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Creativity is the ultimate power-up: lessons from Split Fiction

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Creativity is the ultimate power-up: lessons from Split Fiction

Creativity is the most human of superpowers. It’s what separates us from the machines, fuels our best ideas, and turns the everyday into the extraordinary. It’s also what makes internal comms truly alive, because let’s face it, without creativity, workplace messaging becomes about as exciting as a loading screen that never ends.

But what does creativity really mean? How does it shape not just the work we do, but the way we connect, inspire, and collaborate?

To answer that, let’s take a detour into the pixelated, mind-bending world of Split Fiction: a game that celebrates the beautifully chaotic and powerful nature of human imagination and creativity.

 

Split Fiction and the inherent humanity of creativity

If you haven’t yet played Split Fiction, here’s the gist: it’s a narrative-driven, multi-reality adventure where players navigate and shape their own stories through quick thinking, problem-solving, and of course off-the-charts levels of creativity.

The premise follows two underappreciated writers who finally get their shot at the big leagues when a publishing CEO invites them to his office for a chat. But things take a sinister turn when they realise his real plan – to siphon their creativity for his own financial gain. With their platinum-level imagination in his grasp, he’ll have an endless supply of lucrative ideas.

Some playthroughs lead to dystopian chaos, others to utopian dreams. Some paths take you into metaphysical debates with your own subconscious, while others pit you against sentient storybooks with attitude problems. The game doesn’t just reward creativity, but demands it. The only way to move forward is to think differently, experiment, and embrace the unexpected.

And isn’t that the perfect metaphor for internal comms?

 

Internal comms as a living story

Internal communication isn’t a set of static instructions. It’s a living, breathing story that changes depending on how people interact with it. Just like Split Fiction, it’s full of twists, choices, and branching narratives that shape company culture in real time.

  • The best comms spark imagination. Just as Split Fiction makes players rethink storytelling, creative internal comms encourage employees to reimagine their role in a company. Instead of another dull update, what if a message felt like an invitation into a new reality?
  • Every message creates a ripple effect. In Split Fiction, one tiny choice can rewrite an entire world. In internal comms, one engaging campaign can shift perspectives, build momentum, and redefine a company’s culture.
  • Creativity is connection. The most memorable moments in Split Fiction happen when unexpected ideas collide. When the players push beyond logic and let imagination take over. It’s the same in internal comms. The most impactful messages aren’t the ones that just inform, but the ones that delight, surprise, and engage.

 

The split paths of internal comms

Imagine if internal comms had its own Split Fiction-style decision tree:

  1. Send a 10-page PDF about a new company initiative. Employees yawn. Engagement drops. Reality fractures into a dystopian world where nobody reads emails ever again.
  2. Create an interactive story, a game, or a compelling narrative that pulls employees into the experience. Engagement skyrockets. Reality shifts into a workplace where people actually care about updates.

Which world would you rather live in?

 

Unlocking creativity in your comms

If there’s one thing Split Fiction teaches us, it’s this: creativity isn’t a luxury, it’s a survival skill. In a world overloaded with information, the only way to break through the noise is to create something unexpected, interactive, and deeply human.

We’re not the only ones who feel this way. Charlie Cruz of Rice University’s student newspaper says,

“Split Fiction compellingly argues that creativity isn’t merely valuable; it’s inseparable from our humanity.”

So, the next time you craft an internal comms campaign, ask yourself:

  • Is this just another message, or is it an experience?
  • Does it challenge people to think, feel, and engage?
  • Is it alive with creativity?

 

Because whether you’re navigating alternate dimensions in Split Fiction or shaping the future of workplace culture, one thing is certain: creativity changes everything.

Game on.

 

 

 

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