Story Value
Re: Fonterra Milk Supply Shareholder Services Conference
"I wish to thank you for the delivery of your storytelling workshop at our recent Fonterra Milk Supply Management Forum.
Driving high performance through employee engagement strategies is a key plank in the Fonterra Milk Supply People Strategy. Our engagement model focuses on two drivers, rational and emotional commitment. Whilst we had made considerable progress in embedding Fonterra Milk Supply's vision and strategic themes in the minds of our managers, we sought a way of engaging them at a deeper level.
As managers we expect them to communicate a compelling story for their people, translating the broader vision into something meaningful. High energy and unconventional, your Improv Solutions workshop delivered to our 60 strong management team encouraged that deeper level of understanding and built our people's commitment to our strategic endeavours. Participants have since commented favourably on the exercise itself and on the fun atmosphere it generated.
The payback of course for Fonterra is improved performance and retention.
Thank you for your energy and professionalism."
Pip Ball
HR Manager
Re: Mercury Energy Internal Rebrand
"Our client was Mercury Energy with whom we were developing an internal brand culture. After a period of consultation and refinement our client had come to a point where their internal brand characteristics were ready to be presented to their staff. Our objective was to present the internal brand, its purpose, its characteristics and what these would mean in daily business, in a way that captured the imagination of the wider Mercury team. We had a very mixed audience; different management levels, different functional groups, different personalities and cultures. We knew we didn't want an 'over the top' presentation that would have people amused momentarily but with no long term understanding of the values and vision for the business.
Because the internal brand programme was about participating as a vibrant internal community, we chose a local community hall as our venue.
Because the internal brand programme was about working with positivity, taking charge and maximising energy, we suggested Improv Solutions to our client as a facilitation team who lived and breathed these characteristics themselves.
Improv Solutions delivered focused, high energy and memorable workshops. They worked with us at a strategic level to understand what we were trying to achieve, and in doing so, helped us clarify some elements of the programme even further. They designed the overall concept for the workshops and presentation; reviewed the scripts; rehearsed our presenters; directed and participated in the performance. They provided a team of great actors who brought the client's internal brand theme and characteristics to life for the audience.
Improv Solutions delivered a complex message in a simple and straightforward way, involving many people in the business and adding value at every step of the process.
I'm looking forward to working with them again."
Felicity Stevens
Director,
Nutshell Marketing
Re: Vero Insurance NZ Induction programme
Vero Insurance NZ (Previously Royal & SunAlliance Fire & General Company) has worked with Improv Solutions for a number of years to deliver interactive sessions as part of our new employee Orientation Programme.
For the past year the session has focused specifically on our company values: customer focus, expertise, excellence, integrity & associated behaviours. When we launched these values in late 2004 we approached Improv Solutions to design a session that ensured new employees would experience the Vero values & behaviours in a way that was both informative and engaging.
Improv Solution's successful proposal was based on a thorough understanding of our objectives and our internal culture. This ensured alignment between the creative strategy and the business outcomes required from this session. Focused on the story telling concept, the programme facilitates the development of four stories to depict each of our values. On Improv Solution's recommendation, Vero managers and team leaders are used as internal coaches to support participants in presenting their stories. Leadership involvement has truly enhanced the session and created the opportunity for managers to role model living the values and demonstrate accountability at all levels of the company.
The programme was piloted in November 2004 and has run approximately every 6 weeks since then. Participant feedback throughout this time has been very favourable. Improv Solutions have shown initiative in understanding our company and playing an active role in identifying improvement opportunities.
Kristie Barber
HR Consultant