Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2024 - 25

proud of. When you don't fully understand
what's going on, you can begin to question
your self-worth.
I remember the first time I sat down at an
executive meeting with other directors.
As we all took our places around the
table, I couldn't help but notice I was
the only Indigenous person in the room.
It was the middle of summer, so as we
prepared for the meeting to start, folks
were talking about their travel plans:
" I'm heading to my condo by the shore
this weekend. I haven't been there in
months. " " My kids and I are excited
to head to our vacation home, too! "
" Makana, I'm thinking of renting a house
in Hawai'i next month. You'll need to tell
me everything I should do. "
I grew up in a small town on the Big Island
known for farming. I didn't go on family
vacations, and after growing up in Hawai'i,
my first time outside of the islands was
in Ohio when I went to graduate school.
I remember times as a college student
when I would count change to see if I had
enough to pay for a meal. Needless to say,
I did not feel like I was sitting at the right
table in that meeting.
My colleagues didn't intend to make me
feel othered. These were their lives, and
they were speaking from what was normal
to them. However, the impact of being in
a space where my story didn't match led
me to feel disengaged. I struggled to feel
psychologically safe, which made me
spend more time wondering how to prove
I belong than doing good work - and I'm
not the only one who has gone through
this situation.
That is why I advocate for us to move
from being storytellers from our personal
experiences to being story explorers,
who assess the needs of our community
and share stories that will resonate with
those around us.
Storytelling
Exercises
In early education, there's a theory
of mirrors and windows. A window is
an experience that allows people to
understand differences. A mirror is a way
for someone to see themselves in the
work they're doing. For example, as a
Native Hawaiian, a mirror for me is when
people greet me with " aloha " when
they see me. A window I can provide
to others about my culture is talking
about ho'oponopono when leading
a mediation between employees. I
recommend taking a moment when
creating a training to think about the
mirrors and windows you can create.
Second, you need to actively seek out and
understand the stories and experiences of
others. The reason why I chose the word
" explorer " and not " curator " is because
you will never own the stories of others.
However, you can experience them with
others, and then respectfully honor those
stories when you share them.
Whenever developing a training, I meet
with many different people to understand
their views. I ask permission to share
their stories and understandings with
others so I can honor their experiences
and model the way for others.
Anyone can become a better storyteller
with some practice. I encourage you to
begin your journey today. Ask questions,
be curious and always honor the stories
you have the privilege of being a side
character in. You never know when a
story will be the shift that helps someone
blossom.
Makana A. L. Agcaoili is a curious storyteller
with a passion for helping others discover
their purpose and overcome barriers to
success. Email Makana.
BEING A STORY EXPLORER
Being an explorer of stories is more about emotional intelligence
and empathy than public speaking. The first step to diversifying
the stories you share during training is to become aware of the
stories that you have not lived or learned about already that would
resonate with your community.
There are many ways to reflect on the stories that you may be
unaware of or missing. Here are a few questions to use:
* Who are the people I am going to train?
* What similarities do I have with them?
* What differences do I have from them?
* Do I understand what it means for me to be different?
* What can I do to help people see themselves in my training?
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Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2024

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