Incorporating storytelling in the workplace enables all people with various backgrounds to share their life experiences in an engaging and psychologically safe way. By using a variety of ways to incorporate storytelling in the workplace, inclusion and belonging are strengthened through a better understanding of each other’s challenges and by supporting each other. -BY Belinda Jones

Sharing life experiences is one of the most meaningful ways to engage people, because lived experiences are the real world. Think of the difference between reading a book describing how discrimination affects people versus talking to someone who has lived with discrimination and overcame it to find career success. An authentic, personal story can encourage reflection, new perspectives, positive value changes, and new ideas. In the workplace, storytelling can be an essential tool that enables employees to share compelling stories that humanize diverse people. It can also add “humanity” to everything the organization does. For example, the marketing team gains a deeper knowledge of underserved markets or can discover new markets. Product designs better accommodate diverse needs, and Human Resources diversity and inclusion training programs are improved. Storytelling is a learning process above all, and it effectively builds inclusion and belonging when the stories are authentic and sincere, and people feel safe telling them. There are many ways that employees can share their life experiences – in blogs, at diversity events, on a company website, in meetings, and in employee resource groups, to name a few.

BEYOND THE DATA TO CONNECTION OF PEOPLE

Data is essential, but measuring people is different from understanding people. Data does not build cultural competency, develop empathy, build connections, or create mutual respect. Diversity measurements are needed for many reasons, such as identifying operating areas or position levels where diversity is lacking so changes can be made or pinpointing a lack of inclusion of diverse employees on project teams. But going too far to rely on numbers and not striving to build greater understanding among employees about lived experiences means creating belonging is nearly impossible. Personal diversity stories are powerful because they are human-centric, say Consultant and author Selena Rezvani and Executive Advisor and Diversity Strategist at Rework Work Stacey Gordon.

Rezvani and Gordon suggest ways organizational leaders can encourage people to use their own words for storytelling. One is letting go of personal perspective and actively listening. Then affirm the stories heard, even if lacking understanding of what the person is saying. Also, refrain from challenging storytellers or asking them to supply evidence. Always thank people for sharing, show appreciation, and check with employees periodically, asking if they feel a space was created for sharing and hearing stories.

ENCOURAGING STORYTELLING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

A supportive environment must be created before people will share personal stories, and a strategy to create the right culture for storytelling is to offer numerous and various storytelling opportunities. There are many ways that employees can share their life experiences in the workplace. One approach is to organize diversity and inclusion events where individuals from various backgrounds can share their stories. This can help to foster a sense of understanding and empathy among colleagues. Another approach is to create employee resource groups that focus on specific topics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status. These groups can provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences and offer support to each other. Eventually, successful ERGs reach out to a broader organizational audience to encourage others to share their stories.

Employees can also share their experiences through mentorship programs, where they can connect with colleagues who have had similar life experiences. This can be especially helpful for individuals who have faced socioeconomic challenges or have grown up as a racial or ethnic minority. Another effective approach is to hold regular team-building activities where team members can share personal stories and experiences related to their work. Another approach is to create opportunities for individuals to share their stories during meetings or presentations. Encouraging employees to write and share their stories through company newsletters or blogs can also be a powerful way to promote understanding and inclusivity. Other options include holding listening sessions and developing social media campaigns that share true employee stories.

Employees can also share their experiences simply by being open and honest with their colleagues during the workday. By sharing personal stories and experiences, individuals can help to break down barriers and promote understanding in the workplace. In a safe space, the chances are that an employee hearing a powerful and inspiring peer’s story will encourage the storyteller to inspire others by sharing in other forums. Whatever the approach, the key is to create a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their experiences and perspectives. By doing so, the organization can build stronger relationships, foster a sense of community, and ultimately achieve tremendous success as a team.

ADOBE FOR ALL EMPHASIZES STORYTELLING

Adobe For All is the name of a set of company resources and opportunities to increase inclusion and belonging. One element is storytelling. Adobe adopted storytelling as a strategy to promote greater appreciation for its diverse global people. The company employs numerous tactics under the umbrella of storytelling. A good example is, annually, the Adobe For All Week showcases employee diversity, publishing stories online, so anyone online can read about employee life experiences, career goals, ways they give back to communities, balancing children and work, personal values, challenges overcome, and the opportunities Adobe offered that made a real difference.

Throughout the year, Adobe encourages storytelling in other ways. There are eight employee communities which are employee networks that build community and learn and grow by sharing stories, celebrating cultural moments like Black History Month and Lunar New Year, and driving better understanding of underrepresented groups. The Adobe Allyship program is for employees, and allyship programs promote storytelling. Called Action Circles, global employees learn how to become active and effective allies in supporting underrepresented and underserved groups.

Adobe’s Diverse Voices program provides underrepresented creators (employees and entrepreneurs) tangible and scalable opportunities to grow their careers. It offers Adobe platforms to amplify work and stories and access to mentors with industry leaders. There are also Adobe Coffee Breaks which enable employees to share questions, suggestions, and ideas with senior leaders, other employees, and community leaders, and also offer opportunities to learn new Adobe tools and to contribute to projects in progress.

A story may be describing a life experience or sharing a life experience to explain a new idea, leveraging the fantastic creativity and innovation of a diverse workforce. Once the supportive, safe environment is developed, storytelling becomes embedded in day-to-day activities, between leaders and their staff, between coworkers, and between organizational members and communities or the marketplace.

WHERE EVERYONE FEELS VALUE AND BELONGING

Storytelling can be a powerful tool for promoting understanding, appreciation, and inclusion in the workplace. By sharing personal stories and experiences, leaders build bridges between different team members, cultures, and backgrounds. This can help create a more empathetic and cohesive work environment where everyone feels valued and heard. By encouraging storytelling as a means of communication, a workplace is created that is more compassionate and inclusive in which employees feel belonging, ultimately leading to tremendous success and productivity for all. Embrace the power of storytelling to advance understanding, appreciation, and inclusion in the workplace.