Reflection - Storytelling

Challenge:​ Working in a large corporate environment with over 8,000 employees in your  department can feel overwhelming. Associates may struggle connecting their daily job to the  overall mission or wonder how they can help the business grow when feeling so small and  unimportant. In 2018 I realized this was an issue that needed to be solved and during this time,  the solution was an internal communication platform called Voice of the Associate (VoA). The  platform’s mission was to create a community where associates can connect with each other  and business leaders to amplify conversations taking place across the department. This  platform would strive for transparency, collaboration, real time updates, and simplicity to have  your voice heard. In 2018 this was the perfect solution, but it is now almost 2008 and the  platform is outdated causing the associates to feel like they are no longer being heard.     Selection:​ I selected storytelling as my tool because I believe sharing the story of where the  department was before VoA, the effect VoA had on the department from 2018 until now, and the  direction that this platform should go, can help demonstrate the opportunity for growth and the  impact VoA has on the department.     Application:​ To make updates to the current platform I will use the storytelling method to  explain why VoA is an important tool for our department and needs an upgrade to the senior  leadership team. I need to present this to the senior leadership team to get approval to move  forward with the platform upgrade. To begin this process I first gathered all of my information  that I had before VoA was released. This includes research data and interview results that prove  associates felt lost. Next step was to tell the story of how the department grew and the moral  changed once VoA was launched. I gathered all the information to tell the story of how this was  the best solution for that time period and how popular it was for both associates and business  leaders. The next step was to gather current information on what all of our key stakeholders  thought about the program (both associates and business leaders) so I created empathy  interviews to gather these results. As well as comparing the engagement scores from 2018 to  now to see the dramatic difference from 2018 to now. The final step was to create the story of  where we were, where we are now, and where we want to go. I created this story by using a  powerpoint so the senior leadership team could have a visual of this story and information that I  was presenting.      Insight:​ Using storytelling to explain why this platform needed an upgrade really opened my  eyes on how to solve problems by gaining that emotional connection. It also helped narrow my  approach by helping me focus on the main problem of our associates not feeling like their  voices are valued, and not getting lost in other problems. Using the storytelling method when  presenting also helped gain that emotional connection and overall larger purpose with the senior  leadership team. Overall it helped me convey the message I wanted to by laying it out in a  sequence of events.

Approach:​ I really enjoyed using the storytelling method because it made the problem more  tangible and helps people connect to the overall issue. What I would do differently is how I  conveyed the solution. At the end of the presentation I jumped quickly to the new platform that I  wanted to use by giving them a demo and reasons why it was great. Instead I would put the new  platform as a part of my story to bring the audience along for the journey so they could truly  understand where we are going and why.


Reflection - Storytelling Challenge:​ Working in a large corporate environment with over 8,000 employees in your department can feel overwhelming . Associates may struggle connecting their daily job to the overall mission or wonder how they can help the business grow when feeling so small and unimportant . In 2018 I realized this was an issue that needed to be solved and during this time , the solution was an internal communication platform called Voice of the Associate ( VoA ) . The platform ’s mission was to create a community where associates can connect with each other and business leaders to amplify conversations taking place across the department . This platform would strive for transparency , collaboration , real time updates , and simplicity to have your voice heard . In 2018 this was the perfect solution , but it is now almost 2008 and the platform is outdated causing the associates to feel like they are no longer being heard . Selection:​ I selected storytelling as my tool because I believe sharing the story of where the department was before VoA , the effect VoA had on the department from 2018 until now , and the direction that this platform should go , can help demonstrate the opportunity for growth and the impact VoA has on the department . Application:​ To make updates to the current platform I will use the storytelling method to explain why VoA is an important tool for our department and needs an upgrade to the senior leadership team . I need to present this to the senior leadership team to get approval to move forward with the platform upgrade . To begin this process I first gathered all of my information that I had before VoA was released . This includes research data and interview results that prove associates felt lost . Next step was to tell the story of how the department grew and the moral changed once VoA was launched . I gathered all the information to tell the story of how this was the best solution for that time period and how popular it was for both associates and business leaders . The next step was to gather current information on what all of our key stakeholders thought about the program ( both associates and business leaders ) so I created empathy interviews to gather these results . As well as comparing the engagement scores from 2018 to now to see the dramatic difference from 2018 to now . The final step was to create the story of where we were , where we are now , and where we want to go . I created this story by using a powerpoint so the senior leadership team could have a visual of this story and information that I was presenting . Insight:​ Using storytelling to explain why this platform needed an upgrade really opened my eyes on how to solve problems by gaining that emotional connection . It also helped narrow my approach by helping me focus on the main problem of our associates not feeling like their voices are valued , and not getting lost in other problems . Using the storytelling method when presenting also helped gain that emotional connection and overall larger purpose with the senior leadership team . Overall it helped me convey the message I wanted to by laying it out in a sequence of events . Approach:​ I really enjoyed using the storytelling method because it made the problem more tangible and helps people connect to the overall issue . What I would do differently is how I conveyed the solution . At the end of the presentation I jumped quickly to the new platform that I wanted to use by giving them a demo and reasons why it was great . Instead I would put the new platform as a part of my story to bring the audience along for the journey so they could truly understand where we are going and why .