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Storytelling: A Powerful Tool for Problem Definitions
Presented by:
Marian Thier, Expanding
Thought
Vision:
Wow! Another great problem solving meeting. People here
are owning their share of challenges and the solutions so
much more these days. And, I am feeling great that I was instrumental
in bringing this about. Ever since I learned to apply dialog
and storytelling to the problem definition process, we have
been able to identify problems more accurately, find out how
people feel about the issues, and identify the right champions
to bring about solutions. Our most chronic problems have now
been addressed, and it has been amazing to see the energy
and commitment devoted to resolving them. My co-workers and
my boss are thankful for this new process, and it's certainly
been a feather in my cap to be the catalyst for it.
Session Description:
"Nothing serves a leader better than a knack for the narrative.
Stories anoint role models, impart values, and show how
to execute indescribably complex tasks." Thomas A. Stewart,
Fortune, September 7, 1998
The purpose of our workshop is
to use stories to build common
understanding of a problem so that
a coherent challenge can be stated
in a way that action can be taken to
meet the challenge or solve the problem.
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Description
cont'd:
When people participate in a common
experience, many assume that there is shared meaning about
that experience. We will invite participants to explore a
situation from individual points-of-view with the intention
of gathering collective information. Through personal stories
we will build a group story about a problem. Then we can unravel
the collective story to identify the underlying strands that
define the problem.
This session will uncover about the problem:
- shared history
- myths that exist
- assumptions held by individuals
- unique points-of-view
- archeological foundations that are the
underpinnings
- existing/pre-existing roles
At the end of the session, attendees will understand a tool they can teach in their organizations to increase effective problem identification and, therefore, problem-solving. Specific skills they will acquire include:
- mindset focused on unraveling problems
- patient listening to others' stories
- deepened learning/thinking
-
talking in the "and" mode
- broadened examination of what a problem
contains
- option-oriented thinking
- how to involve all concerned parties
- suspension of judgment
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Summary:
The session will create a space to learn,
inquire, and reflect to enable the problem definition to emerge
from the stories told.
This Half-Day Pre-Conference Workshop costs
$295.
Click Here
for a bio of Marian J. Thier
Founder of Expanding Thought® and creator of THINK
TANK: The Game of Creative Problem Solving®, and The
Journey, a Fable, and OutThink (co-developer) and
Joe Miguez.
Click Here to read "Using
Storytelling to Create Powerful Problem Definitions" by Marian
Thier.
--> Register
Here <--
Innovation Network
451 E. 58th Ave., #4625, Box 468
Denver, CO 80216
Phone: 303-308-1088
Fax: 303-295-6108
http://www.thinksmart.com/
E-mail at: Staff@thinksmart.com
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