Storytelling for onboarding
Difficulty level — easy
1month
6specialists
Once upon a time... That sounds quite engaging, does not it? You may use the storytelling approach for employees onboarding. Familiarize the newcomer with the company's corporate culture by narrating a story. You may, for instance, imagine that your department is a mythical kingdom. Consider where it is located, whether it is somewhere hot or cold, whether it is futuristic or similar to reality. These features are meant to reflect your corporate culture. This is also a great way to describe the organizational structure in a fun way. Any format is possible: a game, a video, or a test. By immersing into the corporate culture through a story, the newcomer will memorize coworkers, structure, and values much more quickly.
Results
Employee turnover rate will decrease
When the employees immerse themselves in the specifics of the company through storytelling, they become emotionally attached. Moreover, the details of corporate culture are often easier to explain in the form of allegories and impressions that can be presented in the form of characters, magical objects, or locations.
Key Performance Indicators
employee assessment
Measure the newcomer's NPS. This indicator reflects the overall level of satisfaction of an employee and willingness to recommend a product, service, or process. When the NPS > 7, that means you are doing everything right.
decrease of employee turnover rate
The better you catch the newcomers' attention at the start, the more likely it is that they will fit in the job and stay with you long-term.
Required resources
1
HR manager
1
Graphic designer
1
Motion designer (if you're making a video)
1
Project manager
1
Copywriter
1
Screenwriter
Game mechanics
How to apply the Potion
1
Define your values and corporate culture aspects
List 4 to 10 values that are important to your company. For instance: honesty, being open to change, constant quality improvement, and mutual assistance. Then outline the features of your corporate culture. What qualities do your employees have, the way you structure processes, and the way you communicate with your clients. Answer the following questions:
what is your goal?
what is your long-term strategy for 5-10-20 years?
which features of appearance characterize you? (colors, visual style, dress code)
what are your communication style and standards of behavior?
what is your goal?
what is your long-term strategy for 5-10-20 years?
which features of appearance characterize you? (colors, visual style, dress code)
what are your communication style and standards of behavior?
2
Portray the features of culture in your story
Create a story that captures all of the above-mentioned points. Set up main characters. Their goals and objectives should match your main goal and strategy. Set up their goal. They should encounter various obstacles on the way to this goal, overcoming which would pump up useful skills for the job. Set up minor characters and circumstances, which are supposed to hinder the main characters. The minor characters can be associated with the company's external stakeholders (customers, suppliers, etc.). Each stage requires your main characters to become a better version of themselves, to change their values and perceptions of life, to learn new things, and in the end, to achieve their goal. Narrate everything. Set up a fantasy world, which is associatively similar to your company.
3
Tell a story
You may tell this story to your newcomers or experienced employees in any convenient format. It can be a video, a drawn comic, or an organized quest.
4
Collect the feedback
Measure the attendees' NPS. With this indicator, you will assess the overall satisfaction of employees with the process and see whether they will be willing to recommend such a format to others. Adjust the format based on this indicator.