How an office transformed weekly updates into can’t-miss audio content
COVID-19 undoubtedly changed workplaces globally for good. Whether that means hybrid office work, flexible hours, or more safety precautions in-office, very few companies escaped the changes brought on by the pandemic.
For Tim Lightner and his team at the State of Alaska’s Child Support Services Division, the pandemic was a catalyst to start an internal podcast.
In an episode of our “Behind the Mic: The Creator Series,” Tim Lightner walks us through the journey of developing a podcast in a time of need, as well as how this form of audio communication has helped his team evolve and create engaging content every week.
Click here to listen to the full episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/881431/11775163
How podcasting helped this team combat uncertainty
While Lightner had previously considered the idea of an internal podcast for his state government team, it wasn’t until the pandemic and the push towards work from home that he really started taking it seriously.
The podcast shared important information and updates about office safety in the wake of the pandemic, including protocols and policies to keep everyone safe.
Initially, Lightner was surprised at just how quickly the team embraced the internal podcast. But, in a time of uncertainty, the weekly COVID updates provided the team with valuable information and insights into how seriously management was taking the health and safety of their employees.
He even received direct feedback stating: “That COVID-19 update was really important.”
With audience and engagement growing, Lightner moved the podcast forward.
Creating engagement with can’t-miss content
As office priorities shifted, so did the content of the internal podcast. The office started to adopt a hybrid work-from-home model, and Lightner found that the weekly podcast was the best way to share office updates and information with the entire team, whether they were in the office that day or not.
Podcast content for this team ranged from company changes to submitting timesheets, continuing education, and even celebrating birthdays.
The “catch-all” audio channel became a “catch-up” for the office.
120+ episodes (and growing!)
Now, nearly 120 episodes in with no signs of stopping, here’s how Lightner and his team make the podcast happen:
👉Keep a predictable schedule. Like clockwork, Lightner records the podcast nearly every Tuesday. He aims to edit it by the end of the day, then release it Wednesday. Keeping a consistent schedule has helped him dedicate time to recording and putting it out.
👉Just start recording. “I say, ‘just have fun with it’ and don’t worry about the mechanics,” Lightner recommends. He encourages guests to just be themselves. As the podcast has grown, he’s noticed guests being more comfortable with the format and expectations.
👉Polish it in the edit. Part of what puts guests at ease is Lightner’s post-edit, where he removes ums, ahs, and long pauses. While it took some time to get a hang of, he knows taking this step makes the podcast sound better and encourages future guests to participate.
👉Don’t forget the data. Lightner has metrics and goals in place when it comes to listening, not only to measure the podcast’s success but to ensure teammates are up to date. Since each episode has valuable information, he frequently looks at his listener metrics through the Storyboard app to flag if engagement has dropped.
What’s stopping you? Start podcasting today
What started as a precautionary measure for a newly hybrid team quickly transformed into an important tool to share updates and new information, as well as celebrate the team at large.
All it took was the push to get started and hit record.
Are you ready to transform your internal communications with audio? Start with Storyboard today. Create an account for free and launch your channel for up to 50 listeners.
Contact the sales team for more information or to receive a free platform demo.
“Behind the Mic: The Creator Series” is Storyboard’s own podcast featuring users who share why they brought podcasting to their organization, what makes audio a distinct communication tool for deskless and remote workers, and much more. Listen to all of our episodes, linked here.