Standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and workflows are all key components of training for laboratory staff. Unfortunately, this important information is often forgotten soon after training, and the resulting knowledge gaps can contribute to costly errors, safety risks, and inefficiencies.
One way lab managers can modify training techniques to improve knowledge retention is through storytelling. Rooted in cognitive science, storytelling can help staff understand, remember, and apply knowledge in real settings. In this article, we will explore how storytelling works, various techniques, and tips for implementing them in a laboratory setting.
How do stories help people remember information?
“We’re wired for stories, not facts or data,” says storytelling consultant Jonathan Klane, M.S.Ed., CIH, CSP, CHMM, CIT. Indeed, research has shown that storytelling can be a more effective instructional format than presenting people with straight facts.
This may be due to the ability of a narrative to activate more regions of the brain compared to facts alone. Neuroimaging research has shown that narrative comprehension is associated with activation of classical language regions of the brain as well as default-mode network structures. These networks link key brain regions associated with self-reflection, autobiographical memory, meaning-making, memory retrieval, and more.
Stories can also elicit a physiological response. Klane explains that “if [a story] is affective (i.e., emotional), our hearts and brains can sync up, and we can secrete hormones at key parts of the story which help us bond and be persuaded. For example, secreting oxytocin at the story peak.”
A story also organizes complex information into simplified causal structures called schemas—mental representations that depict the parts of a concept and the relationship between them. These frameworks are helpful for organizing complex technical information.
Together, these mechanisms help to explain why storytelling is such a powerful tool for technical training. Beyond conveying information, stories help people understand, form emotional connections, and organize complex concepts for better recall.
How storytelling works in the lab
Lab managers can apply storytelling in a few different ways to enhance knowledge retention. For example, incident-based storytelling with anonymized real-world events can illustrate consequences and context for safety training. Unlike a list of rules or steps, using a story can help staff understand why a protocol or process matters, and what can go wrong if it is skipped or performed incorrectly.
Klane has seen firsthand how well this works. He performed a learning transfer and retention study among biomedical engineering students in their laboratory classes.1 “We compared using humor (without stories) versus using stories (without humor) on the exact same technical material (fire safety, lab safety, and biosafety). Those who received the story versions of the training scored significantly better on quizzes at the end of the semester, over three months later,” he explains.
In addition to safety, stories can be used for onboarding and SOPs. Framing a procedure with a narrative arc that includes its purpose, the problem it is designed to prevent, and the “journey” of completing the process correctly can help staff connect steps to real outcomes. Providing a scenario where an SOP prevented a problem can make it easier to remember.
Tacit knowledge transfer can also be a challenge for laboratories. Tacit knowledge is gained through practice, experience, and observation, and can be challenging to formally document. It is often senior staff who carry years of experience that are difficult to capture in writing. Stories that detail lessons learned, near-misses, and judgment calls can be an effective way to uncover this knowledge.
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Perhaps most importantly, stories can enhance team communication. Even short stories can reinforce shared values and make abstract concepts (e.g., quality assurance, reproducibility, chain-of-custody risks) easier to understand.
Storytelling techniques
There are several ways lab managers can use a narrative approach to convey technical information. For example:
- Create scenario-based modules: turn short narratives into videos, eLearning modules, etc.
- Share cases: have team members share brief stories in meetings, lunch-and-learns, or in newsletters.
- Add stories to SOPs and training documents: add fields such as real-world examples, common pitfalls, etc. Include short anecdotes to clarify complex or technical steps.
- Use visual storytelling: infographics and comic-style panels can be used to tell short safety stories that cater to different learning styles.
A few implementation tips for those introducing storytelling into the lab include:
- Start small by adding stories to existing training
- Anonymize real incidents (avoid blame)
- Keep it short (one to three minutes)
- Measure impact through feedback or other metrics (errors, audit outcomes, etc.)
While storytelling can support training and knowledge transfer, there are some common pitfalls lab managers should watch for. One problem, Klane explains, is “not telling actual or effective stories.” This may look like delivering unconnected facts in sequence with a first-person narrative, “but it’s not a real story if it doesn’t have a plot, cause and effect actions involving a protagonist and antagonistic force, conflicts, problems that escalate, etc.,” adds Klane.
Another, he notes, is not telling affective stories—“emotionally-laden stories are critical to effective stories…affective stories are effective stories.”
Finally, Klane points out the risk of telling self-serving stories without a well-defined purpose. “Keep in mind, fictional stories told for persuasion (e.g., marketing and sales or health and safety) are called purpose-told for a reason.” He notes that these types of stories are not only ineffective but can turn others off from story use.
Storytelling is a scientifically backed communication tool. When applied thoughtfully, narrative can enhance tacit knowledge transfer and make technical content easier to remember and apply. Lab managers who integrate storytelling improve training effectiveness and strengthen team performance.
References
1. Klane J. Which works better in safety training - humor or narrative? Presented at: American Society of Safety Professionals; July 2018; San Antonio, Texas.
