Our organizational storytelling for internal communications blog is an excerpt from our download, The Complete Guide to Organizational Storytelling.

Internal communications plays a critical role in reinforcing the culture of an organization and delivering company information. With organizational storytelling, internal communications can bring abstract concepts to life and build connections between team members and your organization.

Specifically, internal communications will use organizational storytelling to:

1. Fuel employee recognition programs and reinforce culture 
2. Promote company benefits, events, and programs
3. Reinforce company decisions

Fuel Employee Recognition Programs, Reinforce Culture

Data shows that employee recognition is directly tied to retention: 55 percent of employees seeking to switch jobs list lack of recognition as their top reason for leaving. 69 percent say that better rewards and recognition would encourage them to stay.

Whether your company recognizes an employee of the month, annual core value awards, or prefers an ad-hoc approach to employee recognition, employee stories are the best way to say ‘thank you’ for a job well done. 

At LexisNexis, their internal communications team wanted to feature employees doing incredible work. Marketer Tykori Saunders shares how their experience building a Juneteenth social campaign made them feel seen, appreciated, and included. 

Bonus: in addition to recognizing a job well done by Tykori, employee stories also reinforce culture concepts by showing colleagues exactly the types of actions and behaviors that make someone successful at the company. In this case, LexisNexis is celebrating creative initiative and bringing one’s whole self to work. 

Promote Company Events, Benefits, and Programs

From stories of work/life balance to all-hands meetings to development programs, organizational storytelling can be used internally to reinforce your commitment to employees. It reminds them that you prioritize their well-being and care about them, which is crucial for an engaged and productive workforce.

So rather than sharing just another infographic about your company’s parental leave benefits, consider sharing the story of a team member who benefited (pun intended) from the leave. 

Reinforce Company Decisions

If your organization has made a major decision – a strategic shift, or adopting virtual/hybrid work, for example – organizational storytelling will communicate the people-impact of these decisions in an engaging way. Employees may be used to hearing from leaders, but they are hungry to hear from and relate to co-workers from all levels.

For example, Dell Technologies has a robust social impact plan that includes addressing climate change, digital inequities, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition to sharing reports and leadership interviews, Dell created this video featuring stories from employees working to make these ambitious goals a reality. 

By grounding your internal communications goals in employee stories, you’ll engage team members engaged and connected. 

Learn more in our full guide to organizational storytelling!