By Lindsay MacDuff, Head of Inclusion
Caroline Robbins recently wrote two pieces for The Comms Dispatch (“Before the Story: Why Trauma-Informed Interviewing Matters” and “Who Owns the Story”). They are thought provoking. They sharply analyse effective storytelling and responsible co-production.
As The Culture Colonel crew kick off our thinking for series 3, it is apt to reflect on what we did well and how we can do better. Caroline’s articles are great guidance for storytellers, leaders and followers wanting to make a positive difference.
I blogged about the importance of psychological safety for high-performing teams. It is equally relevant when navigating through tricky stories and trauma-informed interviews.
Rapport is foundational. Trust grows. The need is immutable but invisible. Its absence speaks volumes. The Dutch proverb, “Trust arrives on a tortoise and leaves on horseback” is a reminder of the need to nurture it.
Pre-production sessions are designed to create conditions for guests to feel confident with the crew. Connection is key. Feeling safe is vital. Building trust is fundamental for all that is to come.
Gemma Morgan’s compelling and harrowing personal testimony about her experiences of serving in the Army was captured in her multi-award-nominated episode of The Culture Colonel. Some will be familiar with the 7Ps. A mnemonic ingrained from the get-go of military training: “Proper prior planning and preparation prevents poor performance.” The risks of getting it wrong are too great. Planning and preparation mitigate the prospects of adverse outcomes. Anyone who has read Gemma’s book (Pink Camouflage) will understand the significant responsibility of sharing her story; thoughtfully, accurately and most importantly without causing further harm.
In Siobhan Sheridan CBE’s episode of The Culture Colonel, she references Jancee Dunn’s quotation about effective listening,
“Do you want to be heard, hugged or helped?”
Discerning which “H” is crucial for trauma-informed interviewing. Sometimes it can be all three! Equally apt advice, for any proper conversation, is removing doubt by asking which “H” it is. Understanding your responsibility to the contributor continues beyond the interview, particularly around publication or when the pod drops. This approach ensures storytelling moves beyond communication, where people feel heard, respected and in control.
Mother Teresa said, “Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable; be honest and transparent anyway”. Some leaders struggle to show their vulnerability; many have been taught to suppress it. Real co-production creates the conditions where honesty and transparency thrive. It is here that profound connection, authenticity and trust merge.
Jacqui Wilkinson, in her episode of The Culture Colonel, observed:
We need leaders to own their story because it’s like a snowball effect. When you share your story, it will encourage others to be vulnerable and share their stories, which will in turn lead to them being able to help.
Caroline Robbins, in April, wrote another short piece called “Vulnerability is an operational strength”. For those leaders and followers wanting to discover the power of appropriate vulnerability, I commend this read.
Do you feel the world is spinning too fast? Events accelerate. We have no time to pause, think and reflect. Are you drawn into the incessant search for “stuff” by spinning through the scroll of doom? And like Alice, do you lose yourself in a rabbit warren of nonsense? Sometimes it is difficult to break out of this cycle.
Co-production counters confusion. Clarity and purpose combine to ensure storytelling is done properly. The Culture Colonel podcast centres our guests at the heart of the story. They set the pace. We remember they own their story.
Listening with the intent to understand rather than respond slows the spin down.
It generates the conditions for contemplation and encourages introspection in the listener. It also draws out the wisdom of others; sometimes this is well hidden and occasionally buried.
Above all, care is key. In the conclusion of Caroline’s “Who Owns the Story” article in The Comms Dispatch she outlines the Co-production Communicators’ Checklist:
- Power
- Choice
- Transparency
- Co-shaping
- Reciprocity
- Caring
Of all these, care is crucial. The responsibility to the contributor and to teams starts in the earliest planning stage and continues way beyond the conclusion of the project. The topics covered in the first two series of The Culture Colonel show how much we care. As we develop series 3, our commitment to care will continue and guide storytelling that makes a difference.