Storytelling Workshop for Researchers: How to tell the story of your work

Storytelling Workshop: How to tell the story of your work

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect with others and get a message across, yet most of us have never been trained in it. This workshop will take participants on a journey, from understanding how our brains respond to stories, to learning how to develop a strong story using The 6-Step Story Planning Template©.

Who is this workshop for?

Researchers, research staff, knowledge brokers, clinicians, policy makers, communications professionals, students, and anyone who wants to tell a story about their work.

Why take this workshop?

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can help you connect with your audience, share your message, and be memorable—at conferences, retreats, meetings, and anywhere you speak about your work. It also helps you describe the impact of your work to funders and the general public, or develop knowledge translation products, such as videos.

Objectives:

Participants will:

• Explore the art of storytelling as a method to communicate their work, engage others, and inspire action
• Examine real examples of stories that have been developed based on scientific projects and annual reports
• Debunk five myths of science storytelling
• Learn how to prepare, structure, and tell a story well
• Discuss the importance of measuring a story’s impact
• Be inspired to use storytelling for professional communication

OUTLINE

Introduction to storytelling

• What makes a good story
• Story example #1: Spoken word poem to supplement an annual report
• Why stories are important
• Activity: Pulling out personal stories
  

The 6-step story planning process

• Story example #2: Presentation of a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines
• 6 steps to developing a story
• Activity: Adapting for other audiences
• Activity: Structuring a story
• Story example #3: Nurse learns from patient safety mistake

Application to your work

• When, where, and it what ways to use storytelling
• Story impact/evaluation

Learn more: https://www.ktstorytelling.com/

Please note:

The Zoom link will be emailed to participants 1 week before the workshop (or later if a participant registers less than 1 week before the workshop).

About the facilitator: Renira Narrandes, MA, MSc(OT), MPH

Renira is a professional storyteller, spoken word poet and knowledge translation (KT) expert who has performed in North America, Europe, on TV, in podcasts and at academic conferences and events. She trains people all over the world on how to tell stories, including researchers, patient partners, clinicians, community members, knowledge brokers, and many others. She holds three master’s degrees (Master of Arts and Journalism, Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Master of Public Health) and has worked in diverse roles at hospitals and health care organizations. She’s done all things KT—from developing evidence-based clinical tools to implementing care pathways to working with partners in the hospital and community.

Renira has facilitated storytelling workshops for over 30 organizations, including The University of Melbourne, University College Dublin, International Development Research Centre, Healthcare Excellence Canada, McGill University, Canadian Cancer Society, Kidney Patient and Donor Alliance Canada, Diabetes Action Canada, and many others. Her workshops focus on two themes and audiences: 1) how to tell stories of work, for professionals; and 2) how to tell personal stories, for people with lived experience.

Renira has been a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at several international conferences, including the Living Knowledge Conference in Girona, Spain and the Societal Impact of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

Testimonials:

“I recently attended two of Renira's storytelling workshops, and they were an absolute game-changer. Her practical tools and hands-on activities not only helped me understand how to transform complex ideas into compelling narratives but also gave me the confidence to share my own stories.”

—Dr. Nicole Pope, Lecturer, Paediatric Nursing, The University of Melbourne, Australia

“Renira is not only a captivating storyteller, but an inspiring one too. She supported our team through a storytelling workshop and was able to engage us all through her practical tools combined with hands-on activities – at the end, we couldn’t believe that 3 hours had passed so quickly!”

—Sarah Czunyi, Program Officer, International Development Research Centre, Canada

“Renira has the rare knack of being able to not only transform technical scientific content into plain language, but to also do it with flair, creativity and humanity. She is a born storyteller and has so much to teach anyone in research, science or health who would like to learn how to communicate in a way that really makes an impact.”

—Lauren Clegg, Manager, Research and Centres of Innovation Communications, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada

Read more: https://www.ktstorytelling.com/testimonials