There are many benefits of having your own news service. Some are tangible like increased traffic on your website and readily available content for your social media sites and newsletters. Many are cultural. Sharing stories will predominantly impact the way people in your organization will feel about their work. They will be more inspired, motivated, and driven to do more and be more on behalf of the organization and themselves.
Regardless of the story frequency you choose you will experience improvements in all of the following benefit areas. You will find that the more often stories are shared, the more momentum and energy you will create.
Culture
How often are people in your organization recognized? Perhaps by an employee of the month award (out of how many employees?), a quarterly newsletter (that’s not just corporate stuff) or an annual celebration? Do they feel valued, respected or appreciated?
Every day people come to work, put forward an honest effort and make a meaningful contribution to your organization. Your news service could recognize individuals taking initiative, leading change and making a meaningful difference, every day. As people's successes are celebrated more people will pick up new ideas from their peers and spread further success. The more people we engage in sharing success stories, the stronger your culture becomes. You will move the needle on engagement.
When implementing new practices, stories can help overcome skepticism. People can relate to change when it is presented from a personal, real-life perspective. When change leaders share their stories they show what is already possible and already being accomplished. This builds greater trust and transparency and faster adaptation of new practices.
Every story brings out people's strengths, and those in your processes and organization. Compound the impact of these stories every day, or twice a day. The ripple effect will be felt throughout your company and your culture will grow as a result.
Communication
How effective are your communications at keeping your people informed? Is communication frequent enough to be of real use? How much do your staff and customers really know about your company and where it’s going? How often do you share stories about progress, accomplishment or achievement? Do you share stories beyond the corporate office and include successes from different divisions, departments or sites?
With a daily news program you can get all this done. You can heap attention on your staff and the advancements being made in multiple sites. You can cover new opportunities and what they mean to your organization. You can cover new directions and multiple departments so that your people have a good understanding of the kind of talent, initiatives and direction that lies within your organization.
Axiom News can post a new story on your website every day. It’s a beautiful way of keeping your people informed and connected to your organization.
Retention
What do people value most about their work? What keeps them motivated to continue their employment with you?
Survey after survey people rank being valued, respected and acknowledged, well above salary, compensation and benefits. People feel a greater sense of loyalty and belonging when they are appreciated. They want to work in a great culture, in a great company, but building culture takes time and energy. By building you a news service we can help you increase staff satisfaction and contentment by acknowledging and celebrating people in your organization every day. We can write stories about their individual accomplishments to inspire them as they read about their successes and those of their peers.
You know there’s greatness in your people. We’ll help you celebrate the capabilities of your front line, middle managers and leaders, keeping them engaged and connected to your organization.
Recruitment
Where do you recruit new employees — at job fairs, colleges, advertisements? Once you have people interested in your organization where do they go to learn about your company — your website, right?
We know new recruits are looking for workplaces that acknowledge their efforts and encourage them to bring their talents, enthusiasm, and creativity to work.
Once on your website they read about your mission, vision and values, your careers and a crafted statement about how you treat your employees. How much more compelling would it be if they could also read about what life is like in your organization from the perspective of your employees? Daily stories acknowledge, respect and validate your people and their accomplishments. Real-life stories verify that empowerment is practiced and employees are encouraged to take ownership of their work and accomplishments.
Not only are stories more credible and compelling to potential new recruits, stories are going to increase the number and right kind of recruit attracted to your organization.
Leadership
Do the grassroots in your organization have a clear understanding of where you’re going and what you stand for? How do you support those who are leading?
With a regular news program you can run a series of stories that provide clear and consistent reminders of where your organization is headed and incorporate your mission, vision and values into your stories.
We can bridge the gap between the front line and leadership by telling stories from different perspectives. Leadership will garner better insights of the work, efforts and progress being made by people on the front line. The front line will better understand and appreciate the opportunities being created by the leadership and the challenges that have to be overcome to move forward.
And for those leading change, let us know who your champions are and we’ll share their story, expressing their motivation for a change and the benefits they believe it will bring to the organization. We can also interview their supporters, share early results of the project and generate quicker problem-solving while offering support for those leading change.
Greater synergy can be accomplished when everyone is one the same page. We can help you get there.
Unity
Do people in your organization feel a sense of belonging, especially those in satellite facilities? How often is each location, and the contribution they make to your organization, acknowledged?
Your news service can reach far and wide. We conduct interviews with people across your organization. By doing so, those in satellite facilities in them will see that you care about and appreciate them. As well, others in your company will have a greater understanding of those facilities and the contributions they make to organization as a whole.
A peripheral benefit that comes from this “reach” is the insight that leadership gleans from all the good that is happening from far and wide that would ordinarily be left undiscovered.
It’s truly uplifting and refreshing to witness all the good that happens within your company, every day. What a great way to include and unify your people.
Effectiveness and Productivity
Are the people in your organization as effective as they could be, as they would like to be? Do they seem motivated to fully express their potential?
We know that organizations are only as good as their people. We know that employees who feel appreciated produce superior results. At Axiom we help motivate and inspire people to rise to their potential by telling their story. We help uncover ideas and rising stars that might otherwise go unrecognized. We celebrate those who find efficiencies, enhance processes and create new solutions to existing challenges.
There is a link between top employer and top performer. By engaging people’s strengths every day, you enhance effectiveness and expand possibilities.
Community Contribution
Are individuals in your company actively involved in the community? Do you feel your community and environmental initiatives are appropriately shared and celebrated?
Too often, the great steps organizations take to contribute to their community go unnoticed. You can use your news program to share stories about your people and the contributions they are making to sustainability efforts. We can profile individual volunteers and the causes they support, the fundraising events that happen within your organization, the reasons for getting involved, and financial contriubtions to local or national causes. These stories deserve to be told.
Be it new recruits, your existing staff, the community or your partners your news program can bring awareness to your efforts and make sure you seen in light of them.
Branding
Is your company seen as a leader of people, in products or services? How do you expand the reach and exposure of your organization?
The more visible your news program is the greater the impact on your brand. We recommend that your news be located on the front page of your website. People visiting your website will see that it is dynamic, ever changing and ever progressing, just like your organization. By putting your news on your front page you are saying to the world that you’re proud of your team (and they’ll love the enhanced exposure), your products, the initiatives you’re taking and the progress you’re making.
Because your website is refreshed daily you’ll witness an increase in the traffic, exposure and reach of your organization. You’ll be seen as a proactive and dynamic leader. You’ll build pride and a heightened sense of belonging with your staff, your clients and your community. And you’ll make a greater first impression with new recruits and those looking to access your services.
Your brand is more than your logo. It’s your team, your services, your impact on the community. The more people know about you, the greater the impact it will have on your brand.
