How to Foster Community Through ERG Storytelling

At Capital One, storytelling has become an important tool to demonstrate the company's values and culture. Through its partnership with Stories Inc., Capital One has captured and shared authentic employee experiences, thereby giving candidates, employees, and consumers an inside look at real life at Capital One — and how the company walks the walks when it comes to its values.

By sharing these stories, Capital One creates a deeper sense of community and connection within the organization. Their efforts are a great example of the incredible impact of storytelling within Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

That begs the question: What stories are your ERGs telling? And more importantly, how are those stories affecting your company’s culture?

Why Storytelling Matters

Stories have an uncanny power to connect people who might not otherwise feel connected. When ERGs leverage storytelling, they create spaces where employees feel seen, heard, and valued. Sharing personal experiences can result in increased:

• Empathy: Understanding different perspectives helps break down barriers.

• Connection: Employees relate to each other’s journeys, which strengthens workplace relationships. (Teams that use storytelling report a 25% increase in social connection and collaboration.)

• Engagement: A compelling story can inspire participation, advocacy, and deeper commitment to DEI efforts. In fact, storytelling workshops have been shown to increase employee engagement score by 50% in one year!

• Retention: Believe it or not, when employees feel more connected as a result of storytelling, their companies enjoy a 30% boost in retention rates.

  
  

How to Incorporate Stories into ERGs

If your ERGs aren’t actively sharing stories, there’s no better time to start! Here’s how you can get this initiative working for you and your team:

• Host storytelling sessions: Create regular opportunities for members to share their experiences in a safe and supportive setting. Small breakout groups – even if they’re virtual – can work wonders for your team’s connection.

• Feature member stories in newsletters and meetings: A short, authentic anecdote in an internal newsletter or team meeting can have a huge impact.

• Leverage multiple formats: Written stories, video testimonials, podcasts, or even social media posts can bring ERG narratives to life in different ways. T-Mobile is an example of a major corporation that leverages employee-generated content. It highlights employees on social media through their quotes, photos and personal stories.

  
  

Best Practices for Gathering Stories

Encouraging storytelling takes intentionality. Consider these strategies to collect and amplify ERG voices effectively at your organization:

• Conduct interviews or surveys: Provide prompts to employees that include open-ended questions to discover meaningful narratives.

• Ensure inclusivity and authenticity: Create a space where employees from diverse backgrounds feel comfortable sharing their stories without pressure.

• Respect privacy and sensitivity: Some stories are deeply personal, so always make sure you get consent before sharing — even if it will be published anonymously.

  
  

ERG storytelling is far more than just a way to share experiences. When employees open up about their journeys, they create ripple effects that can result in a feeling of belonging, trust, and engagement. 

Let's Take the Next Step Together

Ready to bring storytelling into your ERGs? Schedule a storytelling workshop to help your teams craft and share narratives that strengthen your workplace community.

Supporting leaders to build strong employee communication strategies such as these is the foundation of the CARRY™ Consulting process. Book a consultation with CARRY™ Consulting today to improve your ERG storytelling and start driving real change in your organization.