Stories are the oldest and best way of passing on information in an engaging and memorable way.
They are a key tool in learning, and a nice break from PowerPoint and flip charts, and they can be used to make things easier to remember, to raise a particular issue for discussion, to challenge the way people think, and to make learning easier to transfer back to the workplace.
We don't need to rely solely on real things that have happened either - although real life stories are really good - we can write our own stories too. Sometimes this might be because we don't know a relevant true story, but often there is value in an obviously fictional account - think how much we call on famous fictional situations as real-life metaphors now: everything from Shakespeare and Star Wars to Monty Python. Fictional stories can be used to illustrate ideas in a meaningful way that everyone understands.
In this podcast I talk to Samantha Mathis about her use of stories and how to write your own stories for training courses and other learning events. She also talks about using storytelling as a powerful teambuilding activity, allowing teams to raise and discuss issues in a fun and engaging way.
Samantha Mathis is Regional Head of Learning & Development for the Americas region for the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
She has more than 15 years experience in leadership and learning and organizational development to realize improvement and change. She has extensive experience developing leadership and management training strategies, coaching and mentoring teams and individuals, and specializes in cultural training, leadership and team development.
A retired Royal Air Force officer, she has worked on projects for the U.S. and U.K. governments, the United States Agency for International Development as well as in the private and education sectors.
Samantha has global experience with multi-cultural teams in the Americas, Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. She has a B.A. in European Business Communication and a Masters in French & Business and is currently completing a Doctorate in International Education, specializing in the transfer of learning from leadership programs to the workplace.
Improving quality, motivation and innovation with attention to detail
Five ways to engage reluctant learners with e-learning
The 4Ts Model of Online Training: How to Avoid Disaster
How to create a truly inclusive culture that changes people’s biases
The future of work and what it means for L&D
The art of elegant measures that improve learning retention
The future of Learning and Development at the heart of the organisation
What do Marketing need from Learning and Development?
What learning and development can learn from stand-up comedy
How Learning and Development can get closer to the business
Following their path, not yours
What does the business want from learning and development?
The Essentials Mix: How to keep learners engaged on training courses
Leadership Development: The End of May
How to put learning at the centre of how your organisation succeeds
Language learning at work: how to do it and why it’s worth it
How can we train executive presence in leadership development?
Identity Crisis! Is Learning and Development fulfilling its purpose?
5 tips to better learning videos
Using simulations to bring leadership development to life
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
U.S Property Podcast
Aligned Money Show
Gorse Culture PODcast : The H.R. Detective Agency!
The Ramsey Show
Planet Money