Every organisation has a culture that defines “how we do things around here.” While most companies strive to uphold the highest standards in safety and wellbeing, the reality is that entrenched habits can sometimes lead to undesirable behaviours or consequences. For example, a company might decide to take risks to complete a project on time or avoid going over budget. But what happens if that risk leads to a serious injury or worse?
If you’re feeling that there is a possibility of this happening, then maybe it is time to talk culture change. There are many approaches, but we have found that telling stories changes behaviours, and this is why.
Even if a company has robust policies on how work should be carried out, like how to use certain equipment or follow a standard procedure, rules alone can be easily forgotten. It’s one thing to tell employees “do this” and “don’t do that,” but what if those rules keep getting broken? In many cases, managers aren’t even aware that the rules are being broken.
So how do you make these critical messages ‘stick’? The key is to change your communication strategy and create an emotional connection that resonates deeper than a simple list of do’s and don’ts.
We all love a good story. Whether it’s a novel, film, TV series, or even a video game. Stories captivate us by presenting characters who face challenges, and we become invested in how they tackle those problems. We share in their successes and setbacks, creating an emotional bond that stays with us long after the story ends.
Think about a film you love. Chances are you’ll remember certain scenes, characters, or of an emotional moment. Maybe a heart-breaking ending, an adrenaline-pumping chase, or a plot twist that got you thinking. The feelings evoked by these experiences are what make stories memorable.
Now consider the stories you remember from your own workplace. Perhaps the time a colleague spilled coffee over a keyboard, or a heated discussion during a meeting. Why did these stick in your mind? Because you recall how you felt in that moment, and you found yourself retelling the story to others.
It’s the same principle when using storytelling to change culture in the workplace. Sharing a compelling narrative about how a decision or a series of actions leads to a negative outcome makes the lesson far more memorable than simply listing rules and guidelines. In other words, storytelling makes messages stick.
At Tribe, we’ve been using the power of storytelling since 2016, working with organisations to create engaging, relatable workplace dramas that inspire real culture change. Everything is produced in-house by our imaginative and passionate creative team. We then deliver the final product as part of the ‘Motivate’ phase of our culture change journey with clients.
Our success stories include dramas based on real dilemmas employees face, where decisions and actions carry genuine emotional weight. This approach doesn’t just change how people behave at work; it can truly transform entire cultures, prevent injuries, increase wellbeing and even save lives.
We’re proud to share that this dedication to storytelling was recognised this month at the Lens Awards, where we won Gold in the “Best Long-Term Video Strategy” category.
Our mission is to help organisations build safer, more accountable, and more empathetic cultures, one story at a time. If you’re ready to see how storytelling can encourage better behaviour (and less rule breaking!) in your organisation, we’d love to chat.