Don’t let corona become our only story
Don’t let corona become our only story What impact can
Arjen Barel
Storytelling is a strong means of initiating communication between individuals and groups, for example between different generations or different cultural backgrounds. Working in groups is an essential part of this. For example, telling and listening in groups encourages you to really get to know and understand each other. But there’s more! We list four benefits for you.
With group work you have both storytellers and audience (attentive and critical listeners). A good way to use this potential is to let participants work in smaller groups to collect and create stories. This positively influences the dynamics, because participants can immediately check whether ideas work and test how they can best convey something.
In addition, it is easier to show any potential uncertainty in a small group than immediately before a larger audience. It helps participants to work on their self-confidence. Because self-confidence is being worked on in both generations, communication often changes.
By involving the group in giving constructive feedback, they see how the quality of stories improves through collaboration. Moreover, by listening critically and giving feedback, participants are “forced” to look critically at their own story, compared to the story they have to review. In this way they discover the strengths and weaknesses in their own story.
Finally, the participants in a project have a greater resemblance to the audience, with whom some ultimately want to share their story, than the trainer. Co-participants are usually the best reviewers of a story. Our task as a trainer is primarily to properly guide and facilitate this process.
Don’t let corona become our only story What impact can
Getting through the crisis with stories! In these absurd times
Changemakers: It’s the small big stories that are important In
The Human Library: judging by listening When people aren’t strangers