Here's how you can foster creativity in internal communications through storytelling.

It is a good idea to keep having conversations and build personas for your audience. Invest time into understanding your audience across layers and time. It is important for Internal communications professionals to have a finger on the pulse of the organization

And to put yourself in the shoes of your colleagues, you have to first listen to understand. Listening can take many forms: interviews, focus groups, surveys, etc. But you have to get inside their heads and ultimately address their believes, feelings and needs in order to influence and impact. In other words, you have to know how those shoes feel, not just imagine. Best yet, when you do that listening, that sets a benchmark of sorts for ongoing measurement and iteration.

A empatia na comunicação interna de uma empresa é fundamental para criar um ambiente de trabalho saudável, produtivo e colaborativo, contribuindo para: - Fortalecimento das relações - Aumento da colaboração - Redução de conflitos - Melhoria do ambiente organizacional - Maior envolvimento e motivação

There are many ways to approach the team and make them feel part of the company, but I believe that the most effective is to really be a good company to work. And by that I mean pay well as the position deserves, value your talents, give them space to create. Of course we have a job to be done and rules to follow, however, when that is made in a good enviroment you don´t need to create a narrative. The narrative is there, lived on the day by day. Because at the end of the day (even it is good) nobody really cares about little gifts, events and dynamics of HR. People want their work recognized, money to be able of take care the family, boss´and company´s compreenshion in hard times and a balanced life. For me, that is the real empathy

Remember the power of recognizing individuals' contributions to spark innovation within the workforce. By sharing stories that celebrate people's achievements, we can inspire others and show the impact of collaboration and creativity. These stories should tie back to the company's larger narrative, demonstrating the role of each person's efforts toward fulfilling the company's mission and vision. This boosts motivation, reinforces the company culture — and leads to better business outcomes.

Experiment with Formats: Explore different communication formats and channels to add variety and interest to your messages. Experiment with visual content, multimedia presentations, storytelling, and interactive platforms to engage employees in new ways. Involve Employees: Tap into the creativity of your employees by involving them in the communication process. Encourage contributions, feedback, and ideas from all levels of the organization to ensure diverse perspectives and fresh insights. Embrace Storytelling: Use the power of storytelling to convey key messages and engage employees on an emotional level. Craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience and bring your messages to life in memorable ways.

Für Craft-Erzählungen finden sich mit etwas Mühe immer echte Beispiele aus der Organisation. So wird der narrative Ansatz nicht nur lebendiger und kreativer, sondern motiviert die Mitarbeiter und steigert die Identifikation. Zudem: Gerade wenn es um die Vermittlung trockener Information geht, hilft ein Herunterbrechen in kleinere Häppchen. Hier müssen wir uns in der internen Kommunikation ein Beispiel an erfolgreichen Content Formaten in der Social Media Welt nehmen, wo schon lange mit verschiedenen Formaten (Audio, Video, Bild) snackable Content produziert wird. Wenn dann auch noch hinzukommt, dass Mitarbeiter z.B. via Smartphone Inhalte der IK konsumieren, wird dies nur umso relevanter.

Narratives have the potential to create a sense of connection and empathy within the team, as they allow individuals to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the stories being told. This can result in a deeper understanding and internalization of key messages, as well as a greater sense of shared purpose and identity within the organization.

Utilizar personajes y escenarios con los que los miembros del equipo puedan identificarse es una estrategia poderosa, se crea una conexión más profunda y genuina. Por ejemplo: Lanzamiento de un proyecto: Tradicional: "Vamos a lanzar una nueva campaña de marketing digital." Narrativa artesanal: "Cuando entramos en el nuevo año, nuestro equipo de marketing se inspiró en las historias de éxito de pequeñas empresas que lograron grandes cambios con estrategias digitales innovadoras. Con esta inspiración, desarrollamos una campaña de marketing digital diseñada no solo para aumentar nuestras ventas, sino para conectar genuinamente con nuestros clientes, ayudándoles a ver el valor único que ofrecemos."

I understand, you're in comms because you are good with words. But remember, the younger your audience, the more they're used to consuming news and updates in quick, bite-sized, vertical, TikTok-like formats. If you cater to them in the way they prefer you'll likely see improved outcomes, better understanding, and engagement with your content. Who knows? You might become an Internal Influencer...

Sharing stories that illustrate how employees exemplify company values or contribute to the mission and vision helps to bring abstract concepts to life. Stories resonate with employees on a personal level, making values, mission, and vision more relatable and memorable.

Wenn wir nicht anfangen, auszuprobieren, dann fliegen neue, kreative Ideen uns auch nicht einfach zu. KI-Tools sind eine noch recht neue Möglichkeit, sich hier Unterstützung oder auch Ideen und Anregungen für eine visuelle Ausgestaltung zu holen. In jedem Fall ist es wert, sich im Prompting zu üben, um auch mal KI-generierte Bilder oder Grafiken zu nutzen, und sei es nur, um eigene Vorstellungen und Gedanken mit in die Grafik als ersten Ideenentwurf nehmen zu können.

Les mots ont un pouvoir, l'illustration est une aide précieuse qui vient en complément pour appuyer un message. Mettre en avant des visuels permet un impact plus fort et génère davantage d'émotions ou de réactions auprès de notre cible. Cela permet également d'attirer leur attention, de les captiver là où les mots ne peuvent pas aller.

Visual elements are powerful communication supports, not only as complements to written narratives but also as pieces that impact personal knowledge and emotions. Visual storytelling is an extraordinary tool for corporate communication. Los elementos visuales son poderosos soportes comunicacionales, no solo como complementos de las narrativas escritas, sino como piezas que inciden en el conocimiento y las emociones personales. La narrativa visual es una extraordinaria herramienta de comunicacion corporativa.

Esta estrategia no solo recoge diversas perspectivas, sino que también empodera a los miembros del equipo como cocreadores de la narrativa, lo que puede resultar en soluciones más innovadoras y una mayor cohesión del equipo. Ejemplos perfectos son los foros de discusión, encuestas interactivas, plataformas colaborativas y mis favoritas sesiones de brainstorming.

One thing I’ve found that’s conducive to encouraging contributions with the internal newsletter I’ve created at my workplace is a ‘props to you’ section! Employees can encourage one another/give a shoutout to someone by submitting their props via a form hyperlinked in the newsletter to be published in the following edition. This allows for positive feedback and helps foster a sense of cohesiveness amongst our team, many of whom work late hours behind the scenes to provide our patients with the best possible cancer care.

In Studien in Lehr-/Lernszenarien an Hochschulen hat sich gezeit, dass Studierende in Kursen signifikant mehr Fragen zu Inhalten an einen Chatbot gestellt haben, als an den Kursleiter in einem Online-Format bzw. noch einmal signifikant weniger in direktem Austausch, wenn die Gruppe zuhört oder mitliest. Da öffentliche Kommentarspalten häufig auch leer bleiben, könnten auch hier KI-Tools dazu beitragen, dass Mitarbeitende offener kommunizieren. In jedem Fall deuten Daten darauf hin, dass es es sich lohnt, z.B. Chatbots auszuprobieren - vielleicht ja auch um Interaktivität in der Belegschaft zu fördern.

Utilisez des personnages et des scénarios pertinents Personnages identifiables : Utilisez des exemples concrets impliquant des membres de votre équipe ou des figures représentatives de l'organisation. Scénarios authentiques : Racontez des histoires basées sur des expériences réelles qui résonnent avec votre audience.

Ich würde hinzufügen: Feiern Sie Fails. Denn nicht nur die besonderen Leistungen oder Fähigkeiten führen in Unternehmen zu Probemlösung, sondern oft auch eine gute Fehlerkultur. Und auch hier lässt sich dann Vielfalt finden. Zeigen Sie offen, dass auch über Umwege oder Sackgassen neue Ideen entstehen können und den Status quo in Frage stellen.

La diversité c'est l'existence de différences. C'est un atout et une richesse en tout point. C'est en les mettant en exergue que cela permet à chacun de se reconnaitre et de s'en inspirer. La culture de la diversité c'est l'ouverture à une forme de symbiose !

De facto, a partilha de narrativas que destacam as origens, talentos e experiências únicas dos membros de uma equipa é fundamental. Tal não apenas reconhece e valoriza as contribuições individuais, mas também enriquece a equipa com uma variedade de perspectivas e abordagens para resolver problemas. Contar histórias diversificadas pode inspirar novas ideias e desafiar o status quo, tornando o ambiente de trabalho mais criativo e inclusivo para todos.

Diversity isn’t just about differences in people’s characteristics, peculiarities, and choices. It also encompasses a multitude of ideas and narratives, as well as the unique way each individual perceives a situation. The same problem can be viewed from various perspectives, resulting not only in one solution but in multiple possibilities. This is the beauty of diversity: the ability to create through an expanded range of viewpoints

One thing I've found helpful is 'Employee Spotlights.' We regularly feature an “Employee of the Month” or similar spotlight that includes personal stories and professional achievements. Here we highlight how their diverse background contributes to their role and the company.

Stories play a crucial role in transmitting organizational culture and values. Leaders can use storytelling to reinforce core beliefs, norms, and behaviors, and to pass down traditions and lessons learned from the past. By sharing stories that embody the values of the organization, leaders can shape the culture and identity of the team and create a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

Fomentar a criatividade por meio do storytelling e integrá-lo na comunicação interna pode transformar e beneficiar a cultura de uma organização, tornando-a mais dinâmica, envolvente e inovadora. Algumas ações ajudam a criar uma cultura de comunicação mais rica e colaborativa, incentivando a criatividade e o envolvimento dos colaboradores.

Escucharnos diariamente, como parte de un equipo, es una gran fortaleza para la estrategia de comunicacion interna, ademas de elevar el pensamiento creativo y la confianza de los integrantes de la organizacion. Seamos abiertos a escuchar, para visualizar mas claramente quienes somos como empresa.

Pratiquer régulièrement le storytelling est essentiel pour intégrer la créativité dans vos communications internes. Voici comment vous pouvez faire du storytelling une partie centrale de votre stratégie de communication : Encouragez la pratique du storytelling. Organisez des ateliers réguliers où les membres de l'équipe peuvent apprendre et pratiquer les techniques de storytelling. Favorisez un environnement où les histoires peuvent être partagées spontanément lors de réunions d'équipe ou à travers des plateformes de communication internes.

Desde mi experiencia, he observado que la narración de historias puede transformar la dinámica de las comunicaciones internas. Para despertar la creatividad, empieza por celebrar la diversidad en tu equipo. Comparte historias que reflejen los diversos antecedentes y habilidades de tus miembros. Esto no solo enriquece el contenido, sino que también fomenta una cultura inclusiva donde todos se sienten valorados. Además, utiliza elementos visuales y herramientas interactivas para hacer las historias más atractivas y participativas. La práctica constante de estas técnicas convertirá la narración en una parte natural y efectiva de tu estrategia de comunicación.

Rather than being a nice to have, storytelling is a must-have tool for internal communicators. Stanford professor and social psychologist, Jennifer Aaker has conducted research showing stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone. Another key element, stories are persuasive, and persuasion is often at the heart of what we're trying to do as communicators. Robert McKee, one of the best-known and most respected screenwriters in his book "Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting" outlines how people are not inspired to act by reason alone but by uniting an idea with emotion through story.

Fostering creativity in internal communications through storytelling is a powerful way to engage and connect with your audience. Here are some tips to help you achieve this: 1. **Understand Your Audience** 2. **Craft Compelling Narratives** 3. **Visual Storytelling** 4. **Encourage Participation** 5. **Use Multiple Channels** 6. **Feedback and Iteration** 7. **Celebrate Successes** By incorporating these strategies into your internal communications, you can effectively foster creativity through storytelling and create a more engaging and connected workplace culture.

Mettre à contribution des collaborateurs dans la création des storytelling, et lancez des concours internes pour récompenser les meilleures histoires. Cela peut créer l'adhésion et l'implication d'un nombre plus important de collaborateurs.

To enhance storytelling effectiveness, let's analyse what elements this communication format should have to engage our audience. Effective story should have an attention-grabbing beginning, and poignant, memorable or happy ending. A character that is equally relatable and aspirational can help engage the audience. Stories should show that the character (protagonist) is undergoing change or overcoming conflict so use the words that are associated with 'journey' and 'transformation'. The tone of voice and style of delivery will also help your story to resonate with your desired audience so exploring various channels (from video through animation, to podcast etc) is a must. And don't forget to express your point of view clearly and succinctly.