The Collaborative Story Basildon & Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation trust Thursday 23rd November 2017

4 Qualities of Storytelling 1. Narrative structure enables the audience (and the storyteller) to follow and hold a complex series of thoughts and ideas. 2. Descriptive language stimulates the imagination of your audience and actively involves them. 3. Presence, born of a confidence in your message and the ability to share your personality, attracts your audience to you and what you say. 4. Spontaneity, responding to the moment and the interests of your audience keeps your story fresh, relevant and dynamic.

The Workshop: Work practically in teams to create a presentation. Practice some techniques so you can understand and apply them to all communication. Identify content: structure, deliver, adapt and develop it. Become comfortable speaking without a script. Work initially in teams, then break out into new pairs for spoken exercises, feedback to identify and reflect on what can be changed or improved. Group Tellings to end.

Step 1 – The Subject of your Story 1. Write down a title for your story in 1 sentence 2. Note down who you will communicate it to.

Step 2 - Like, Dislike, What? Like: What are the positives related to the situation and context surrounding your subject? Dislike: What do you and your audience dislike about the situation and context surrounding your story’s subject? What problems are there? What?: What don’t you or your audience understand about the situation, context, or any other parts of your story? What questions might you be left with?

Step 3 – Motivation. What do you want your audience to do after hearing your talk? What do they need to think, feel, question, understand to do it? What should be explored to make this happen? Explained? Proved?

Step 4 – 5-Facts Bearing your Motivation in mind, what 5 pieces of information are important to include in what you say?

Step 5 - CATSaloguing Explore and note down what you know and what you could say about the ingredients of your story: Characters: the people, the protagonist Action: what happens, what is thought or experienced (important events or theories) Time: describe the time, timeframe and pace Setting: what places are important to describe

Step 6 – Bones. Back on your own for this one: Write the numbers 1-10 in a list. Whole story in 10 words. Not a sentence, no repeats, no strung-together-pretend-words.

Step 7 - 3 Layers of Story in one. Any story exists in 3 layers, each connected to the other. The personal or individual experience The story of a group/organisation/community The national, social, political or world story What happens in one has an effect on the others to a greater or lesser degree. It is easier to understand, appreciate or be involved in the biggest story if you know the small personal or individual story. To help you find the story you can tell about your subject, note down the 3 layers it contains.

Step 8 - Story Map Structure the story using Beginning, Middle and End Include points from your LikeDislikeWhat? Build your story with: - Characters: who is the protagonist and who is involved throughout your story - Actions: what happens and how does it happen. Important ideas fit in here too. - Time: when does anything happen, over what period. - Setting: where does it happen

Step 9 - 1st Tell Storyteller: In 2 ½ minutes share with your partner the story as you have it so far. What is most important to convey while keeping it friendly and informative. Editor: Listen and notice what you like. Don’t interrupt your partner.

Feedback What did you like? What sparked your interest? What helped your understanding? What do you remember? 13

Step 10 - Focus Focus creates visual descriptions to either: give images your audience can place themselves within clarify definitions, processes, meanings, vocabulary and jargon Editor: “Tell me what … looks like.” (“Carry on”) Storyteller: Stop where you are in your story, and respond by describing Visual Detail. What can you see? Add as much visual detail and clarity as you can. Other senses, such as sounds, may also help. 14

Like, Dislike, What? What helped or hindered your attention, interest and understanding: What did you like? What do you remember? What did you dislike? What negative questions would this story raise? What did you not understand or need to know more about? 15

Focus - Explanations Visual details are a simple way to engage yourself and your listener. Help them see what you see. It identifies specific helpful details, removes generalisations, misunderstandings, confusion and unhelpful jargon. Don’t take for granted what your listener already knows or does not know. Visual detail is tangible.

Step 11 - Perspectives Perspectives allows you to consider and experience different opinions, points of view and responses related to the story. Editor: “Tell the story from the point of view of…” (“Back to Neutral”) Neutral voice, your personal “I” voice, a character, first person, third person… Storyteller: Tell the same story, convey the information but from this new perspective.

Like, Dislike, What? What helped or hindered your attention, interest and understanding: What did you like? What do you remember? What did you dislike? What negative questions would this story raise? What did you not understand or need to know more about? 18

Perspectives - Explanation A story affects, is created and witnessed by many people. Different perspectives allows more chances for connection, empathy and response. Different perspectives give new insights (problems and benefits) and provide alternate actions, explanations or expertise.

Step 12 – Full Circle Prep. Go back over your notes for Steps 1 – 7 and look at your feedback from Steps 8 – 10. Is your Motivation still relevant? Where will you use Focus and Perspectives? How can you play with the narrative order to give the greatest impact? Edit your notes on pages 18 - 20

Step 12 – Full Circle Tell Tell your 5 minutes back to your group Include what you discovered in Focus and Perspectives. Continue to see what you can turn up spontaneously. Remember who your intended audience is. What is your Motivation for telling this story? This time you won’t be interrupted. Feedback: Make notes of what you heard. What are they key stand out messages for you?

Team Negotiation Which of the versions is going to influence your final, group story? What are you going to include from other stories? What would you like to change? Not every (or even everyone’s) contribution needs to be included. Re-draft story map on pages 21-23. 22

Practice Group Tellings Who is responsible for sharing your story to the group? Will it be one or more of you? Practice this telling aloud. 23

Reflection What are the key points that are coming out in these stories? What is missing from them and not being given a voice to? What have you learned from other stories that you would like to keep? 24

Thanks for all your hard work. Goodbye… Thanks for all your hard work. www.thewholestory.org.uk info@thewholestory.org.uk 020 7701 1063 07983 600 456 Josh Gaillemin