Storytelling can be a powerful tool for sharing and reinforcing corporate culture. Just ask Mary Cownie, chief marketing/digital strategy officer with MercyOne, who retold this great story she heard while preparing for the launch of the health system’s rebranding initiative from Mercy Health Network to MercyOne. 

For years, the laminated sign next to the thermostat on a particular floor at MercyOne – Sioux City had ominously warned: “Do Not Touch — M.A.L.” And for many years, everyone on that floor was walking around in coats and blankets because everyone obeyed that directive. After all, someone had taken the time to laminate it. 

One particularly frigid day, this guy named Kevin walked up and removed the note. And he turned the temperature up. And nothing bad happened. And everyone felt empowered. 

The employee who questioned the sign, Kevin, shared that story during an employee huddle in Sioux City that Cownie had attended. As part of its rebranding efforts internally, MercyOne distributed an updated set of “Focused Recognition” cards for its employees to use with its five key results — one of which is “Own It!” 

“You should have seen that room,” Cownie said. “That really stuck with me. And so that’s why we want to encourage those who know the work best and understand how to do their jobs better — don’t just sit and let the problem fester — own it, and go do something about it.” 

Cownie sat down with me along with MercyOne Des Moines President Karl Keeler and Janell Pittman, MercyOne’s marketing and communications vice president, to talk about the comprehensive cultural, strategic and branding review their organization is undergoing. I’ll be writing more about it soon.