In this fast-paced opening session, you will get to know your fellow peers, hear their biggest internal communications challenges, and can learn a few fun facts.

Before you can share compelling and authentic stories with your team, you have figure out what voices are missing, hear what those people have to say, and then help them share their stories in a way that feels authentic for them. Basically story telling starts with story listening. When Teach for America assessed their internal communications, they realized that the voices missing were of the students impacted by staff members' work every day.

This case study will take a look at what TFA's Staff Communications team tried and what they learned, offering tips for:

• Identifying what voices and stories might be missing from your internal communications work
• Crafting a storytelling approach that helps new storytellers find their voice
• Picking a storytelling format that feels authentic, both for the storyteller and the audience

Stories make great communication, change and advocacy tools. In this deep-dive workshop, Kevin explores how stories serve important functions in everyday human life, a reality that internal communicators can harness as an advantage and competitive edge. From the role of stories in communication to the human brain’s response to compelling narrative, this workshop will illuminate the “why” and "how" behind humanity's love for stories.

Many former journalists have made the jump to communications and bring with them skills to identify and create deeply compelling stories. But all communicators have the ability to generate that human interest, especially internal communications. You have the tools tucked in your toolbox, sometimes you just need the right inspiration.

During this session, you’ll learn:

• How journalists look at a story and why they’re effective storytellers
• Why emotion is created through your questioning
• How to draw your audience in from your very first sentence

When we think of storytelling in business, do we save our most magical words for our external audiences? This case study will help you transform your organizational, external-facing messaging into storytelling skills that run throughout the organization.

During this session, you'll learn:

• How to make your team care (what's in it for them)
• How to mix it up (try different channels, meet your team where they are)
• That leadership and CEOs can be great storytellers, but they're not the only ones

Saying that the workplace has experienced tremendous change over the last two years is a gross understatement. There have been ups, downs, variables and unknowns at every turn, and organizations are struggling to adapt to a hybrid work model. But, maybe the secret to overcoming a lot of these obstacles is simpler than we think, and something we’ve had all along.

Shared values, a sense of purpose and belonging, mutual trust and respect – these are the ingredients that make a workplace culture thrive, regardless of where we work. By staying true to who we are, we can reinvigorate our cultures and flourish in a hybrid workplace.

In this session you will learn how to:

• Lean in to who you are and let that north star guide your workplace philosophies
• Develop a platform that allows employees to share their stories
• Use communications strategies that foster a deeper sense of connection
• Equip leaders to lead through change

Hear from a panel of communications peers who will provide tips and practical advice to tackle your biggest challenges.

Moderator: Kevin Finke

Panelists:
Lori Croy, Director of Communications, Missouri Department of Commerce & Insurance

More panelist details coming soon.