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Whether you're working with a group or an individual, ask them to assume they're enacting a story. Now based on this assumption, have them uncover
elements of their story. Ask them to be detectives, hunting for clues. Looking at their behaviors alone, have them describe story they are living, piece by piece, until "whole" story emerges.
Evaluate your story.
Now have them assess their story. Ask them if this is a story they are happy with. What would they change, remove, or add to this story if it was ideal? Help group come to consensus on authoring of grandest story they can envision. A story that inspires every member of group.
Tell your story.
Facilitate a commitment from all group members to begin sharing their new story amongst themselves and with other important people in their lives. Encourage individuals to talk about their specific role in story and why it appeals to them. The more they talk about their new story, more it will become a part of them.
Rehearse your new role.
Finally, encourage individuals to commit to living their new role in some way. Ask them to commit to making a change or changes in alignment with new story they wish to enact. Assign a "narrator" for group that will report unfolding of new story each week. The group may even assign a "story time" where they explore what kind of changes are taking place and challenges that are showing up as they attempt to enact this new story.
Explore how your new story fits into bigger story of your family, organization, corporation, country, and world.
Your new story may be at odds with bigger story in which your particular group resides. Explore contribution to bigger story your new one can make. Explore any obstacles presented by this bigger story and refine yours if necessary so that it isn't overpowered or subverted by bigger one. Remember, you are authors and you can write it any way you wish. You're only limited by your imaginations!
Action Try above exercise either with yourself, looking at your own life as a story you're enacting, or with one of your groups. I'd love to hear what happens for you. Please email us your comments.
900 words.
About Author Steve Davis, M.A., M.S., is an Facilitator's Coach, Infoprenuer, and free-lance human, helping facilitators, organizational leaders, educators, trainers, coaches and consultants present themselves confidently, access their creativity, empower their under-performing groups, enhance their facilitation skills, and build their business online and offline. Subscribe to his free weekly ezine at www.MasterFacilitatorJournal.com. Contact him at mailto:steve@facilitatoru.com.
Copyright 2003. FacilitatorU.com. All rights reserved.
Steve Davis, M.A., M.S., is an Facilitator's Coach, Infoprenuer, and free-lance human, helping facilitators, organizational leaders, educators, trainers, coaches and consultants present themselves confidently, access their creativity, empower their under-performing groups, enhance their facilitation skills, and build their business online and offline. Subscribe to his free weekly ezine at www.MasterFacilitatorJournal.com.
