6 ways Fitbit uses fun to spark innovation

Editor’s note: This story is taken from Ragan Communications’ distance-learning portal Ragan Training. The site contains hundreds of hours of case studies, video presentations and interactive courses.

The world is full of advice for internal communicators, but here’s one idea that everyone ought to welcome: Have fun.

In a new Ragan Training session—“Lessons from Fitbit: Use humor and humanity to drive a culture of innovation at your organization”—former Fitbit communicator J.D. Norton offers a wealth of advice for putting life into your internal communications.

“If you can put a smile on somebody’s face,” he says, “they’re going to pay attention.”

For stuffed shirts who resist, consider: One study shows that people are more innovative when they are in a lighter mood, Norton says.

“When we can get employees to smile and we can impart more humor in what they do,” he says, “you’ll have more eureka moments and more innovation within your company.”

Here are ways to have fun in your communications:

1. Humanize the leadership.