I recently completed a project and was reminded of the power of leadership and humor. People are naturally drawn to leaders who don't take themselves too seriously and can provide a laugh...even when it’s at their own expense.

As a video producer, I am always examining the value of video and what objectives it can help an organization achieve. The star of the movie above, Superintendent David Law, was gracious enough to provide his perspective on why using video as a communication tool for his school district was a smart decision.

Here are some of the benefits of using video as a communication tool.

Saving Time And Money!

The Anoka School District has over 6,000 employees that serve almost 40,000 kids. You would need an awful big room to get all of those people together. Even if you had a space that could accommodate them, it would still take a tremendous amount of time, money and energy to plan and execute that meeting...not to mention the valuable time that employees would need to spend away from their jobs to attend.

Putting A Leader’s Best Foot Forward!

There is something to be said about being able to control a message. Even the most gifted speaker falls flat sometimes or veers off message. Video provides a leader with the opportunity to perform multiple takes and have the best takes seamlessly edited together. The end result is a highly polished piece that creates the same positive impression every time it is viewed.

Building Positive Relationships!

When someone appears in a video and they are cast in a good light, positive things happen. The viewer starts to identify with that person and they begin to feel familiar. This is a huge advantage for a leader of a large organization because when they meet new people, it puts them one step further down the relationship building trail. David’s story about the woman who approached him after seeing him in the video is not uncommon. “I don’t know you but you seem very approachable.”

Here are a few of the positive comments that have been posted in response to the video:

Great welcome message delivered with creative positivity. Love the energy and the music. Definitely connects with all ages in our school district - staff, students and parents.

Best Back To School message I have seen in my 25 years in Anoka Hennepin. It's like a breath of fresh air!!! We welcome you here!

If this video is any indication, we are in for a wonderful era in Anoka-Hennepin. Thanks for keeping us laughing and putting it all in perspective.

Great video, even better message. I'm excited for our district with you at the helm. Here's to the start of a great new era!

Powerful!

WOW! Just the exuberant, inclusive message that many of us needed at the end of this stressful week! Thank you for helping us start the year off with a smile.