How Storytelling Can Help Your End-of-Life Team
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
Sometimes, your EoL team gets in a rut.
You all get so busy with your day-to-day work that you don’t have time to connect with each other. You’re going through the motions, going from one task to the next. Your team members might seem:
Overwhelmed and stressed out
Cynical or negative
Lacking initiative
As their leader, you are desperate to find a way to re-engage them. You know it’s not the “real” them, and you want to help them feel appreciated, supported, and rejuvenated in their work.
Enter the highly effective yet unsuspected hero to save the day: Storytelling.
According to Teresa Hopke in her Forbes article “There’s More To The Story - Why We Should Normalize Sharing Stories In The Workplace,” she names a few of the many benefits of storytelling in the workplace:
“By learning about the lived experiences of others we gain valuable insight into who they are and what comes to work with them. “
Knowing that Cheri, the hospice social worker on your team, is caring for her ailing mother on the weekends, is important to know. Of course Cheri is tired on Monday mornings and absolutely fried by Wednesday.
“Storytelling is a gift to your workplace culture.”
By learning about your colleague’s stories, you are gaining valuable perspective. You all are opening your eyes and hearts to empathy - being able to see things from another person’s experience.
“People are willing to share their stories when leaders go first.”
Don’t forget the importance of sharing your story, too! People are craving connection with their leaders, and by modelling your own vulnerability in sharing, you will help others feel comfortable sharing their story, too.
Incorporating more storytelling into your team meetings is a great place to start. And we have a free resource to help you start.
Or, if you’re ready for a jaw-dropping, wildly creative, Storytelling event that will knock your socks off, look no further than our Team Building event!
Our team utilizes the highly-engaging and unique modality of Playback Theatre to help your team bond on a deep level.
Depending on the needs of your team, we might bring some of all of our cohort:
Our Facilitator
Who guides your team in their sharing their personal stories in a safe environment
Our Musician
Whose music brings the stories to life with spontaneous song
Our Actors
Who reflect each story back with movement and improvised drama
We will elicit stories from your team members based on a theme that we have co-developed with you.
Let’s be clear. Just this process - having a professional facilitator come in, create a safe space for your team, and encourage them to share their stories - is incredibly powerful. As people hear another person’s story shared, they grow in empathy and perspective. Commonalities are discovered. Bonds are deepened.
But that’s not even the best part.
After someone shares their story, it is immediately reflected back to them with music, movement, and improvised drama. Imagine your story coming to life before your very eyes with artistry and depth. It is so powerful!
Colleagues are experiencing this all in real time - the storytelling and the reflecting back. It’s such a powerful way to connect to each other.
And to say that it is memorable is an understatement. I have been a Playback Theatre practitioner since 2010, and I still remember the first story I ever shared as well as the reflecting back of my story.
Regardless of whether or not we ever work with you, I do hope you find ways to have more storytelling among your team. The benefits are priceless.
If you work in the end-of life or bereavement field, YOU ARE INVITED! Compassionate Coaching is offering a virtual Storytelling Workshop, which incorporates Playback Theatre, on Thursday, September 26th, 7:00 to 8:00 PM Eastern just for you. Click here to register!