Want to make your compliance program stick? Borrow from Ms. Frizzle.

My son is at the age when he is asking constant questions about how the world works – electricity, plumbing, the radio, digestion, you name it. So, I dug out some old classics to explain aspects of our world in a way he could understand – The Magic School Bus book series.  

As you may remember, Ms. Frizzle, the kooky teacher, takes her students on fantastical field trips on The Magic School Bus, which can turn itself into anything from a dolphin to a drop of water.  

What struck me when reading them again is how the books never tell kids about complex scientific processes – they show them. The students don’t just read about the water cycle; they become part of it. 

And here’s the thing … it works. Decades later, I still remember how the water cycle functions and how the small intestine absorbs nutrients.  

Compare that to the average compliance training experience. 

70% of employees forget their compliance training within 24 hours.

Source: Employee Training Retention Statistics for 2024, nikolaroza.com, September 2024 

Now, that’s just sad. Especially because you and your team spend hours poring over policies, writing and rewriting your code of conduct, and designing training materials. Unfortunately, evidence shows these efforts often fall short. 

Here’s the good news: We can take a fresh approach to compliance communications by borrowing from another field – storytelling. The lessons we learn from stories tap into something deep within us, and the results are supported by behavioral science. We learn without having realized it, because we were immersed and entertained. We walk away thinking about the world in new ways and behaving differently because of it.  

So, what can we borrow from professional storytellers to design compliance programs that actually stick? 

Adopt a Point of View 

Every story has a perspective – even your compliance program. The Magic School Bus is written from the point of view of one of the students in the class, making the reader feel part of the adventure. 

Real-life Use Case: WordsFresh created a helpful narrator for a company’s Code of Conduct whose personality mirrored that of their energetic compliance team. Instead of sterile policy language, employees heard from a friendly guide who walked them through complex scenarios with warmth and humor. 

When designing your own compliance content, ask yourself: 

• Who is telling your compliance story and what is his or her perspective? The perspective could be the company, the compliance team, or even a character you create to lead employees through training or materials.  

• How do you want your compliance materials to sound? Quirky and insightful? Helpful and professional? We’re guessing you don’t want dry and bland. 

• Are materials understandable and approachable for all employees – regardless of native language or level of expertise? 

• Are your materials written in first, second or third person (using “I,” “you” or “we”)?  

Once you’ve defined your story’s voice and point of view, the next challenge is grabbing your audience’s attention – fast. 

Hook Them in the First Five Minutes 

When I studied screenwriting in school, I learned that any good story pulls the audience in with a “hook” – a 5-10-minute scene designed to set the stage for the rest of the movie and leave the audience wanting more.  

Real-life Use Case: Microsoft created training videos that feel like movie trailers. Instead of starting with dry policy definitions, they open with real workplace dilemmas that make employees think, “What would I do in that situation?” 

Here’s how a hook applies to your compliance program:  

• If your audience only reads the cover and first spread of your Code of Conduct and nothing else, will they take away the main points?  

• Does the first five minutes of your training pull the employee in, pique their curiosity or leave them wanting more?  

• How can you tease a compliance program you’re preparing to launch? 

But a good story doesn’t just begin well – it builds tension. Conflict is what keeps people engaged. 

Embrace Conflict 

Think about your favorite movie or book. The protagonist faces challenges, makes mistakes and learns from them.  

This is where compliance training often misses the mark. We present a perfect world where everyone always makes the right choice, but real life is messy. Employees face ethical dilemmas in the gray areas where policies don’t always provide clear answers. 

• Do your training scenarios reflect the actual conflicts your employees encounter – like deadline pressure that tempts cutting corners or loyal customer relationships that complicate gift policies? 

• Are you showing employees how to navigate gray areas, or just telling them the black-and-white rules? 

• Do your materials help employees build confidence in their ethical decision-making, or do they create fear about making the wrong choice? 

Real-life Use Case: One company transformed their blanket restriction “Don’t share confidential info” into a practical scenario: “Here’s how to talk about our work without giving too much away.” Instead of just saying no, they showed employees how to navigate the gray area. 

In addition to building tension, great storytellers teach by showing rather than relying on bland exposition.  

Show, Don’t Just Tell  

When it comes to dense business content such as a company’s compliance program, the vast majority default to telling employees what to do, rather than showing them how to use their own judgment, ask questions and figure out how to do what’s right for their particular situations.  

There are times when direct instruction is necessary. But how often do we stop to think if this is really the best way to teach adults? 

Real-Life Use Case: WordsFresh reimagined a life sciences company’s Standards of Business Conduct as a lab notebook, complete with 3D design elements, like stickers, lab photos and handwritten notes from the narrator. The idea was to build a world within the notebook and show employees how compliance fits within their typical work environment – a lab. 

Consider: 

• Are employees practicing compliance decisions through interactive simulations, or just reading about them? 

• Do you use real case studies from your industry that show how violations actually happen and unfold? 

• Are you building decision trees that guide employees through complex situations step-by-step? 

• Are you introducing storytelling elements into the graphic design of your materials? 

Make Them Feel Something 

Every compelling story triggers an emotional response – and that’s exactly why we remember them. Research shows that emotional memories are significantly less likely to be forgotten over time, making emotion a powerful tool for creating compliance training that actually sticks. 

Real-Life Use Case: One company discovered the power of this approach when they started sharing real stories of employees who made good compliance calls that protected customers and colleagues. Instead of abstract policy violations, they highlighted moments when someone’s ethical judgment prevented real harm. Employees began seeing themselves as everyday heroes rather than rule-followers trying to avoid trouble. 

Ask yourself: 

• Are you helping employees connect emotionally with the “why” behind your policies? 

• Do you share stories of real people affected by compliance failures or successes? 

• Are employees able to see themselves as heroes protecting their colleagues, customers and community? 

• What do employees feel when they complete your training – empowered and confident, or overwhelmed and confused? 

Every journey needs a strong ending. And your compliance program should give employees a clear sense of what to do next. 

Bring Them Home  

At the end of the Hero’s Journey, the classic narrative arc, the hero returns home transformed by their experience. Your compliance program should leave employees in a similar state: reflecting on what they’ve learned and considering how to apply it in real life. 

Ask yourself: 

• Do your training sessions end with concrete next steps employees can take immediately? 

• Are you creating opportunities for ongoing discussion and questions after the formal training ends?  

• How are you recognizing and celebrating when employees demonstrate good compliance judgment? 

• Are employees walking away with tools they can actually use in their day-to-day work? 

Real-Life Use Case: WordsFresh worked with one organization that closed their Code of Conduct with a simple but powerful call to action: visit the compliance hub on the company Intranet. There, employees could search and revisit policies in an intuitive, well-organized SharePoint intranet site that WordsFresh helped develop.  

Take Chances with Your Compliance Program 

Check-the-box training and dry policies just won’t cut it anymore. If 70% of your employees forget their compliance training within 24 hours, I think we can agree that it’s time to think creatively.  

You can always start small. Choose one policy area and redesign the training using these storytelling principles. Test it with a pilot group. Measure not just completion rates, but survey results, retention and behavior change. 

As Ms. Frizzle would say, “Seatbelts, everyone!” Your employees are ready for a compliance adventure they’ll never forget. 

If you’d like help transforming your compliance program into something memorable and impactful, contact me at rebecca@wordsfresh.com to see if we’re a good fit.