tutoring, mentoring,
and small group discussions to name a few. The Adult Educator whether they are
an instructor, facilitator, or trainer has a duty to learn their audience. A
great way to connect to the audience is tell them a great story. The objective
is to allow the audience to relate and elaborate on the story and perhaps tell
their own. Storytelling will allow for a comfortable learning environment to be
created and foster audience engagement.
Weinstein, M. (July/August (2014). Once Upon A Time
in Training. Training Magazine, 22-25.
Your
thoughts are welcome…
MJW
No comments:
Post a Comment