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More on using metaphors

Thanks for your replies on metaphors - here are a few more thoughts I've
had.

When using metaphors I often wonder if people know what I'm doing, how
obvious am I? What I find though is that if the content is engaging enough
they are so involved in the 'story' that the message is accepted
unconsciously. I then have to make a concerted effort to resist the
temptation of _explaining_ it to them. Telling a metaphor is often followed
by a period of silence, whilst the audience engages in some internal
processing.

The sales edit of "give the price, then shut up" seems most appropriate at
this point.

Here are a couple of examples of metaphors I've used in training:

First example - I needed to explain to a group of nurses why it is
important to shut down a Windows PC in the correct manner. They'd been
turning it off without exiting Windows, causing all sorts of problems for
the Information Services department. I explained that the PC is like a
video recorder. When the VCR is recording you wouldn't just pull the plug
on it; you'd stop it recording, take the tape out and then turn it off -
and the PC also needs turning off in the right way. Since then - no
problems with incorrect shutdowns!

Second example - I wanted to explain to a group of managers what "team
learning" involved. So I explained that teams are often like an orchestra,
kept under strict direction by the manager/conductor. Each member is highly
trained but is able to do only what the manager/conductor directs them to
do. A self managed team is like a jazz band in a jamming session - each
member is highly trained, yet they work together without direction,
creating something new and each learning from the experience. By the end of
the training session the managers had moved from wanting to develop quality
procedures to wanting to build their team leader skills.

Well, that's about it for the moment. I'm running a session next week on
"Stories and Metaphors" for a local NLP practice group, I'll let you know
how it goes!

Regards

         Simon Stanton

    ===making learning fun ===
   simon@stant-1.demon.co.uk
http://www.stant-1.demon.co.uk