Anecdote: Adding storytelling to the employee engagement agenda

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22/01/08 |

Adding storytelling to the employee engagement agenda

By chandni. Filed in Culture, Intervention design, Storytelling.

I was pleased to read the findings of a recent survey on employee engagement.

▪ 81% of organizations surveyed worldwide have an employee
engagement practice
▪ 49% use storytelling techniques to engage their employees

Although only a few organizations have employee engagement formally defined on their agenda, the survey suggests an increasing trend in the number of programs introduced over the past three years. It's great to see organizations sharpening the people focus to their business and using the power of narratives to assess their health. We have noticed that trend in our work too, with more organizations wanting to use stories to encourage the right leadership and knowledge–sharing behaviors. It’s strategic and becoming imperative.

If you’re thinking of ways to engage your employees using stories, here are two simple ways to get started:

1. Story wall – create spaces for employees to put up pictures of major team events or just their time at work. It helps to reinforce what’s good about the workplace and works as a great trigger for an interesting story.

2. Story booklet – run an anecdote circle with staff to collect stories about their most enjoyable time at work or things (events) that improved the way they work. You can then compile these stories into a storytelling booklet that you can share with new employees.

The most important thing is to start somewhere.

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