Storytelling: A Powerful Process!

People ask me to define my career passion. I use the word Storytelling!

As you may know, I have two parts to my career: Learning Innovations and Broadway Theater! Why? Learning and Theater are both about Storytelling and Making an Impact. For me, they are “close cousins” - both leverage the power of Storytelling with the power of Curiosity. A great learning lesson and a great theater experience light up the learner or audience with a Story that impacts, is retained and memorable.

For example, 2 weeks ago, we opened a new Broadway Musical that MASIE Productions is helping to produce: “Here Lies Love!” It is written by David Byrne and tells the story of the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos from the Philippines. Wonderful performers and friends Lea Salonga and Arielle Jacobs are amazing in this show. Watch this 90 second video clip to get a sense of the show:

Can you feel the energy of this Storytelling? We have radically re-designed the Broadway Theater in New York City for the musical. Eliminated every seat in the Orchestra and created a dance floor for hundreds of audience members. The show has built a “dance disco” space to reflect Imelda’s love of that vibe. And, the stage moves throughout the show’s 90 minutes - engaging and stimulating the audience. (http://www.herelieslovebroadway.com)

The production of this show brilliantly triggers the Curiosity of the audience and uses music, graphic and dialogue for Storytelling.

Storytelling is an art and science to create and deliver a story that impacts the audience. Each time I go to “Here Lies Love” I see hundreds of audience members responding to both the dance vibe and the violence in the history of the Marco regime.

In my lifetime of being a conference producer and seminar leader, Storytelling has also been a powerful tool to share content, context and collaboration.

I spent many years travelling the world teaching a new seminar in the 1980’s called “Teaching People to Use Computers.” At the start of every 2 day workshop, I told a story about how I taught my mother, living in a senior housing building in Miami, to use a computer to send and receive emails. My story relayed her resistance and then how she invited 5 of her friends to sit on a coach in her studio apartment and comment about her first computer lesson. Years later, people come up to me and repeat exact parts of that story they decades ago. Storytelling imprints memories!

Storytelling is about Design.
Storytelling works best with Audience Curiosity.
Storytelling has a natural “Story Arc” and Ideal Duration.
Storytelling has to be Authentic.
Storytelling is at the heart of how we Engage and Respond.
Storytelling deserves Rehearsal and Feedback.
Storytelling is a Powerful Human Capacity.
Storytelling should be a key to Employee Development!

We are excited to expand the connection the Learning and Broadway connection with our new Learning Festival. (http://www.masie.com)

Benchmarking is a data driven form of Storytelling. Conversations amongst learning colleagues are a collaborative form of Storytelling. And, interviewing an expert vs. listening to a traditional keynote is another form of Storytelling Personalization. I interviewed Michelle Obama and Steve Wozniak for their keynotes and both said it was so much more engaging than a one way speech.

Yes, AI Chats can curate and compose interesting narratives. But, technology can not bring the authenticity to the storytelling. Adding your context and passion to a story is a deeply Human Process.

Explore, honor and dive into the Magic of Storytelling!

Yours in learning,

Elliott Masie
MASIE Learning Collaborative
MASIE Learning Productions
emasie@masie.com
www.masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Events:

• Learning Festival - November 7 and 8 in New York City

• AI & Learning LAB - September 20 and 21 in Saratoga Springs, NY

Info and Registration: http://www.masie.com