Stories that include specific strategies for action move people toward motivating emotions like urgency, hope, and confidence (Ganz, 2011). Use stories to present strategies which help individuals overcome “action inhibitors”: Marshall Ganz uses the term “action inhibitors” to refer to emotional barriers like inertia, fear, and self-doubt.When different perspectives are considered, candidates are more likely to be open-minded and resist forming emotional barriers. Use stories to kickstart a new idea: Seeing an issue through the eyes of a protagonist can help people consider viewpoints different from their own, so narratives are often useful when introducing a new direction or initiative (Sole & Wilson, 2002).Here are a few ways to quick start your use of stories which can help the uptake and spread of a new idea/initiative: Stories often help individuals overcome the various individual barriers they might be facing, allowing them to then persuade peers who encounter similar barriers. They are viewed as an authentic way to connect with adopters and encourage people to think in terms of narratives – creating an easily spreadable “take home” message (Berger, 2016). Stories are widely regarded as an effective way to persuade people to adopt and spread a certain idea. This is because new ideas involve risk and uncertainty, and people tend to rely on others they know and trust to provide reassurances that attempts to adopt the new idea won’t cost time, money or result in embarrassment. ![]() Research shows that mass media/impersonal channels can help create awareness of a new idea, but interpersonal influence exerted through peer-to-peer conversations is the most successful way to spread adoption of the innovation (Rodgers, 1995). Individuals might feel isolated or fearful of implementing a new idea, but the story can convey ideas of solidarity and hope to help them overcome this barrier. People understand the world by means of plots – we often “live inside” stories, putting ourselves in the character’s shoes or feeling emotionally connected (Moon, 2010). There are a variety of ways stories (both fiction and non-fiction) can help individuals overcome emotional barriers. While both barriers are important, stories are an especially effective communicative form for helping individuals overcome emotional barriers like fear and/or a general discomfort with change. People are not passive recipients of change – to adopt a new idea, individuals need to overcome various emotional and rational barriers. Stories can help individuals adopt new ideas by aiding them in overcoming personal barriers to change, while also acting as a social “contagion” that allows the idea to spread rapidly between individuals. One of the most promising ideas to these questions revolves around stories. Why do some ideas seem “contagious” and catch on like wildfire while others have a more limited influence? ![]() We’ve often asked why the uptake doesn't "take." Additionally, we are interested not just in uptake, but what makes uptake widespread. The I2A team is attempting to address what we call the “uptake problem” – the challenge people face when they are asked to and perhaps trying to adopt some new practice. People often encounter new ideas which are worthwhile – a new teaching practice backed by research an organizational initiative proven to increase efficiency – yet still, it takes a ton of effort for people to act on these good ideas. While the suggestions provided below might be most relevant for organizational leaders looking to institute a large change initiative, many are suitable in a wide variety of other scenarios like changing (or creating) classroom procedures or even helping a friend understand a new fad. Purpose: This blog discusses the power of stories to help individuals adopt new practices or ideas. Discover early resources from the project which give leaders and educators some concepts and questions to consider in change processes. Overview of Idea to Action Project: When exploring the complex work of bringing ideas into action, the core question for this research team is what components of the process might reveal themselves as “good bets” for more successfully translating ideas into sustained action. Witness Tree: Ambassador for Life in a Changing Environment.Signature Pedagogies in Global Education. ![]() Leadership Education and Playful Pedagogy (LEaPP).Investigating Impacts of Educational Experiences.Implementation of The Good Project Lesson Plans.Humanities and the Liberal Arts Assessment (HULA).Growing Up to Shape Our Place in the World.Cultivating Creative & Civic Capacities.Creando Comunidades de Indagación (Creating Communities of Inquiry).Citizen-Learners: A 21st Century Curriculum and Professional Development Framework.Disciplinary & Interdisciplinary Studies.
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