Write Company Stories

November is National Life Writing Month and Family Stories Month so I've been thinking about how writing and stories affect work culture.

It's not such a big leap to move from your personal life stories to the workplace. I have long encouraged you to write your personal vision statement, your goals, and your company strategic plan so that you and your coworkers are grounded and feel connected to a whole greater than yourselves.

It strikes me that writing out your company history and stories is equally important. Whether available in your company handbook, a company history book, or shared in periodic meetings and at company events, these stories define your culture. A written source for new employee onboarding is also helpful in teaching your culture and communicating expectations to new people.

For newer employees, this is one of only a few ways they have to understand your history and your culture. Another is the stories shared by coworkers. In the best workplaces, these stories promote your positive employee and customer culture. You can help shape the stories by the environment you create for people.

Wouldn't you rather have an environment in which employees talked about who was a workplace hero and why? Much better than an environment in which complaining about the bad boss, meaningless tasks, or workplace gossip is the norm.

_{Image Copyright Michael DeLeon}

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