Policies matter. But they don’t build trust. People do.
A story shows something a policy can’t: the lived experience behind the wellbeing conversation.
When someone shares a story, they’re not telling people what to do — they’re showing them what it feels like. And feelings create connection far faster than instructions.
This is why internal storytelling works. It’s not about performance. It’s about recognition. And recognition is where trust begins.
According to The Mental Health Foundation, poor mental health among workers has risen 66% in the last 15 years. It’s a huge number — but what it really represents is people quietly struggling through their working day. Numbers tell us something is wrong. Stories tell us what it feels like. When someone shares their lived…
Lived experiences heard. Real voices. Real change. This year’s World Mental Health Day theme captures something workplaces often miss: wellbeing shifts when people feel able to speak honestly. Policies help. But they don’t create connection. Stories do. A lived experience shows what the wellbeing conversation feels like — not what it should be. And feelings…
The part that stays with me most isn’t the story itself — it’s what happens afterwards. People linger. Someone says, “I’ve felt that too.” Someone else says, “I didn’t realise you’d been carrying that.” It’s in those quiet moments that connection builds. Not in the big reveal, but in the recognition that follows. Organisations often…
There’s always a moment in a team where someone has to go first. Not in a dramatic way — just in a human way. Going first isn’t about oversharing. It’s about offering something true enough that others feel safe to meet you there. I’ve seen leaders do this beautifully. A small reflection. A moment that…
I’ve realised that “How are you?” is one of those questions we ask without really meaning it. Not because we don’t care — but because it’s become a habit. Most people don’t answer the question anyway. They answer the expectation. “I’m fine.” “All good.” “Busy.” Real connection doesn’t come from the question. It comes from…
I’ve noticed something over the last few months. A room can feel one way when you walk in — busy, polite, a bit guarded — and then someone shares something real, and the whole atmosphere shifts. It’s subtle. People look up. Someone softens. Someone else nods because they recognise themselves in what’s being said. It’s…