| In my previous ezine article "The Right Attitude | | | | asked with a smile. |
| Required to Learn From Compelling Stories" I explored | | | | "Yes of course." Not only did I remember this story |
| the idea of the Story-learner as an individual who learnt | | | | from the bible but I had shared it with others. |
| from stories in a more conscious manner than normally | | | | In a nutshell the Israelites were about to go into battle |
| would be the case (as after all, we all learn from each | | | | but God told Gideon (their leader) that he did not want |
| other's stories on a day to day basis). | | | | them to take credit for the victory. This might happen |
| In this article we are going to take things a bit further | | | | because the Israelites outnumbered the enemy. |
| by looking at what tools are available to the | | | | God devised a test to hand pick 300 warriors who |
| Story-learner to facilitate and indeed further accelerate | | | | would take on the enemy while the rest would be |
| the story-learning process. | | | | condemned to watch from the sidelines. |
| There are three tools I can think of which would be | | | | Without going into detail the test was designed to |
| useful to the Story-learner: | | | | weed out those who were vigilant or constantly on |
| (a) How to ask the right questions - unlocking the story | | | | their guard even when not doing battle. Only the best |
| using the Story-learner's key. | | | | of the best would be allowed to take on the enemy. |
| (b) How to make an accurate recording of a story - | | | | "So what does your leaving have to do with Gideon's |
| recording the story using the Story-learner's notebook. | | | | army?" I asked even though I was already beginning to |
| (c) How to sift out the nuggets of wisdom - discarding | | | | get an inkling of where this conversation was going. |
| the dross using the Story-learners sieve. | | | | "Well the reason I'm being paid what I'm currently being |
| In this article we will look in some detail at how to use | | | | paid is because I learnt the hard way not to rest on |
| the Story-learner's key. | | | | my laurels. |
| How to ask the right questions - unlocking the story | | | | "Just before I went freelancing I was abruptly made |
| using the Story-Learner's key | | | | redundant after getting too comfortable in one of my |
| In my other life I work freelance in computer software | | | | previous jobs. |
| development. | | | | "It was quite bad actually but eventually I got a lucky |
| Recently I was attending a leaving party being held for | | | | break and was hired for a short term freelance |
| another computer software developer who was | | | | contract just before I ran out of money. From then on I |
| moving companies after working for approximately | | | | made a pledge to myself to keep my skills up to date |
| one year in the company to which I am currently | | | | and never stay anywhere for more than two years." |
| subcontracted. | | | | So from the conversation above we can see that |
| Here was an obviously successful and highly paid | | | | asking the right question can be akin using a key to |
| individual who was leaving what appeared to be quite | | | | unlock the story. This is the Story-learner's key in |
| a good number - leaving of his own volition without | | | | action. |
| being shown the door. | | | | Like any other skill this will grow with practice. The idea |
| As we stood in the pub with drinks in hand I asked him, | | | | is to ask open ended questions. Yes or no must not |
| "Why are you jumping off the gravy train?" His reply | | | | suffice as answers. Elaboration becomes necessary |
| was interesting. | | | | and when this elaboration begins you should reach for |
| "Do you remember the story of Gideon's Army?" He | | | | the Story-Learner's notebook. |