The Art of story telling session, led by Lead Beyond’s General Director Ato Desalegn Wujira, began with a bright, eager energy as participants shared their expectations for learning the art of compelling storytelling. This initial connection was deepened through paired sharing activities, including a poignant discussion on our hopes for the future as Ethiopian women. These early conversations underscored a key lesson: that a powerful story is one designed to leave a specific and lasting feeling with the listener.

Building on this foundation, the workshop delved into the technical frameworks of effective narrative. Ato Desalegn introduced concepts like DAC (Direction, Alignment, and Commitment) and mental models, providing us with a structured understanding of how to build a cohesive and impactful story. This theory was immediately put into practice during a highly engaging activity where we selected an emotion we had felt recently and used the “4P” method (Place, Person, Problem, Point) to share the story behind it with a partner, leading to authentic and meaningful conversations.

The session concluded with a masterful demonstration of everything we had learned, as Ato Desalegn himself told a story that exemplified the principles he had taught. This powerful closing served as a living example, solidifying our understanding that combining structured techniques with genuine emotion is the key to making our personal narratives not just heard, but truly felt and remembered.

Share with your circle!