Consider Potential - Performance Vyond Video Series

Situation: Facing increased tension between union workers and middle management, the organization sought to proactively reduce friction, improve communication, and foster teamwork. There were growing concerns that a breakdown in trust could lead to a potential strike. Leadership wanted an educational initiative that could humanize both sides and open the door to constructive dialogue and mindset shifts.

Task: As part of a team of Instructional Designers, I was responsible for creating a video-based learning experience that could be used during team discussions between union workers and their managers.

The goal was to promote understanding, emotional intelligence, and collaborative problem-solving, while giving managers a structured way to lead conversations that built trust and mutual respect.

Action:

My contributions focused on designing and producing a series of Vyond animated videos supported by structured facilitation tools.

Key action included:

1. Scriptwriting for each video, using relatable storytelling that represented authentic workplace scenarios from both union and management perspectives

2. Designing character arcs and dialogue that reflected real frustrations, successes, and communication gaps—modeling empathy and growth mindset behaviors

3. Developing and animating the Vyond videos, ensuring visual consistency and emotional nuance to match the tone of each episode

4. Creating a Manager Guidance Document to accompany the video series, which provided facilitation tips, conversation starters, and reflection prompts to support productive dialogue after each viewing

5. Collaborating closely with HR, labor relations teams, and DEI stakeholders to ensure messaging was culturally competent and aligned with union agreements

Result: The training solution created a safe, structured space for difficult conversations and was recognized for its innovative approach to bridging divides. Results included:

• Improved communication and reduced tension in key departments where videos and discussions were implemented

• Strong feedback from both union workers and management who felt “seen” and respected by the relatable scenarios

• Empowered managers with a practical tool to facilitate meaningful dialogue and problem-solving

• A proactive contribution to avoiding a union strike, by rebuilding trust and emphasizing shared goals and values through the lens of storytelling