Storytelling – the new black!
March 31, 2012
My blog is a means for me to tell my story, to reflect on what I have learnt, heard or experienced. It helps me to build meaning through my writing and links to multi-media, such as images and video clips. It is a place where I can pull things together and a place where I can open myself up to criticism and be completely vulnerable. It has become a part of the way I do my work!
In looking more closely at my work as a leader, I see a greater need to be a storyteller. It humanizers the work and builds connections – well that is what I think it does! I am currently in the process of looking more deeply into the power of story for our school and trying to see how this may help to build connectedness and a deeper sense of pride and belonging.
In a Twitter search for ‘storytelling’ I came across this infographic. It is created with business in mind, however, I believe it also applies to school leadership quite well.
The Hoffman Agency is a public relations firm that emphasizes storytelling in business communication.
Entry Filed under: 21st Century Skills,leadership,learning,literacy. Posted in 21st Century Skills ,leadership ,learning ,literacy Tags: belonging, blog, connectedness, infographic, leadership, stories, story, storyteller, storytelling.
5 Comments Add your own
Hi Helen. I love this infographic. As a newly appointed Deputy i’m finding very quickly that the ways in which we interact with others is a crucial element of our success as leaders. Thanks you for sharing. I enjoy reading your insights and reflections on life in education!
Thank you Pam. Congratulations on your new appointment. It is a great role to be in. As you have probably discovered too, quite fast paced and never a dull moment.
I think I could use a little storytelling on my blog for sure. At the moment, I’m finding that my leadership role is very all consuming and the reflection that my blog offers is not happening – which is a problem because it means I’m still in a reactive instead of constructive state of mind. I am more mindful that stories from my workday experiences have to be crafted carefully as to preserve the privacy and dignity of those who I work with on a daily basis, staff and students alike. Just typing and letting things flow isn’t really suitable in my new role if I’m reacting or spinning off from something that has happened. But to de-personalise what I write means often slipping into the jargon that the infographic demonstrates.
I think I am also finding that being in leadership now means that I am less inclined to think learning and technology in my “free” time and be a bit more selfish about finding some mental downtime for myself. It is about finding the balance as I do enjoy the conversations and connections from my blog – and the less blogging I do, the less inclined other people are to stop by and offer their insight.
Hi Graham! Thanks for your comment. I think you have identified some aspects of leadership that I too have had to work through – well…still working through! I would often wonder why principals would be hesitant to connect through Twitter or other forms of social media. I now know that the down time and the personal time is hugely necessary to reinvigorate for the role of a leader.
My own connections are still going, not quite as much I don’t think, but like you, I built them early on and luckily they are still there.
My stories are often reflective and tie in with my current studies of Master in School Leadership. I use them as a way to stop and take a breath. Even though they are work related, they still help me untangle my many thoughts and tasks in the day to day thing we call work.
Thanks again for commenting
I looove the infographic you shared. This will also work for educators. Most educators use the “corporate tone” when teaching what they know. But that’s not effective for many students who feel intimidated when they hear it. On the other hand, storytelling has been proven to be effective even with young students who listen when lessons are told through anecdotes of educators, giving the lesson a personal touch and making the teachers more human and one of them. Thanks for sharing.
Cynthia Nielsen
Professional Writing Service Editor http://www.essayscapital.com/
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