THE POWER OF STORYTELLING IN TRAINING

Once upon a time, when my eldest granddaughter, Az-Zahraa, whom I call Grasshopper, was six years old, she borrowed her Mama's handphone and texted me, "Grandfather you are a ??." I was amused and curious, and so I called my daughter and asked her "Shaimaa', why is she calling me a mushroom?" My daughter laughed and explained that Az-Zahraa was browsing Wikipedia and discovered that mushrooms are a form of fungi (Fun-Guy)!

Why, you ask, would I tell that story during the early parts of my class or training? Well, firstly, it’s a great way to break the ice and bring laughter to the audience. Secondly, using a personal story, helps us to connect on a personal level, which is so important in any learning environment. And thirdly, I’ve been accused of being too happy! So, the story effectively pre-frames the audience that it’s OK to have fun and enjoy ourselves and that I may be silly at times!