Something New!
Storytelling – a Path to Hearts, Minds and Pocketbooks
Has your Board experience flattened into a monthly round of financials, program reports and gearing up for the next fundraiser? How can you re-ignite your Board membership and most effectively spread the vital message of your organization to potential funders and the larger community? Storytelling- a Path to Hearts, Minds and Pocketbooks is a workshop for non-profit Board members who want to jumpstart their effectiveness through the fun and engaging art of Storytelling. Participants will leave the workshop searching for people to tell their story to!
As a result of this session, you will be able to:
• Connect your organization’s mission your personal values
• Identify specific attributes that enable the organization to consistently deliver high quality outcomes and resiliency
• Understand the characteristics of successful storytelling
• Tell a compelling organization story that inspires others
Come to this workshop to gain confidence as a vital “voice” in your organization’s mission. Enhance your comfort and ability in turning chance encounters into cash for your non-profit. Participants will receive numerous practical handouts – and have a healthy dose of fun!
Institute for Civic Leadership
“In their workshop, Kym and Janice blend their talents to create opportunities for professionals to connect to their organizations’ values through storytelling The true stories that people learn to tell better are more powerful than vision, mission, and values statements – I strongly recommend the program!”
William Maxwell, Senior Training Specialist, USM Muskie School
Applied Storytelling as a Tool to Develop Independent and Creative Employees
Gail sat at her desk and tried to stop shaking. Her boss had been sympathetic but firm. Gail’s staff had already been cut in half and now her training budget was being slashed again by a third. She took a deep breath, those left standing after the lay-offs were having their positions redefined or combined into two and even three jobs. With everyone scared and stressed and just trying to survive, no one would be focusing on training. But Gail knew she was facing a larger issue – how to encourage the best in a rattled workforce, and bring demonstrated value to the company. With rumors of more lay-offs looming, she knew she’d better come up with answers, or her job might be the next to go.
Finding the strategies to help employees adjust to the requirements of this new economy is a challenge. How can we expect employees to be innovative, get ahead of the competition, solve problems creatively when they’re focused on surviving in this downsizing environment? The old tools – didactic presentations, strict content based formats and tired role plays are not adequate to encourage the development of motivated, self-directed and adaptable employees. Storytelling is a powerfully engaging tool that can connect individuals with their best authentic selves and their own experience of courageous action. With time and practice, these techniques can transform overwhelmed and fearful employees into an adaptable, creative and resilient workforce motivated to make things happen.
What this workshop IS:
- An experiential “how to” that stimulates our creative problem solving capacity
- A new lens into repetitive problems and issues
- A means to gain self-knowledge and self-respect in the work we do
- A tool to encourage authenticity with self and others
- A program to stimulate courageous action independent of hierarchical direction
What this workshop is NOT:
- Produced, dependent on or held hostage by POWERPOINT
- A fluffy frolic with no connection to our working lives (but we will have FUN)
- Group Therapy
Call 207-329-0000 email: kdakin@maine.rr.com
Central Maine Medical Center
“I want to thank you again for the outstanding program Short Fuse Interactive did for our Human Resources Society. The workshop got all participants actively engaged; mentally, physically and emotionally, and I can see that the methods you used have gone a distance towards getting our staff working together better as a team. Even the introverts realize the value of the presentation. You and David created an atmosphere that elicited trust and honest engagement and got people sharing about their own experiences, while laughing at the same time. It was refreshing not to get another “canned” presentation and to have participated in such an enlightening event. Without hesitation, I would recommend Short Fuse to other groups.”
Jerry Marstaller
Regional Benefits & Comp Manager
PO Box 4500
Lewiston, ME 04243-4500
Phone: 207-795-2391
Make A Musical In A Day:
Light the Fuse under your company’s morale with the latest in team-building experiences: “Make a Musical in a Day!” It’s Outward Bound turned Inside Out as your staff is directed, instructed and prodded to push their creative envelopes and deepen their team experience! Contact us for more info.
Activated Scenes:
- Activating Scenes are created by small groups of participants from issues and questions that arise from the group’s working experience.
- The scenes dramatically highlight a workplace scenario which the participants have identified as problematic or challenging.
- Activating scenes are not intended to solve specific problems, but they create a valuable opportunity to clarify the specific nature of an issue and to explore possible options.
- As a result of even one session of this work, participants are better prepared to return to the workplace and work together toward beneficial solutions.
- Built upon recent work by theatre artist and educator Michael Rohd, Activated Scenes offer participants a highly engaged and energized interactive training experience.
Maine General Hospital
“The group greatly enjoyed working with Kym and David on Activating Scenes! Short Fuse is wonderful at what they do…creating a unique and fun approach to confronting difficult work issues and providing new pathways for participants to effectively resolve these issues.”
Janice Cohen, Principal, Cohen Leadership Consulting
Hallowell, ME
janice@cohenleadership.com
Stress Management:
• Short Fuse has developed Stress Management workshops for Healthcare professionals! These have been offered through York Hospital, (testimonial below), Martin’s Point, and Springbrook Center in Westbrook.
• The sessions are engaging and hands-on, yet quick (45 minutes – 1 hour) specific to the healthcare field, and very affordable.
*Source Reference: The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz, and High Energy Living by Robert K. Cooper, Ph.D.
*Director Kym Dakin has completed the Worksite Wellness Certification program through Southern Maine Wellness Council.
York Hospital
“The Short Fuse Stress Management program was fabulous! Kym wove together the informational content with some storytelling and theatre techniques that made the participants feel engaged and stimulated. I have heard wonderful comments from the staff. Along with the practical, easy to implement suggestions she gave, they really enjoyed it and it made them feel special. I highly recommend Short Fuse to other Healthcare facilities!”
Anne Borden, MPH RN
Congestive Heart Failure Program – York Hospital
15 Hospital Drive, York, ME 03909
ABorden@yorkhospital.com
Springbrook Healthcare and Rehab
“Kym Dakin’s stress management work shops at Springbrook Healthcare and Rehab are just what the doctor ordered! She gets participants to share their experience with an approach that elicits trust and honest engagement. She provided our staff with the knowledge to combat stress with her many practical tips and proactive tools. Her upbeat approach to teaching/facilitating sets a positive tone which makes participants immediately feel relaxed and ready to learn. Kym gets employees to look at their own role in creating stress and what they can do about it. Everyone without fail benefited from her in-services and she has the distinction of providing the best in-service we ever had according to staff! I attended her in-service and have incorporated some her strategies into my work day. I thank Kym for helping me be more relaxed and productive!”
Shelly Hayden R.N. BSN – Admissions Director
Challenges in the Workplace:
• We develop customized scenes depicting details and behaviors exclusive to your workplace, and lead facilitated discussions.
• Content will be tailored to your specifications.
• You have final script approval and will be invited to attend a rehearsal as well.
• We provide all small props and costumes.
Reed & Reed General Contractors: Leadership Development for New Supervisors
“You’re drawn into the scene and become part of it. It’s as real as it gets and makes you really think. Because it was so real they were able to engage our employees and solicit honest feedback and real solutions. This truly made them wonder… is that really what I act like?” They left the training with a new perspective and most realized that it does make a difference how you treat people. They’ll never forget this training because Short Fuse nailed it!”
Robin Wood Director of Human Resources
Reed & Reed, Inc. www.reed-reed.com
Pierce Atwood: Violence in the Workplace Conference
“The reviews we received have been terrific, and a number of them single out Short Fuse as the distinguishing feature. Clearly, the effectiveness of using drama as a training tool in this manner has been confirmed by the response to this program.”
James R. Erwin – Partner
JErwin@PierceAtwood.com
He Said/She Said:
• Especially effective for Sexual Harassment/Hostile Workplace issues.
• One problematic situation—depicted twice from his/her point of view with facilitated audience discussion.
• Can your employees spot the discrepancies and potential pitfalls?
U.S. Postal Service
“Short Fuse was an integral part of our efforts to highlight the many subtle issues involved in sexual harassment situations. Many of our employees praised their accurate portrayal of an everyday workplace and its issues, and commented on how much they enjoyed getting training in this format. I definitely recommend Short Fuse for training opportunities in the future.”
Michael J. Donahue – Manager, Human Resources
Customer Focus: The Experiential Customer Service/Sales Training Package
• Give employees a chance to work those new sales/customer service skills on us.
• We portray a range of problematic customers and offer an experiential curriculum of performance training for effective interaction.
• We create experiential games and exercises to lead your employees towards more effective communications with the public (typically two performers/facilitators) .
• We depict behaviors encountered by your front line sales force, customer service or human resource professionals.
• Content will be tailored to your specifications and you have final script approval.
• “I see and I understand, I do and I learn.”
Lamprey Brothers: Customer Focus Training
“I want to offer my sincerest appreciation for the wonderful work that Short Fuse did in our Customer Focus training. I was truly impressed with their skill and ability to pull such a comprehensive program together in such a small window of time. The program was conducted several weeks ago and I am still receiving positive feedback from our staff members, which indicates the value of an interactive program of this nature.”
Thomas Williams – Director of Sales & Marketing
williamt@maine.rr.com
Gentle Giant Moving Company – Boston, MA
“We truly enjoyed having the chance to work with Short Fuse during our training sessions. I really appreciate the time and energy they spent creating a truly unique and personal learning experience for so many of us at Gentle Giant. I’ve had the chance to chat with a number of folks who attended the sessions, and they’ve all expressed real appreciation for the learning, growth, laughs, and overall experience. I’m pretty confident that the guys look at their roles a bit differently today than prior to the program. I believe that group has a firmer appreciation for their responsibility as a leader, as a “Giant” –
Ryan Falvey, VP Organizational Development
Gentle Giant Moving Co.
RFalvey@GentleGiant.com
The Problematic Public:
• Got a customer you just can’t please? A repeat client no one wants to deal with?
• Short Fuse performers recreate these customers/clients so your employees can practice dealing with them in a learning environment.
• You know the behaviors you want your workers to employ….we provide the opportunity for experiential learning.
Ingraham – Legal Services for the Elderly: Staff Training
“This group was an invaluable addition to our organization’s training event. Short Fuse captured our client’s personalities and situations with uncanny accuracy. They helped us understand the way our clients do, and sometimes do not, hear our advice. Smart and accomplished, the performances were not only detailed and nuanced, they were also extremely entertaining and educational. I could not recommend Short Fuse more highly. They are a complete pleasure to work with, and prove that training can be fun.”
Amy E. Kurtz – Legal Services for the Elderly
amyelizabeth227@msn.com
Depends on your P.O.V.:
• Applicable to many instances, particularly Communication/Diversity and Leadership issues.
• We depict systemic problems from different angles and their effects on management to front line employees.
• Facilitated discussion gets the issues on the table. Let’s talk about it!
Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
“Short Fuse is a phenomenal visual sensation! Real life social conflict situations involve the audience so we better understand, at the gut level, what social discrimination feels like…”
Lisa G. Martin – Small Business Consultant
Rates: Contact Kym Dakin at kdakin@maine.rr.com or 207-329-0000
Negotiable rates for Public Schools and Non-Profit Organizations
Call 207-329-0000 email: kdakin@maine.rr.com
