MOVING TOWARD A CULTURE OF INCLUSION – ONE STORY AT A TIME

2 OUTCOMES FROM OUR TIME TOGETHER I understand how the stories we tell about ourselves and each other shape how we see things and therefore our actions and decisions I have tools for working with stories that I can apply to my practices and I&D goals

3 Inclusive Leadership Practicing Inclusion Valuing Diversity Compliance EVOLUTION OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

4 SORTS Years in I&D? Where are you on your organization’s I&D journey?

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6 WHAT MAKES STORIES POWERFUL? Humans are meaning-making animals and we are hard wired to make meaning in a sequential, coherent manner We construct, author & tell those stories to each other to convey our interpretation of events and to connect - we are hardwired to listen to stories Storytelling is a streamlined way to share norms and values, develop trust and commitment, have a surrogate experience – feel their experience, share knowledge and inspire

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8 DEF: the ability to create an impact on the beliefs and actions of an individual. Hard influence informs, tells, mandates Soft influence invites, nudges, gently guides INFLUENCE

9 THE BRAIN ON DATA VS. STORIES

10 Hard influence informs, tells, mandates Soft influence invites, nudges, gently guides Storytelling inspires, its memorable, its social, its relational INFLUENCE

11 EXERCISE

12 Select an image that captures some aspect of your current and personal mindset as an I&D culture builder at your organization Take time to walk around the table, allowing you to reflect, look at images and then select You will be guided on how to share why you selected this image with a small group at your table THINK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING AS YOU LOOK AT THE IMAGES

13 Hold up your image and share what the image represents for you (3 minutes each) Take 7 minutes to share your thoughts on: What you noticed as you listened; feelings, reactions etc. What values, hopes and desires did you hear in what each person has shared SMALL GROUPS OF 3 - SHARING

14 Stories reflect our values, our beliefs and needs Stories reflect who we believe we are individually and collectively - identity We build a shared understanding of what is true through authoring, sharing and listening to stories The stories we tell reflect an accepted pool of knowledge, what is right or normal OR can be counter to the widely accepted or dominant story WHY STORIES MATTER TO US?

15 YOUR TOOL BOX – FINDING AND MINING Eliciting Positive Stories Find the positive in problem stories Telling a story

16 Sincere curiosity and interest Use questions that encourage “I” stories rather than “they” or “we” - PERSONAL Use “Tell me about… Describe for me…”, vs. “Do you recall a time…? Search for impacts, learning, the sense someone has made of this experience – HOW? FINDING AND MINING STORIES

17 BARRIERS Time Availability Expert Role Focus & Attention ???

18 Work with a partner Select an event where you saw positive change as a result of your personal effort or your team’s D&I work Using the questions provided, select the questions you would like to ask the other person to expand on the story (10 minutes each) Switch “story tellers” and repeat PRACTICE

19 What possibilities and hopes are in every problem story? How is this story connected to earlier experiences? What might be missing or implied by the person’s story – the flip side of a complaint or concern? LISTENING FOR HOPES & VALUES IN PROBLEM STORIES

20 Work with a new partner Share a story that captures a problem or challenge you are facing (5 minutes) As the listener, check with the story teller as to what hopes and values you heard alongside the problem story (3 minutes) Switch “story tellers” and repeat (5 minutes telling the story/3 minutes of feedback) PRACTICE

21 “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” Fred Rogers, Minister and Television Personality

22 Who is your audience and what is their current mindset? What story can you tell that captures one desired action, one person, one event? If you can, add something that captures attention, surprises the listener. Truthful, simple, recent TELLING A STORY OF INCLUSION

23 On page 5 and 6, jot down the notes that capture the a.) sequence of events of the positive story, b.) your intent and c.) the desired action you are highlighting. You can use the story from earlier exercise. (10 min.) Work with the partner from the Positive Story exercise – share your story (5 minutes) Provide feedback (5 minutes) Switch story teller and repeat process Be prepared to share one or two insights with the large group PRACTICE

24 During Presentations Generating new ideas Problem solving – decision making Socializing new ideas, policies, projects Socializing new team members Sharing knowledge and wisdom ?? OPPORTUNITIES TO USE STORIES

25 ENJOY THE WATER! story

26 Words are worlds Heidegger We hope you enjoy the water!

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