In 2020, the global film industry topped 100 billion dollars for the first time ever! Now, that’s a lot of dollars, and it’s all because everyone loves a good story.
When done right, storytelling wields the power to reshape information into something meaningful, capture a person’s emotions and make ideas stick. Not to mention, where else can you see someone focus for 2 hours straight if not at the movies? So it’s a missed opportunity if we don’t leverage storytelling to develop more effective learning!
Introducing the Hero’s Journey
If we’re looking for a storytelling mechanism that is simple to use and effective, we don’t need to look any further than the hero’s journey, also known as the monomyth.
Everyone instinctively responds to the hero’s journey, even when we aren’t aware of it. It’s a tried and tested story template of a hero being introduced, encountering challenges and overcoming them to emerge victorious.
This powerful storytelling mechanism used in training helps place learners at the story’s centre and take on the role of the hero. They go on a personal journey to conquer obstacles, learn from their mistakes and rise to triumph over any challenges.
Sounds good, right? But before we dive deeper into how to use the hero’s journey to construct a good story, let’s take a minute to look at what is not good storytelling.
What the Hero’s Journey IS NOT
Sometimes a character or hero is introduced that is highly one-dimensional.
For instance, here is Ben, and he needs to learn things to become better. He then goes through learning objectives and materials and knows stuff at the end.
Good job, Ben? The problem with layering a one-dimensional character and linear journey on top of your learning is that nobody really cares about Ben, nor have they been given a reason to.
The character lacks depth. Your learners are busy people who need to feel vested in Ben with the story to capture and retain their attention. We need to provide them with a compelling story with a rich character they can identify with on this journey.
Using examples from a beloved classic ‘The Lion King’ and a new-hire onboarding training, let’s take a look at how we can successfully use the hero’s journey.
Part I: The Setting of the Scene
In this first part, our hero is introduced, and we learn about who they are and where they come from.
In ‘The Lion King’, we meet Simba, the lion cub and future king, and his father, Mufasa. Simba is playful and trusting and is tricked by his uncle Scar, who gets him in trouble with the hyenas. Mufasa saves Simba, and thus a foundation of the story is set.
On the other hand, in a new-hire onboarding, we can set the scene by introducing the story of the company’s founder, its origins, as well as its highlights and struggles. We then pass the torch to the newcomers and place them in the role of carrying forth this legacy and mapping the future together.
We can show them what’s potentially in store for them (growth, perks, promotions?) and introduce them to key people in the company as real personalities instead of just their titles to make them more relatable. This sets the scene and helps new hires feel connected to the company and its people and build their enthusiasm to get started!
Part II: The Trials and Tribulations
Of course, no good story comes without a struggle. In ‘The Lion King’, Mufasa is killed while trying to save Simba yet again, and Simba runs away believing that his father’s death is his fault. He spends years away from home until he meets Nala, his childhood friend, who tells him that Scar is destroying his kingdom. At first, Simba refuses but finally decides to return when he sees Mufasa in the stars. Simba confronts Scar while Scar begs for mercy.
In the process of a new-hire onboarding, there should not be any mercy begging going on. However, during the process, whether in product training, sales simulations or customer training, this should be when learners are immersed in challenges using powerful visuals and realistic scenarios.
They are then drawn into simulations where they have to make decisions that will test their knowledge. Here, mistakes are encouraged, and frustrations should be expected. These are opportunities for learners to apply their new knowledge to address these challenges, correct errors and overcome their frustrations to give them a sense of satisfaction.
Part III: The Triumphant Victory
The final part of the hero’s journey sees the hero ultimately enjoying the fruits of his victory. In ‘The Lion King’, Scar attacks Simba, but Simba prevails in the battle and finally claims his rightful place as king with Nala as his queen.
In this last stage of the new-hire onboarding, we must give our learners independence and the confidence that they can thrive in their new workplace. As they graduate from onboarding, paint a picture of how far they’ve come and what they are now capable of accomplishing. They can now be introduced to mentorship programmes and other resources to help them revisit what they’ve learnt. Don’t forget to leave your learners with a promise of more adventures!
4 More Useful Tips for Good Storytelling
With the hero’s journey template as the foundation of your storytelling, you can further enhance it with the following tips:
#1 Appeal to Emotions.
Map out how you want your learners to feel at different points of your training and review if your story and material will trigger those emotions. Remember, when learners engage with the content emotionally, they will be more vested in the training.
#2 Use Quality Visuals.
Add visual cues to break up text or narration, and choose powerful emotionally-charged visuals to grab your learner’s attention. Our brains will register images quicker and more effectively than words!
#3 Pay Attention to Details.
Include details relevant to your learners and make your story credible, such as country, industry or demographic-specific nuances. You want them to know you understand them and that they can relate to you.
#4 Use Conversational Dialogue.
Avoid using jargon and speaking or writing formally.
Instead, use a conversational narration style to help your learners comprehend and focus on the story.
Conclusion
Great storytelling is a tried and tested method of learning that works. Storytelling, particularly the hero’s journey, transforms eLearning into a captivating and memorable experience.
By placing learners at the heart of compelling narratives, we enhance engagement and retention. Avoiding one-dimensional characters and integrating emotional, visual, and relatable elements ensures that training is both effective and enjoyable.
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