Wholesome Story Hour

Questions? Contact Faculty & Staff Assistance Program

Overview

Introducing Wholesome Story Hour, a unique and low-stress opportunity to foster a sense of community, connection, empathy, and humor within your teams. 

Background

As leaders, you have the power to create an enriching experience that goes beyond the daily grind, nurturing a culture of connection and shared humanity.

To host your own Wholesome Story Hour, please review the following recommendations and steps—and consider inviting a few other interested teammates to support the set up! Like most things, this an initiative that’s more fun to experience as a group.

By hosting Wholesome Story Hour, you're not just leading a team; you're supporting a feeling of belonging. This initiative offers a powerful way to connect on a human level, build empathy, and inspire through the art of storytelling. Embrace this chance to bring your team closer, one story at a time.

Basic instructions

Step1

Getting started

  1. Invite your group to the table:
    • Inform your team that you are looking into starting a Wholesome Story time and gauge interest and availability
    • Feel free to send the group some the information provided here to give them context and an idea of what is being recommended
  2. Select a Time:
    • Consider selecting a Storytime that allows for the most amount of Staff Participation
      • You can also break down these times into smaller group for folks with similar schedules
      • Consider hosting more than one Storytime during the month
    • Try to block out at least 45 minutes per Storytime
  3. Alternative Option: “Wholesome 5 Min” at the end of existing meetings in lieu of full Storytime sessions
    • Invite 5 minutes of Good News, Appreciations, or Kudos at the end of certain regularly scheduled meetings
    • Feel free to add your own spin (i.e. 5 min of Work-related wins, 5 min of Kudos, 5 min of personal embarrassing moments, etc.

Step2

Defining stories

  1. “Wholesome Stories” are any personal shares that allow others to enjoy a story or an experience from a colleague that has a positive message and/or happy/funny ending
  2. They should be personal to the person sharing (rather than bringing in other people’s experiences or published works)
    • They should be appropriate for the workplace, and again, focused on a positive message, theme, or happy ending
    • They do NOT have to be deeply personal, and can also be light/funny (without being at anyone’s expense)
  3. Consider choosing a theme
    • Perhaps something that resonates with your team’s current journey or challenges
    • Themes can range from resilience and innovation to teamwork and gratitude to humor and good news

Step3

Gathering stories

  1. Stories should be submitted to an elected Story Keeper for review (not needed for 5 minutes of Wholesome News)
  2. The Story Keeper can assemble stories (once approved) based on theme, based on variety, or based on time for each Wholesome Storytime
  3. The Story Keeper can also make recommendations for time/edits/workplace appropriateness

Step4

Sharing stories

  1. Create a Comfortable Setting: 
    • Whether it's a cozy corner in the office or a virtual meeting room, make sure the environment is conducive to listening and sharing
    • Consider background music, comfortable seating, and maybe even some snacks
  2. Stories should be shared one at a time, without interruption (unless audience participation is encouraged!)
    • Story Tellers can share in person, on Zoom, or on/off camera—whatever they comfortable with
    • Story Tellers should be clear on their time limit ahead of time (10 min/story recommended)
    • Time can be added for supportive feedback or questions from the group ONLY with the consent of the Story Teller
  3. Facilitate with Empathy: 
    • A Wholesome Story Hour host should guide the session with empathy and openness
    • They can encourage participation, support audience active listening, and can help maintain a respectful and supportive atmosphere.
  4. All stories should be treated equally

Step5

Post-storytime

  1. Bask in the knowledge of wholesome experiences shared with you/your coworkers
  2. Allow yourself to think about what story you might tell, even if you don’t choose to join in
  3. (If invited) share any appreciation or positive emotional responses with the Story Teller — it can be wonderful to know a shared experience had an impact on someone else!