Working with Stories for the Benefit of the Organization

Welcome to the Learning Hub for Working with Stories for the Benefit of the Organization.

You will leave the learning program equipped with:

  • Understanding the critical role of holding regular story sharing events in the organization as a way to improve organizational performance
  • Practical ways to facilitate story sharing
  • Converting the quantitative data that emerges from the storytelling into quantifiable data that can be presented in graphs and charts to use the information to better advantage including comparison over time
  • Guidance on how to use the data that comes up from the story sharing to leadership advantage
  • Guidance on how to use the story sharing events for individual and organizational capacity development

This page includes details on all of the components. The learning package includes 6 segments. Approximate times for your work with each segment are suggested, totaling approximately 8.5 hours of guided learning. Additional information about each segment can be found further down this learning package home page.

  • Segment 1: Self-study video focused on your Business and/or Development Goal. Plan for 1 hour.
  • Segment 2: Self-study video focused on Welcoming and Orienting You. Plan for 30 minutes.
  • Segment 3: Self-study video focused on Working with Stories for the Benefit of Organizations and Leadership. Plan for 1 hour.
  • Segment 4: Self-study video focused on Accessing Stories through simple storytelling activities. Plan for 1 hour.
  • Segment 5: Self-study video focused on Turning Stories into Data. Plan for 2 hours.
  • Segment 6: Real-time Mentoring Circle. 3 hours. Date: June 11, 2021, from 9 am to 12 noon EDT.

Additional Resources

In addition to the learning segments listed here, we offer you these additional resources to support your learning and work with Stories.

  • Five Beliefs of Genuine Contact: The Five Beliefs of Genuine Contact inform our way of working, are one of the core concepts of the Genuine Contact program, and are covered in a substantial way in The Genuine Contact Way Book. As you undertake your learning in this module, we invite you to learn more about them and notice the relationship of the five beliefs to what you are learning.
  • Accessing Stories Guidebook - describes 4 simple activities you can use to access stories in organizations (accompanies Segment 2 of this learning program)
  • Storyline Diagram (to download the diagram: on a PC – right click on the link and choose “save image as”; on a Mac – press control and left click then choose “save image as“)
  • Storytelling Activity - instructions for one activity to do with a group to share their story and turn the story into data
  • Turning Stories Into Data Excel template for analyzing the data shared in a storytelling event (accompanies Segment 3 of this learning program).
  • Sample Excel Workbook showing how the template looks upon completion of entering the data and creating the visuals (accompanies Segment 3 of this learning program).

The Complete Learning Package

Learn more about the 6 segments of this learning package here:

Segment 1: Getting Ready for Your Learning

Suggested Time: 1 hour | For self-study prior to the rest of your learning

Prepare for your learning experience through a series of readiness exercises. Getting ready for your learning might not be something you’ve thought much about before. We believe taking some time before starting a workshop to get in touch with your personal readiness for learning is an important way to set the foundation for focusing and deepening your learning for the best possible outcomes.

This segment guides you through a simple exercise to focus your intention for the rest of the learning package.  The video is 24 minutes and will take approximately 1 hour to view and complete the exercises.

Access the video here.

Segment 2: Welcome and Orientation

Suggested Time: 30 minutes | For self-study prior to the rest of your learning

You are welcome to your learning journey with Working with Stories for the Benefit of the Organization and Leadership. In this video, we orient you to your learning materials and the intended progress you will make with your self-study materials. The video is 10 minutes and will take approximately 20-30 minutes to view and prepare for your learning with the remaining materials.

Access the video here.

Segment 3: Working with Stories for the Benefit of Organizations

Suggested Time: 1 hour | For self-study

This self-study segment focuses on Working with Stories for the Benefit of the Organization and the leadership advantage that can be experienced by making use of storytelling within an organization - whether with a single story sharing event or by building regular story sharing into the organization.

Access the learning segment here.

Segment 4: Accessing Stories

Suggested Time: 1 hour | For self-study

This segment's focus is on Accessing Stories and focuses on 4 simple activities you can use in any organization to do story sharing. The activities can be used separately or combined to offer a complete storytelling session.

Access the learning segment here.

Segment 5: Turning Stories into Data

Suggested Time: 2 hours | For self-study

In this segment, you will learn one way of Turning Stories into Data. It walks you through how to map data in a storytelling event and then how to turn that mapping into quantitative and qualitative data to be used in the organization.

Access the learning segment here.

Segment 6: Real-Time Mentoring Circle

3 hours | Facilitated Group Work Experience | June 11, 2021 | 9 am – 12 pm EDT

One of the things we believe in all of our training is that having ongoing learning opportunities is critical for learning retention, application of your skills, and continually growing your skills and capacities.

When you have the opportunity to gather with others who have also learned a particular skillset – to share your experiences, wisdom and insights and to ask questions where you still have more to learn – it offers all participants a possibility for ongoing and deepened learning.  As part of our commitment to ongoing learning for your leadership development, you are encouraged to participate in a mentoring circle with a focus on Working with Stories for the Benefit of the Organization and Leadership June 11, 2021, from 9:00 am to 12 noon EDT.

You also qualify to participate in all mentoring circles about working with stories in the future. These mentoring circles are offered without any additional fees for participation. Your participation is included in your original workshop registration. Invitations to future mentoring circles are available via the Dalar International Consultancy newsletter.

Register here to receive login details and email reminders about this mentoring circle.

Also available as a recording for self-study approximately 1 week after the real-time event.

Connecting Prior to the Real-Time Mentoring Circle

If you need specific assistance as you undertake this learning package, contact Rachel Bolton

Supporting you in increasing your leadership capacity,
Rachel Bolton and Birgitt Williams, Dalar International Consultancy