How animation can successfully engage employees

In our increasingly globalized world, employees come from all walks of life, as well as different states and countries.

With such diverse backgrounds—not to mention the influx of distractions in this digital age—finding ways to engage employees is more difficult than ever.

Animation is a unique way to bridge that gap.

There’s something familiar and universal about animation, which makes it a good way to engage diverse individuals, but animation alone isn’t enough to successfully grab and hold your employees’ attention.

Let’s look at some tips that will help:

1. Use animation as a common denominator.

As I mentioned above, universality is animation’s top benefit. Not only are most people intimately familiar with animation, but the medium’s abstract aesthetic makes it easier for people to relate to the characters.

Viewers rarely think, “Hey, he/she doesn’t look like me!” More important, because there’s a built-in lack of realism, viewers probably won’t tune out upon seeing differences (e.g., look, sound, personality, etc.). In this respect, animation offers a common denominator for your audience.

Encourage your staff to appear in and shoot their own videos. Learn how in this free guide.

2. Know your audience.

If your employees come from different places and have varied interests, that doesn’t mean they make an incoherent, random jumble. You’ll see patterns among them when you consider your organization’s mission, customers and corporate culture. Isolate those commonalities, and use them as a filter.

3. Seriously, know your audience.

In addition to identifying similarities, it’s important to know exactly whom you’re trying to engage. Are you addressing the entire organization, or a specific region or division?

No matter whom you’re trying to reach, remember them every step of the way, and tailor your message as much as possible. Though certain things may seem interesting or important to you, if they’re not relevant to your employees, touching on those points may do more harm than good.

4. Clarity and sincerity go a long way.

Despite varying job titles, functions and even office locations, employees are ultimately on the same team. They’ll respond more favorably when you treat them that way.

Don’t talk down to employees (that’s a no-brainer, of course), but don’t talk up to them, either. Employees see the business from the inside out, so they know what the company is really like and what rings true.

When you engage them with animation-or any other medium, for that matter-put yourself in their shoes. Don’t waste their time: Be clear and sincere, and show appreciation.

A version of this article originally appeared on the Idea Rocket blog.

(Image via, via & via)


from Ragan.com http://ift.tt/1Gl7bLU via music production
from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1PECa8m