The Art Of Storytelling Across Cultures
The Art of Storytelling Across Cultures is a treasure of working with storytelling and storylistening practices in multicultural, diverse groups of people. It can be applied in coaching processes and in facilitation of big events as it offers hands on insights regarding working in story circles, and initiating meaningful conversations inspired by fine arts & visual storytelling.
The book is designed as a compass, giving orientation in the
- North (Narrative Approach), focusing on the why – the need of working with stories and the neuroscience of storytelling,
- the East (EPIC Framework & Creating Stories) offering you some guidance on how to choose and create stories other people would appreciate as sources of knowledge, inspiration, motivation, and encouragement,
- the South (Storytelling Across Cultures) proposing you how to apply storytelling practices in the intercultural field and in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion context and emphasizing the power of traumatic narratives we inherit in the epigenetic way, described in the chapter The power of the untold stories – epigenetic inheritance and
- West (Working with storytelling practices) focusing on working with stories as a leader, trainer/educator, coach, facilitator and Learning and Development professional.
One more important part is the section on visual storytelling and working with art inspirations in the coaching and training field.
Book Reviews
The book should be called The Encyclopedia of Storytelling… or perhaps, more provocatively, Everything You Should Know about Culture, but Don’t Dare Ask. This is a manifesto proclaiming a new level of understanding, nourished by neuroscience, of how we become who we are and shape the world we live in by the stories.
This is a truly amazing book. Joanna Sell shares with us not only how to create stories but how to listen to them. The cherry on top is that she helps us see stories from the perspective of multiple civilizations.
It is a treasure for professionals across various sectors, offering valuable insights into the power of narratives across diverse cultural landscapes. An outstanding feature of the book is the ethical dimensions of storytelling.
Joanna Sell manages to build a solid architecture for storytelling that can be widely useful for researchers and practitioners alike. The series of activities and exercises proposed throughout the book will equally delight, excite and teach readers about how to become better storytellers, more original creators, and highly empathetic human beings.
Storytelling Cards
This set of cards invites you to find inspirations to lead a satisfied, fulfilled life and to flourish thanks to inspirations from the world of art combined with coaching questions and tasks and a vivid exchange with other persons. You are welcome to play the game in story circles, small groups of three to five persons. After sharing your source of inspiration – the piece of art, you and other players are invited to share stories and best practices on what helps you focus on positive emotions, how you stay engaged, what do you cherish about relationships, how do you give meaning to your actions and how you acknowledge and celebrate moments that matter. All these aspects create the PERMA model by Martin Seligman.
What Clients Say About Using The Cards
The artworks on the cards were carefully chosen to be inclusive of many different cultures and experiences, making the experience feel accessible to people worldwide.
Wonderful artworks and inspiring questions – open up great conversations. My most important take away: Using art can serve to tell meaningful stories.
I think that the cards and the discussion surrounding them were very effective and I would use them in my work as a positive psychology practitioner.
Playing the cards highlighted how, regardless of our backgrounds, we’re all more alike than we are different.
The experience of playing the cards was absolutely fascinating and enlightening. My personal take away: Art is an essential part of life and vital to living it well.
It’s wonderful to be inspired by beautiful works of art and thought-provoking prompts. Deep conversations followed. It’s a delightfully unusual way to learn deeply about others, as we all experience art differently, and all have unique, revealing stories inspired by deceptively “simple” questions and art.
iI played the cards on Costa Rica for the first time and I think they are a valuable conversation tool that can be used in many ways. Thank you for this gift.
There was something powerful about choosing a card without knowing why —being drawn to an image intuitively — and then using that as a starting point for reflection. It created a safe and open space to share, which made it easier to explore vulnerability and stay present in the moment.
More Publications
If you are interested in working with storytelling practices across cultures, you can also enjoy reading my chapters in English and German:
Sell, J. (2020). Visual Intercultural Storytelling Approach – VISA in: Collaborative Change Library, 2020
https://mylibraryworld.web.app/app/tabs/home
Sell, J. (2019). Cultural Approaches Toward Time in Global Organizations in: Chlopczyk, J., Erlach, C. (Ed.) Transforming Organizations, Springer Verlag
Sell, J. (2017). Segel hoch und auf zu den neuen Ufern. Eine Reise durch die Welt der Storytelling Methoden im interkulturellen Kontext in: Schach, A. (Ed.) Storytelling, Springer Verlag
Sell, J. (2017). Storytelling for Intercultural Understanding & Cultural Sensitivity Development in: Chlopczyk, J. (Ed.) Beyond Storytelling, Springer Verlag
Sell, J. (2016). Interkulturelle Kompetenzentwicklung – eine Chance auf eine gelungene Kommunikation über die Grenzen hinweg in: Vedder, G. Personal und Diversität
Further publications:
Sell, J. (2018). Storytelling with a Lie in: Hansen, E.; Torkler, A., Covarrubias Venegas, B., SEU Intercultural Training Toolkit, SIETAR Europa.
Sell, J. (2018). Freezing the Picture of Now to Shape Better Futures and Taking Back the Power. Interview with Mary Alice Arthur in: Re-Authoring Futures, Con-Texts, Beyond Storytelling, Almblitz.
Covarrubias Venegas, B.; Sell, J. (2018). Wissensmanagement & Wissenstransfer. Storytelling im Unternehmen, HRWEB, 14.Sept.2018.
Sell, J. (2016). When Tears turn into music – the impact of Frederic Chopin’s migration on his oeuvre in: Josko-Ochojska, J. (Ed.) Medical and Social Aspects of Trauma, Śląski Uniwesytet Medyczny
Sell, J. (2015). The Power of visual Storytelling in: SIETAR Europa Journal, Sept.-Nov.
Sell, J. (2014). RAINBOW – cross-cultural skills development in order to more effective coping with culture change stress in: Prof. Jadwiga Josko-Ochojska (Ed.), Stres nasz codzienny, SUM
Sell, J. (2013). Geschäftskultur Polen, Conbookverlag. (Book on business culture in Poland)
