Do This When Your Teams Aren’t Talking to Each Other
It happened again, didn’t it?
You were chairing that meeting.
The really important one about the massive change, or the big, audacious goal.
You sent the docs out a week before. You told them it was coming. You even clicked that red exclamation mark and put IMPORTANT in the title of the email.
But when you got to the meeting, your team were all sitting there clueless, and staring at you like it was your problem.
The bad news is, it is your problem.
The good news is, there’s a solution.
We all have different communication styles, not to mention conflicting priorities.
Dave in HR is far too busy trying to avoid that employment tribunal. Susan in sales is focused on her KPIs and doesn’t see why the new health and safety policy is relevant to her anyway.
And Mateo in Marketing lost the will to live just trying to download the attachment.
It’s tough trying to engage people, let alone compelling them to act.
But there’s one thing that universally connects us.
Stories.
We’ve been wired for stories for as long as we’ve been on planet Earth. It’s how we teach, learn, and communicate.
And for good reason. It’s a brain thing. Here’s a blog I wrote that explains why stories are so powerful.
But back to you.
Maybe you need to brief your team on some crucial legislation that’s about to come into force. Or, you need to implement a new company policy.
Perhaps there’s a mismatch between your marketing team and your sales division. No one’s speaking the same language, which means your prospects aren’t clear on your value either.
Whatever you’re trying to communicate, turn it into a story.
A story will engage your people, it will make them remember, and above all else, it will make them care.
And when we care, we act.
Here’s one I made earlier, to give you an idea.
Using stories is also a really powerful way to convey your company values and culture.
Imagine starting a new job and someone hands you the employee handbook. But instead of the usual corporate speak, it addresses you directly and puts you at the centre of a story. A story that’s bursting with personality and warmth.
Or, you know, something straight-talking and badass…if that’s your company culture.
Whatever your bag, stories can communicate it.
So, if you want to make those dry docs more engaging, memorable, and moving, here are some pointers to get you started:
Start in the middle of the action. And I mean your very first line. Our attention spans are only getting shorter. You’ve got to make them care straight away.
Make your reader the hero. Seeing themselves in the story will make it instantly relatable. Their brains will connect the dots, and they’ll be more open to the info because it’ll be in their sphere of experience. (It’s called ‘self referencing’ and here’s the research that backs it up.)
Speak to the emotional needs of the reader. This means recognising that Dave in HR is busy. Don’t just tell him that he needs to learn how to use that new software; show him how it will make his life easier.
Remember the story arc - beginning, middle, and end.
And be concise. This goes back to point 1. Nobody needs to know that it was a windy day outside on a Tuesday in March, unless it’s relevant to the plot.
I hope this helps.
And as always, if you need any help spinning a yarn, you know where I am.
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