5 Tips to Make Your Internal Comms Videos More Engaging

Your most authentic storytellers are hiding in plain sight. Here are five actionable strategies you can implement immediately – whether you’re creating videos in-house or working with a production company – to transform reluctant colleagues into your most compelling video contributors.

1. Look for Passion, Not Confidence

Stop seeking the obvious presenters. Some of the most engaging content comes from people who initially say “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly do that.” The key is identifying colleagues who demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for their work, even if they express it quietly.

Watch for these signs during your daily interactions:

• Colleagues who get animated when discussing their work in meetings (their whole demeanour changes)
• People others naturally turn to for advice (trust translates beautifully on camera)
• Those with unique perspectives – recent joiners with fresh eyes, long-term employees who’ve witnessed evolution, or colleagues who’ve moved between departments

The science behind this approach: According to Dr Amin Sanaia, authentic people activate oxytocin release in others – the ‘bonding hormone’ that creates psychological safety and drives higher engagement, collaboration, and innovation.

Don’t limit yourself to the communications team’s usual orbit. The brilliant stories are often waiting in facilities, customer service, or accounts – people doing the real work of your organisation.

2. Reframe Your Approach: Recognition, Not Performance

Change your language entirely. The wrong approach triggers performance anxiety: “We need you to be in a video.” Instead, try: “We’d love to capture your expertise.”

Use this positioning: “You know this stuff inside and out, and we think other people could really benefit from hearing your perspective. Would you be up for having a chat about it on camera?”

Why this works: You’re not asking them to perform – you’re recognising their knowledge and positioning them as the expert they are. This transforms video participation from obligation into recognition, which should be the goal.

Build your pipeline: Every positive experience creates advocates. When colleagues have genuinely good times filming, they tell others, creating a ripple effect that transforms your talent pool.

3. Choose Soundbites Over Scripts for Authentic Delivery

Ditch the word-for-word scripts. Whilst scripted content might feel safer, it creates pressure, sounds corporate, and eliminates the natural speech patterns that make content engaging.

Instead, craft different types of questions:

• Direct: “What’s your role here?” (for specific information)
• Story-led: “Tell me about a typical day in your job” (more engaging responses)
• Problem-solving: “What challenges do you help solve for customers?” (showcases expertise)
• Emotional connection: “What do you love most about working here?” (puts smiles on faces and drops guards)

The viewing psychology: When subjects look directly at the camera, viewers feel they’re being spoken “at.” When looking off-camera during soundbite responses, viewers feel they’re observing a genuine conversation, which carries more authenticity and credibility.

Encourage preparation, not scripting: Tell contributors to think about key points but trust themselves to explain naturally. They can even have notes nearby – that’s the magic of editing.

4. Build Confidence Through Pre-Production Support

Pre-production isn’t about preparation – it’s about permission. Permission to be themselves, to be natural, and to trust their own expertise.

Confidence-building strategies:

• Focus on their knowledge, not presentation skills
• Use phrases like “you will know more about this than anyone in the room”
• Emphasise you want authentic answers, not perfect ones
• Provide reassurance: mistakes can be edited out, wrong answers simply won’t be used
• Explain the process: you’ll chat for far longer than you’ll use, and you might ask the same question framed differently

Discourage word-for-word scripting because it:

• Adds pressure to remember exact words
• Creates fear of “getting it wrong”
• Eliminates natural speech patterns that make content engaging

Set realistic expectations and remind them there’s no right or wrong way – the worst that can happen is the footage isn’t used, which isn’t the end of the world.

5. Create an Experience, Not an Ordeal

Transform filming day into something enjoyable. Happy participants equal relaxed participants, which equals authentic content and better results.

Before they arrive:

• Hit record before they enter the room to eliminate formal “are we rolling?” anxiety
• Manage the studio environment – only essential people in the filming space
• Crucial rule: No superiors or managers unless absolutely necessary (reduces performance anxiety)

Build rapport immediately:

• Start with casual conversation about weekends, family, or how they ended up working there
• The more conversational the arrival chat, the more conversational the filming becomes
• Use reassuring language: “You’re going to be brilliant at this”

Consider the details:

• Professional hair and makeup (relatively small cost but makes people look and feel better)
• Provide food and drinks they wouldn’t usually get at work
• Ensure your whole team is smiling and positive – crew energy directly impacts comfort levels

The long-term benefit: Positive experiences create internal advocates. One training company we work with initially had no willing participants, but after creating enjoyable filming experiences, we now have a choice of contributors rather than spending time convincing people.

Ready to Put These Into Practice?

These five strategies work whether you’re creating videos with your phone, investing in professional equipment, or working with a video production company. The key is understanding that authentic storytelling starts with the right approach to people, not just the right technology.

Your homework: Before implementing these techniques, identify three colleagues who get genuinely excited about their work – not the usual suspects, but people whose eyes change when they discuss their expertise. These are your authenticity goldmines.

Remember this fundamental truth: Your most compelling stories are waiting in your most unlikely storytellers. The nervous colleague who asks “Are you sure you want me?” often delivers the most powerful content because they’re not trying to be perfect – they’re just sharing what they know.

The bottom line: Authenticity drives engagement and builds trust. When you put real people at the heart of your content, you’re not just making videos – you’re building genuine connections that transform internal communications from corporate broadcasting into authentic storytelling.

Need help implementing these strategies or want to discuss how professional video production can amplify your internal communications? Get in touch with our team – we’d love to help you discover the hidden storytellers in your organisation.