Culture & events

Building resiliency in turbulent times

Written by

Emily Williams

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, resilience has become a critical attribute for organizations seeking not just to survive, but to thrive. Resilient organizations are better equipped to adapt to change, overcome challenges, and emerge from turbulent times stronger than ever. One key ingredient in fostering this resiliency is the art of storytelling. In Melissa’s upcoming talk at SHRM California’s 2023 Annual Conference, she will explore the profound connection between storytelling and organizational resiliency, offering valuable insights and actionable strategies for building a culture of resilience within your organization.

So let’s dive in!

7 steps to use in your resilience planning

1. Embracing change as a constant

Change is an inescapable force that affects individuals, teams, and entire organizations. It can manifest unexpectedly, demanding quick responses, or it can be an arena where we actively shape our destiny. Recognizing change as a constant allows us to take a proactive stance, transforming potential obstacles into opportunities for growth and innovation.

2. The resilience advantage

Resilient organizations, those that can adapt to change and surmount challenges, consistently outperform their less resilient counterparts. Resilience is not just about meeting performance metrics; it’s about nurturing the human element within an organization. The focus on both people and performance is not just beneficial, but it’s also a driver of profitability.

3. The foundation of resilient culture

A resilient organizational culture begins by empowering individuals to adapt and thrive amidst change. It commences with a focus on the human aspect of the organization. By understanding and supporting the individual behaviors that facilitate change, organizations lay the groundwork for a culture of resilience that can serve as a model for others.

4. The power of storytelling

In Nancy Duarte’s book, Resonate®, she writes that “Stories are the most powerful delivery tool for information, more powerful and enduring than any other art form.” Storytelling serves as the connective tissue that binds the layers of an organization, amplifying communication, empathy, and connection.

5. Storytelling for individuals

Storytelling helps individuals process information, create emotional connections, and make sense of change. Stories engage our senses, bridging the gap between confusion and clarity. They create a shared narrative that brings people closer together.

6. Storytelling for leaders

Leaders play a pivotal role in guiding organizations through change. However, storytelling can elevate their impact from merely responding to change to proactively leading it. Using the shape of a story as a model for transformation, leaders can drive innovation and envision new futures.

7. Storytelling for organizations

Stories enable organizations to create a collective sense of purpose and identity. They establish cultural norms and values, aligning employees toward a common goal. Storytelling serves as the cornerstone upon which a resilient organizational culture can be built, fostering unity and shared vision.

How to add storytelling into your resilience planning

During Melissa’s talk, she will delve into these seven key points, exploring how storytelling can be harnessed as a powerful tool for building resilience within your organization. Attendees will not only gain a deeper understanding of the role storytelling plays in navigating change but will also receive practical guidance on implementing storytelling practices within their organizations.

Additionally, this talk will teach you:

• An understanding of how empathy, both for oneself and others, forms the foundation of organizational resilience.
• The value of implementing psychometric tools that promote self-awareness and healthy relationships within your organization.
• How leaders can shape their company culture by sharing stories and showing vulnerability.
• The stories that every leader should develop and be prepared to tell.
• How to create a habit of storytelling within your culture to strengthen resilience.
• The various communication touch points you can utilize to purposefully infuse storytelling into your organization.

If you’re attending SHRM 2023, join Melissa for this transformative talk as she unlocks the potential of storytelling to build resiliency in turbulent times. Learn how to create a culture that not only withstands uncertainty but also emerges from it stronger and more united than ever before. Don’t miss this opportunity to harness the power of storytelling to shape your organization’s future.

Looking to incorporate storytelling into your organization? We work with the world’s top-performing brands to craft their messaging with time-tested story principles, and we can help you too! Let’s talk through your organization’s needs today. We have options like conducting in-person trainings at your corporate office, or live virtual trainings for your employees from our expert training facilitators.