EE Voice (Sharon McIntosh and Sharon Phillips)

Welcome to our kick-off podcast, EE Voice, a podcast where we talk about employee engagement, internal communications, best practices and practical tips to improve employee communications.

In this initial podcast, we introduce ourselves as co-hosts: Sharon McIntosh, from Norwalk, Conn., and Sharon Phillips, from Oak Park, Ill. Since we both have the same first names, and have been confused in the nearly 20 years we’ve known each other, we begin by designating Sharon McIntosh as “Sharon Mac” and Sharon Phillips as “SJP.”

We kept this one short as a brief introduction, but we’ll be back in a few weeks with a full episode.  We tell our story about how we landed in internal communications and then a bit more on the personal front. (Sharon Phillips shares how she has three generations living in her same home!)
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In this episode we interview Beth Nyland on how to turn corporate speak into something you love to write and your employees love to read. Beth, who leads her communications consulting firm, Spencer Grace, has extensive experience in writing and editing, marketing and internal communications, and branding and business development. Beth’s career spans both corporate... Continue Reading →

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Welcome to episode three, where we discuss one of our favorite topics:  Executive communications.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Research that supports how executive communication can drive employee engagement;
• Thoughts on Starbucks CEO’s letter to his associates on the day the stock market tanked last summer;
• Our view on Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s announcement that she’s taking limited time off for her maternity leave;
• And some ideas and tips on how to improve executive communications at your organization.

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Welcome to episode #4 of EE Voice, where we interview Christine Lai, chief of staff for Delivering Happiness – and a self-described “collaboration catalyst and life enthusiast.”

Christine and I discuss:

• Delivering Happiness’ birth from the book written by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, and how this start-up has evolved
• How Christine and the team define culture – and the role internal comms should play
• How internal comms can partner with HR to improve culture
• If happiness = employee engagement
• And Christine’s one, practical tip you can use immediately at work

Thanks to Christine for an enlightening, edifying discussion!
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Welcome to episode 5, where we are honored to welcome Measurement Maven Katie Paine.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2016 is to strengthen your measurement focus, today’s show is made just for you!

With nearly three decades of communications measurement experience under her belt, it’s fair to say that Katie Paine lives and breathes measurement. She has founded two measurement companies -- KDPaine & Partners Inc., and The Delahaye Group – and written 3 books: Measure What Matters , Measuring Public Relationships, and Measuring the Networked Nonprofit: Using Data to Change the World.

Her latest company, Paine Publishing, is the first educational publishing firm entirely dedicated to making more Measurement Mavens. In her consulting practices, she designs measurement dashboards for some of today’s most admired companies.

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Welcome to episode six, where we discuss one of our favorite internal communications topics: employee ambassadors.
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Welcome to episode 7, where we enjoy a great conversation with Tamara Snyder about an inside peek at the soon-to-be-released analysis of the employee specific data of the 16th annual Edelman Trust Barometer. Long known for revealing that the average employee ranks higher than the CEO as trusted company spokesperson, the Trust
Barometer has been a wealth of insights for communicators. And for the first time this year, the study also measured employees' trust of their own company.
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Welcome to episode eight, where we welcome our friend and colleague Kim Grieser for a great discussion on change management. Since retiring from PepsiCo in 2014, Kim launched her consultancy, Grieser Communications, working with a variety of clients in the consumer products, pharmaceutical and hospitality industries.
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Have you considered starting your own communications business? If so, we invite you to take a listen to this month's podcast, where we share our personal experiences and provide tips on how to make your own journey an energizing and successful venture.
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Whether you love them or hate them, for most internal communicators employee town halls are an expected part of the job. In this month's podcast, we share our town hall war stories (the good and the bad) and what energizes us most as we prepare for these leader-employee dialogues. We suggest practical tips that will assist in preparing and planning for your town hall, executing day of, and following up to ensure lessons are learned.
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Welcome to episode 11, where we are delighted to interview Stephanie Bickel from Speak by Design, a team of executive coaches and trainers who are committed to helping clients elevate their impact and increase their influence through better communication skills.
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Welcome to episode 12, where we discuss how to engage your millennial workforce. Sharon and I interview Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky, a millennial workplace expert, internationally renowned keynote speaker, and bestselling author of The Quarter-Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, and Build a Life That Matters.
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Welcome to our special holiday episode, where Sharon and I offer five fast tips to improve your CEO’s end-of-year letter for 2016. We reference a blog I wrote on this topic a couple of years ago, but many of the same recommendations still apply.
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Welcome to our first podcast for 2017. In this episode, we welcome back Tamara Snyder, leader of Edelman’s Chicago Employee Engagement team, to chat with us about mergers and acquisitions (M&A), an area that has seen increased activity over the last year. She also shares a few findings from the recent Edelman Trust Barometer, which was just issued in January.
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In our 15^th podcast, we were delighted to welcome Victoria Lewis-Stephens and Alys O’Neill of Instinctif Partners, an international business communications consultancy that specializes in reputation, influence and engagement.  The topic: How to lead change from inside the organization by identifying your employee influencers.
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Shel Holtz knows internal communications, and he knows where it’s headed.

A 40-year industry veteran, communications director for Allergan and Mattel, consultant, speaker, blogger, author, fellow of three of the world’s most prominent communications industry associations and, if that weren’t enough, co-founder of the FIR Podcast Network, Shel is something of an expert on the topic.

Who better to kick off our first podcast of 2019? If anyone can predict the future of internal communications, it’s Shel. His crystal ball is one of the most accurate we know.
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Since 2000, the Edelman Trust Barometer^® has measured attitudes about the state of trust and credibility in business, government, NGOs and the media worldwide.

The annual Edelman survey’s results often confirm, sometimes surprise and always motivate us as internal communicators – and this year is no different. The 2019 report shows profound changes in the perception of employer-employee contracts, a finding that holds special significance for internal communicators.

In this episode of EE Voice, we talk with Tamara Snyder, who heads up Edelman’s Employee Experience Team, about the shift in employee mindsets revealed in their latest report. (Tamara's a bit of a rock star in our EE Voice podcast world, as this was the third time she's been on the show.)
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Douglas Spencer knows brand strategy. The former VP Global Brand Management for Thomson Reuters and founder of Boston-based consultancy Spencer Brenneman has spent two decades traversing the globe to work with brands in every sector from financial services to nonprofits.

He has the same advice for all of them: Embrace brand strategy as “your business’ very best friend – part coach, conscience, parent, partner, judge, jury, conductor and station agent.”

The same advice applies to internal communicators. And in this episode of EE Voice, you’ll hear why.

Tune in as we talk with Douglas about the many ways internal comms can support the brand.
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The post Episode #35: Hey, Internal Comms: Marketing needs you appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In today’s highly charged sociopolitical environment, corporate leaders can feel the impulse to take a stand just like any of us. They’re only human, after all.

As communicators, it’s our job to help them understand when and how to speak out on issues that live outside the business realm. What are the expectations around CEO activism? What are the ramifications of taking a stand on a highly charged issue? Which CEOs are doing it right?

In this episode of EE Voice, we’ll explore this sensitive topic and the critical role internal communications teams play in keeping their leaders on point, on brand and on a path toward making a truly positive impact.
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In our April 2018 EE Voice podcast, Sharon and I asked our listeners: Are you ready for the employee activist?

Because if you weren’t prepared last year, you better brace yourself for what’s coming. In the last year, we’ve seen #GoogleWalkout,  #WayfairWalkout and most recently, #AmazonWalkout.

In this episode of EE Voice, we dive back into the fascinating topic of employee activism with two comms experts:

•  Terry Hart, a corporate comms expert in B2B marketing, corporate communications and change management and
• Mike Klein, principal of Changing the Terms and a well-known voice on employee communications based in the Netherlands.

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“What you’re trying to do is not just have employees be an amplification for the company. You’re trying to help them engage with people digitally. And you’re trying to create an engagement – so they can create a relationship.” – Glenn Gaudet

After a long summer break (which somehow eked into fall), Sharon and I are back! And we’re delighted to welcome a friend and employee advocacy expert Glenn Gaudet.

As CEO of GaggleAMP, Glenn leads a team that helps companies transform their workforce into a social media powerhouse. Sharon and I worked with Glenn when we launched PepsiCo’s award-winning ambassador program, and we learned much from him then. And of course, in this conversation, we learn more, including:

• How employee advocacy has evolved in the past 10 years – and where it’s headed next (pssst: It’s about employee engagement)
• Why employee advocacy is so powerful for brand building
• Hot-off-the-press findings from a new survey, “Building the Case for an Employee Advocacy Program,” which showcases what makes for a successful program – and how communicators can help. Some survey findings that surprised even Glenn
• And so much more.

Glenn pulled together the following resource for our EE Voice listeners, which includes links and downloads to the survey, how to get started with employee advocacy and a great case study about Carbon Black.
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We thought we’d end the year with a little twist – a new, abbreviated format which we hope you’ll find easy to fit into your busy day. With EE Voice Clip we aim to answer -- in under 8 minutes – a question that employee comms pros have on their minds. Sort of like a Quora for Comms.

Our first question we answer is: How can I spice up my CEO's end-of-year letter. Sharon and I offer some ideas to consider - some creative, some more traditional. And all in six minutes.
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The post Episode #39: EE Voice CLIP – How can I spice up my CEO’s end-of-year letter? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Strengthening relationships with employees in global settings is a topic near and dear to my heart, as I spent many years at PepsiCo working with our regional teams. For communicators, launching a global initiative can be an exciting career opportunity. Yet, despite advances in technology, significant gaps still exist that can hinder your success.

To help us better understand some of these challenges and get real-world solutions—we (well, Sharon did, since I was with a client) hosted Ray Walsh, a communications consultant for multinational companies, on the latest episode of the EE Voice Podcast. Based in Prague, Ray has deep expertise in helping global organizations with communications and content. In addition, Ray’s experience living and working in Europe both in-house and as a consultant provides valuable insight and perspective for communicators looking to increase their global acumen in 2020.
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Welcome to our second EE Voice CLIP - our Quora for communicators -- where we answer a listener's question in less than 8 minutes.

Today's question is: How can I create an effective 2020 employee comms strategy?

Sharon and I are always surprised how many companies we speak to don’t have a full year communications plan – and it’s critical. A solid strategy gives you the journey map to success – both personally as a leader and for your employees -- and done right – ultimately to drive business success.

So here are some quick tips and tricks to start or improve upon your 2020 comms plan ... wrapped up in just 5 minutes.
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If you're like most people, you have a high-tech video camera right at your fingertips ― and you're not making the most of it. Why let that potential go to waste?

Grab your smartphone and take in these recording tips from our video maestro, EE production manager Ed Gilbert, who shares his deep audio/visual expertise for our latest EE Voice Clip.

In less time than it takes to download the typical iPhone update, Ed covers advice from how to hold your phone to improving lighting and audio. It’s like an eight-minute master class in smartphone recording.

Whether you're considering video as a way to capture that employee interview or you want to feature an executive, this EE Voice Clip is well worth a listen.
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Talk of COVID-19, or Coronavirus, is dominating the headlines, your timeline ― and probably your headspace. On top of your own family's health and wellbeing, you have your business, customers and employees to worry about.

As you navigate the fine line between information-sharing and fear mongering, what's the right message to send? Andy Gilman - a well-known crisis comms expert --  has the answers in today's episode of EE Voice - in less than 15 minutes. (As anyone can now tell you, that's equivalent to time spent on about 45 hand-washings).

Whether you are adapting an existing crisis communications plan or starting from scratch, you'll want to tune in for Andy's expertise. You can learn more about Andy and his company at CommCore Consulting.

 
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Today we have a special episode of EE Voice: Mark Dollins (friend, comms pro and a former EE Voice guest) and I recently conducted a webinar to discuss the value of employee communications during COVID-19 -- as well as share best practices and helpful hints during this crisis. We wanted to offer another way for you to access this information, so this is the slimmed-down audio of the main presentation. You can view the full webinar -- including slides and audience polling -- at biznology.com.

The webinar was hosted by Consultants Collective and moderated by its manager director, Jen McClure.

Please let us know if Sharon and I can provide any additional help or advice during this challenging time.

 
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[Today's episode: 7 minutes]

Can you hear them now?

For a solid eight weeks, we've been working with managers on how best to communicate with their teams remotely during the COVID-19 crisis. This week—at your request—we turn that question on its head: How can leadership teams make sure they’re really hearing from staff and directing feedback effectively?

In today's episode, we talk through our best strategies for expanding listening channels to make space for all this new traffic and keep it moving in the right directions. From surveys and focus groups to informal listening sessions, we cover approaches to soliciting feedback ― and offer you ideas on how to execute.

Give it a listen, and then let us know what questions are keeping you up at night. We're listening.

 
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Amid health, economic and social crises, our leaders are being asked communicate like never before.... and almost all virtually.

For today's comms pros, creating and facilitating engaging virtual town halls, conferences and important meetings is possible - and even culturally rewarding. Plus, you're also helping your leaders communicate from their home offices.

Need some solid tips and advice? Enter virtual virtuoso Stephanie Bickel of Speak by Design. She shares her expertise on delivering compelling content with strategies that cover everything from engaging attendees in the virtual waiting room to closing on a note that will have people clapping at their computers.

Other resources:

• Follow Speak by Design on LinkedIn.
• Speak by Design is adds daily tips on Instagram.  Please follow, comment, and let us know what you think
• Download this whitepaper - Own the Zoom - for tips on virtual meeting excellence.

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Laura Field, a colleague, friend and fellow communicator, joined the Sharons to discuss how vital it is that we listen to our internal beings—particularly given all we are dealing with in this moment.

Laura has an intriguing background -- being both a communications expert and a spiritual director -- and offers us  intriguing insights about self-care and burnout.

Laura distills the reasons communicators are more susceptible to burnout, from our natures as thoughtful, nuanced and sensitive people to the oftentimes difficult reality of the environments where we operate. Sound familiar? Hang in for the second half of the broadcast when Laura outlines concrete practices we can put in place, beginning today, that will help us care for ourselves, humanize each other, and be in a better place to share our gifts and talents.

You can learn more about Laura at Soul Play Online.
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We love talking to Steve Crescenzo because where else can you gain practical, actionable comms advice through a conversation that includes a pet rabbit on the loose, (not) tolerating our spouses under COVID-19 quarantine, and leadership communications hostage videos? Steve and his wife and partner Cindy have had front row seats to the comms-coronavirus crisis response through their business, Crescenzo Communications. Steve joined the EE Voice podcast to talk about all they've learned – from the two things you must do to step up your internal comms leadership to the office culture shifts we're witnessing that he predicts are irreversible.

Links referenced in the podcast:

• Whitepaper: 7 steps to futureproof your internal communications strategy
• Gallup study on the need for internal communications during the pandemic
• Crescenzo Communications upcoming webinars (happy hour included!):
  • Employee Communication Master Class
  • Writing Master Class

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In 2018, when comms pros Mark Dollins and Jon Stemmle were first wading into the research for their forthcoming book on internal communications, they couldn't have anticipated the seismic change we would all soon experience. Their timing will serve us well as we move forward in a post-COVID-19 world.

Drawing from their ongoing research and their careers in the field and in the classroom, Mark and Jon joined us for the latest episode of EE Voice to discuss the foundational and emerging core competencies of internal comms, the personal stories behind the successes, and the thru-line of those who are charting a new course in an altered landscape.
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As we close out a year marked by upheaval, experts predict more disruption ahead―including an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). For our 50^th (!) EE Voice podcast, we welcome Louis de Schorlemer of Corporate Diplomat, an agency dedicated to managing M&A, diverstitures or reorganizations. Louis is an international leader in managing M&A communications. He brings a valuable perspective on the importance of centering people in the processes around these transactions.

Louis discusses the sensitive nature of M&A activities, such as when a cash-rich business buys a struggling company, and he doesn't look away from the discomfort but instead guides clients on how to communicate through it in a mindful way.  He lays out strategies for analytical mapping and putting people in the right mindset. And he asks challenging questions about transparency and preparedness―and shares the "Four Ps" he's found to be instrumental for success.

If you've never supported M&A before -- and even if you have -- Louis offers a masterclass on communications strategy and execution. Listen in, and let us know what you think.
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What a crazy year! For those working in internal comms, it’s been nothing short of a rollercoaster, personally and professionally. Yet, we had some silver linings – and for Sharon and me, it was about tapping into experts to guide us through these trying times.

At the end of every EE Voice podcast, we always ask our guests for their one piece of advice to leave with listeners. Here, we gather them all in one place, in less than 15 minutes.
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One of EE Voice's most-played ― and most important ― past episodes featured crisis management expert Andy Gilman discussing communications in the face of COVID-19. Now, Andy joins the podcast to help listeners navigate the latest developments in our current COVID reality, using communications to overcome vaccine hesitancy and compliance. His team recently launched RESTART to help organizations navigate COVID-19 recovery, increase vaccine compliance and support public health.

These are complicated issues. But Andy explains how company leadership can view this challenge as an opportunity to strengthen company culture, improve morale and build trust.

Have a listen to learn more about confronting these challenges, and learn more about Andy's team and work at CommCore Consulting.
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Over the past year, we've experienced a seismic shift in the way we work. Being in the midst of those changes can make them harder to see and understand. In this podcast, Victoria Dew, SCMP, Founder and CEO of Dewpoint Communications, walks us through these shifts while illustrating how communicators can reflect them in their strategic communications in the months ahead.

Victoria's global business background includes 15 years as a trusted advisor to dozens of CEOs and executives. She tapped that network and beyond in her research into how we communicate and create experiences for people in the post-pandemic workplace.

Victoria joins us to discuss issues from the normalization of employees as messy, complicated humans to what can happen when we stop treating employees as robots. She emphasizes the high stakes involved, as the potential consequences of burnout can cost companies up to 34% of an employee's salary.
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Nearly every organization is currently undergoing some type of transformation. But are internal communicators changing as well? In this episode, we discuss the evolving role of internal communicators – and what training and focus areas they should be developing today to serve the company of tomorrow.

We also hear from three experts in the field: Shel Holtz, principal of Holtz Communication + Technology; Jeff Herrington, who runs Jeff Herrington Communications; and Mark Dollins, current head of executive and global internal communication at DuPont. They share their views on how communicators need to evolve and change (and why Jeff thinks all of us deserve a new car!)

Take a listen, and let us know what you think!
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“Mark my words,” Shel Holtz said in a 2016 blog, “Bots are coming to the workplace, to media relations, to public relations. They are coming just as surely as the web was going to completely disrupt the way communications was done a quarter century ago.”

When we read that, Sharon and I knew we wanted to know more about chatbots – and how they will affect employee communications. Soon after, we met Chris McGrath, and knew we wanted to discuss chatbots. Chris is a veteran digital workplace consultant with extensive experience designing delightful enterprise software — like Tangowork, which he founded, and ThoughtFarmer, which he co-founded. Tangowork is his new company dedicated to chatbots for internal communications.
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Lessons we can learn from United, J&J, Steve Harvey (and others)

Andy Gilman has had a busy spring.

He has been a frequently-quoted source by journalists covering the recent crises, including United, Uber, the Oscars and American Airlines, and most recently, Steve Harvey’s internal note to employees, among others.

As president, CEO and founder of CommCore, Andy and his team have helped senior executives, officials and spokespersons achieve their organization’s communications goals and often help them respond to a crisis.
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This month, we handed the podcast reins over to Selbe Dittman, And Then Communications summer intern. Selbe talks to Professor Holly Hill about internal social media and aspects within it. Holly is the director of Web and New Media Services as well as an adjunct professor in communications for Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.
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The post Episode #19: How Flagler College uses internal social media appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Hard to believe, but we made it to podcast #20! (Sharon and I want to thank all of our listeners for sticking with us this far.) In this episode, we talk to David Cronin, chief technology officer of DevFacto, about how we can better measure our digital communications.
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If you work in employee communications, chances are you’re experiencing and communicating change in your organization. Want a master playbook on change management – in less than 30 minutes of your time? Well, here it is.

This month, we are delighted to welcome Mark Dollins, our former boss and now head of Executive and Global Employee Communications for DuPont, where among other duties he is tasked with driving change management communications for the enterprise. This year his team earned IABC Gold Quills and a PRSA Silver Anvil award for change management, employee engagement and employee communications.
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Ethan McCarty can freak you out, particularly if you’re an internal communications professional. For example, he recently wrote a blog entitled, “Don’t Measure Internal Communications.” Wait … what?

And when I heard him speak at a Poppulo conference last summer, I knew he’d be a terrific EE Voice guest. Because he’s doing some unexpected – and successful – work in his job as Global Head of Employee and Innovation Communications for Bloomberg. He didn’t disappoint.
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Our listener and friend Laura Field had a terrific suggestion: Pull our top guest tips into one podcast.

So here it is.

It was tough choosing since Sharon and I had so many edifying interviews over our past 22 episodes. But looking back, these were our favorites. Just some of the tips we discuss:
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The post Episode #23: The best of EE Voice: Looking back (and ahead) on our top six IC tips appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Talk about pressure.

Our guest this month, Jeff Herrington, has written two murder mystery books, conducted countless writing workshops and served as a consultant for 20+ years to companies worldwide. Plus, he’s a good friend. So I wanted to get this podcast right.

Fortunately, Jeff and I had a great conversation about upcoming trends that communicators should either watch – or watch out for – in 2018.
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It’s spring, and the Sharons are finally on the same continent. Fresh from a month in Southeast Asia, my co-host Sharon Phillips was struck by the warmth and grace of the people she met in Thailand and Cambodia. Their ability to slow down and thoughtfully engage her in a conversation was a refreshing change of pace.

It’s also a good reminder of how often we Americans fall into the trap of “seat-of-the-pants” communication. Yes, we're communicating, but are we also listening?

In this episode, we explore this topic, delving into:
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Here’s a new topic that Sharon Phillips and I have been exploring: employee activists. In this podcast, we defined employee activists as those who vigorously advocate for their companies and leadership to support or oppose a cause or issue. After learning that Google’s employees sent a petition to their CEO, I recently wrote a blog... Continue Reading →

The post Episode #26: Are You Ready for the Employee Activist? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Change is a given in our global corporate marketplace. As internal communications leaders, it’s our job to keep employees informed and engaged amid a constant state of organizational change. But how do you do that when you’re up against outdated internal infrastructure and a loud, ticking deadline?

In the latest episode of our EE Voice podcast, Sharon Phillips and I spoke with Jim Smith, VP of Internal Communications and Engagement at Coty. In October 2016, Coty merged with Proctor & Gamble, forming the third largest beauty company in the world, with a combined workforce of 20,000 and two very different cultures. Jim joined Coty a week after the merger.
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The post Episode #27: 9 Steps to Coty’s Effective Intranet Strategy: A Beautiful Thing appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this era of hyper-alertness about everything from data security to natural disasters, it’s no longer a question of whether you need to develop a crisis communication plan. It’s how to develop one that works. As an employee communication professional, you’re key to this process. So are employees, as is – no surprise here – social media.

The latest episode of EE Voice, Sharon Phillips explores these murky waters with internal comms consultant and author Paul Barton.

Tune in to hear why Paul advocates a proactive approach to crisis communications that includes employees, social media and something he calls “the five Ps.” Tune in to hear more.
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The post Episode #28: Taking the Crisis out of Crisis Communications appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Picture this: You work for a US-based Fortune 100 corporation with more employees than the population of Buffalo, N.Y. You’re responsible for communications to hundreds of thousands of employees across the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Your assignment (should you have any choice but to accept it): Complete a global internal communications audit in 60 days.

In this episode of EE Voice, Sharon Phillips and Sharon McIntosh reflect on how they not only survived a high-pressure global IC audit for PepsiCo (23 focus groups and in-person visits to six countries!) but walked away with valuable new insights into the very thing they were auditing – internal communications. Tune in to hear them relive the journey and the lessons they learned along the way.
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Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters can wreak havoc on business. They can keep employees out of work, customers and clients in the dark and offices closed for days on end. That’s why it’s so important to have a solid crisis response plan. And the time to start one is now.

With Hurricane Michael and another superstorm season upon us, we wanted to share some lessons learned from a past one – Hurricane Sandy. Because beyond its epic size and cost, Sandy was also an object lesson in crisis communications.
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What’s a leader to do in the age of distraction? How does the C-suite stay connected when they’re competing with Twitter for their team’s attention? How do leaders provide authenticity, transparency and directness that employees crave? One word: video.

It’s one of our most provocative topics in internal comms these days, mainly because of the anxiety it often provokes in even the most seasoned leaders. So to explore it, we sat down with Sonia Fiorenza of SocialChorus, a workforce communications platform we’re proud to call a sponsor.
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Eric Schnure is the consummate storyteller. A former White House speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore with 20 years of experience counseling executives on messaging, Eric knows how to tell a great story. He also knows what makes storytelling such a powerful internal comms tool.

We’d gladly spend an afternoon sipping tea (or something stronger) on the porch with Eric, but we settled for a visit to the EE Voice virtual HQ for our last podcast of 2018. Of course, he launched right in with two stories from his White House days (okay, we asked), then reminded us that storytelling is “not just spinning a yarn.”

 
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2021 Edelman Trust Survey Demands Communicators’ Focus, CEO Action

According to the recently released 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer, societies around the globe are facing an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust.  For more than 20 years, the Edelman Trust Barometer has measured trust in businesses, government, NGOs and the media. According to Executive Vice President Tamara Rodman, who leads Edelman's Employee Experience Team, this year's report is an urgent call for communicators to work with business leaders on maintaining and rebuilding trust.

Tamara is a frequent and favorite guest of EE Voice, bringing 20 years of experience in organizational communications, culture, leadership development and employee engagement across a broad swath of industries. She points out that this moment in time presents an opportunity for executives and business leaders ― one that will require the deft and proactive guidance of internal communications professionals.
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In this special episode, Sharon and I join you as listeners to a far-reaching conversation between two communication powerhouses on the evolution of employee comms – and the hard road ahead.

Guest Host David Murray heads up the global Professional Speechwriters Association and the Executive Communication Council and writes the popular daily blog “Writing Boots.” An award-winning journalist, he's just published his must-read book, An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half.

Roger D'Aprix, often called “the father of internal communications,” has served on ROI Communication’s Board of Advisors since 2005, is an internationally known consultant, lecturer and author, an IABC Fellow and recipient of the 2014 President’s Award from the Communication Leadership Exchange. He is a best-selling author whose most recent book is Bosses: True Stories of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

This probing interview covers the realities that leaders in the workplace face, as David notes they have "barely just begun to explain all the stuff that needs to get across" despite believing they've talked it all out.
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This week, Sharon and I welcome Kristen Garvey, vice president of corporate communication at Waters Corporation, a specialty measurement company focused on improving human health and well-being through the application of high-value analytical technologies and scientific expertise.

In our conversation, Kristen expresses gratitude she feels for her team and notes that she has never received more emails of thanks for the transparency Waters achieved than she did over the past year and a half — so we are incredibly fortunate to have her perspective as we all strive for transparency and trust through this next phase of the pandemic.
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As we strive to foster communities of collaboration and transparency between company executives and their employees, one question persists: How do we make our findings measurable and actionable? 

“I think communications in general is hard to measure. It's not as cut and dry as the sales of a product or the financials of a company… it's pretty hard across the board,” says our most recent guest, George Sutcliffe, Global Communications Insights & Analytics Lead at Raytheon Technologies. 

A former lawyer, librarian and writer, George uses his keen attention to detail to drive measurement strategy and uncover insights that impact business outcomes. In our conversation, George touches on a variety of subjects that all point back to one of Sharon and my favorite topics: How to marry quantitative and qualitative employee feedback, put it to use, and show your employees (and your executives) that their feedback is being put to use. 
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The post Episode #57 – Tips from a Pro: Strategies to Boost Your IC Measurement appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, I’m joined by author,  communications expert and dear friend David Murray, who recently released his book, An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half. David has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly and The Chicago Tribune and published several other books. He also leads the global Professional Speechwriters Association and the Executive Communication Council (ECC) and pens the daily blog “Writing Boots.”

In our conversation, we discuss how effective internal communications can foster empathy in oftentimes divided workplaces, as well as:

• Why the book is dedicated to communicators: “This is the distillation of all the wisdom I’ve gotten from hanging around with [communicators] in bar rooms and out of bar rooms and at work in a hundred different ways,” he said. “So, this feels like it’s not my book, but really our book.” 
• The criticality of internal communications: “There's endless stuff for an internal communication group to be doing to help employees understand more profoundly what they're doing in the world and what their organization is doing in the world,” David said. “And what an important thing to do to make people feel like full citizens of their country and of their corporation.” 
• How an increased understanding of each other --  and willingness to listen -- can help us best navigate differing opinions and find commonality despite individual social and political leanings: “To the extent that we can understand our fellow human beings, we can communicate with them better,” he said. “Or, we could at least understand their behavior better and deal with it.” 
• What makes communications “scary”: “You don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s what makes it exciting.” 
• The best path forward for internal and executive communications: “That's how organizations communicate: Take things in, spit it back out and react to the humanity inside the organizations.”

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Whew - what year 2021 was for internal communications. You were overworked but overdelivered - and you did it all (most of the time) with passion and enthusiasm. We hope all of you are getting some well-deserved rest and peace as we wind down these final few weeks.

We leave all of you with a final EE Voice gift -- one podcast with the best IC ideas and advice from our 2021 guests, in just 20 minutes. Here are highlights of the best insights from the year’s conversations:  

• David Murray on the evolving challenges of communications, heightened expectations faced  by leaders in times of crisis and the highest purpose of internal communications.
• Roger D'Aprix – often called “the father of internal communications” – who spoke to guest host David Murray on the future of communication and the goal to help employees “understand the whole range of change that has gone on, and that will certainly continue to go on.”
• Tamara Rodman on how to use storytelling to increase vaccinations by building trust with employees.
• Victoria Dew on how employee experience and expectations are changing as a result of Covid.
• Andy Gilman on using communications to overcome vaccine hesitancy, drive compliance, and for senior leadership to show employees that they care.
• George Sutcliffe on how to begin building a communications measurement strategy.
• Kristen Garvey on how to take a measurement-focused approach when it’s time to bring employees back to the workplace.

Sharon and I wish all of our listeners happy holidays!

 
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Welcome Victoria Dew, SCMP, Founder and CEO of Dewpoint Communications back to this month’s EE Voice podcast. Victoria joined Sharon and me to discuss Dewpoint’s insights report, “The New Rules of Employee Experience & Communications in 2022.” 

In speaking to dozens of business leaders, Victoria and her team captured and analyzed emerging trends – the themes and trends that will impact the way we work moving forward. 

For more insights from Victoria, connect with her on LinkedIn. 
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The post Episode #60: Victoria Dew on the new rules of employee experience appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How can we help? As the world reacts to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, companies must decide how their actions – or inactions – can answer that pivotal question. (Note: Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of the Yale School of Management updates a list of companies daily "that have curtailed operations as well as those that remain.") 

In today’s abridged EE Voice clip, Sharon and I cover key points including employee safety in affected areas, corporate donations and the importance of proceeding together with empathy. 

Take a listen, and please let us know if you'd like to share your experiences with our community. We welcome the conversation.
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The post Episode #61: Employee Communications on the Ukraine crisis appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

We’re back after a brief hiatus and are ecstatic to be joined by author, internal communications leader, and our "welcome rebel” Mike Klein.

Principal of Changing the Terms and Senior Strategic Advisor for Sparrow Connected, Mike has made it his personal mission to challenge the status quo and advance the effectiveness of internal communications. His recently published e-book, “Employee Engagement or BUSINESS IMPACT? It's Time To Choose,” takes on the current state of employee engagement and identifies six levers to engage better performance.
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On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide.

Immediately following the announcement, several companies – including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Lyft, Dick’s Sporting Goods and JPMorgan Chase – announced that they were offering to cover travel costs for employees who must travel out of state for abortions. This clearly has implications for communicators who are facing the need to respond to their internal and external audiences.

We reached out to Robin Fretwell Wilson, a law professor at the University of Illinois and an expert on healthcare law. (You can read Robin’s full impressive bio here.)

“There’s a bramble of issues in [any] direction that you move,” says Robin.

Among the questions we discussed on this episode:

• Possible legal implications for companies who are reimbursing travel costs for employees who must leave their home states for abortions
• How the ruling could set up a type of “arms race” between the red and blue states
• What key messages communicators should keep in mind when advising their executives
• Several legal issues that may arise down the road – and companies and communicators may not have even yet considered

Send this episode over to your legal partner – and begin that scenario planning. More is clearly to come on this issue.

Other resources:

• Read the Reuters article, “Legal clashes await U.S. companies covering workers’ abortion costs,” where Robin was interviewed.
• Business Insider is keeping an updated list of company reactions to the ruling.
• The Society of Human Resources has pulled together a comprehensive resource on navigating Roe v Wade in the Workplace

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The post #63 – Roe v Wade: Communicators on alert for legal implications appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Sometimes it pays to be a little paranoid. Crisis management expert and friend of the EE Voice podcast, Andy Gilman, returns to discuss the importance of preparedness and heightened awareness when it comes to cyber-attacks, the top potential crisis for almost any organization.

In our conversation, Andy illustrates the key role of communications in company-wide cybersecurity initiatives, which he calls “the ultimate cross-functional teamwork.”

“Figure out what resources are out there, then get smart yourself and get your employees smarter,” he says. “You want them to be aware and spot something. Again, we don't know we're doing a good job until something bad happens, so every day we're doing it is another day where the organization can function as normal.”

For helpful resources for communicators, visit the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

For more on Andy and CommCore Consulting Group, head to https://www.commcoreconsulting.com/.
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The post EPISODE #64: NOT IF, BUT WHEN – CRISIS EXPERT ANDY GILMAN ON PREPARING FOR A CYBERATTACK appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

What is it they say about “the best laid plans?"

In this episode of the EE Voice podcast, we are joined by Caleb Gardner to discuss his new book – No Point B – and how leaders must embrace change and use effective communication in the face of developing technology, social activism, and other key elements in today’s tranformational world.

“All leadership has to be change leadership,” Caleb told us. “Because we just have so much inbound, so much new data, so much going on in the world that we're going to have to be constantly asking our people to think differently -- and we're not prepared to ask them to have that level of mental flexibility.”
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The post EPISODE #65: AUTHOR CALEB GARDNER – ALL LEADERSHIP IS CHANGE LEADERSHIP appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

As we prepare to take a brief pause for the holidays – and hope you do, too! – we’ll first take a moment to reflect on the challenges we faced this year: increasingly passionate employee bases; global, domestic, and online uncertainty; developing data and communication methods; and the many other factors that contributed to the year that was for internal communicators in 2022.

In looking back, we’re happy to continue our holiday tradition of a year-end roundup episode: one podcast with highlights from our 2022 conversations, in just a few minutes. Here are some of the top insights from this year’s slate of IC experts.
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In our first episode of the year, we look to unpack what’s going on and what lies ahead for communicators in 2023. To us, there’s no one better suited to discuss the present and future of executive communication than David Murray.

In addition to being an expert communicator and accomplished author, David is the Executive Director of the Executive Communication Council, the head of the Professional Speechwriters Association, and he also pens the popular communications blog, “Writing Boots.” We’re thrilled to have him back on EE Voice.

During our conversation, David jests that this is “the only interesting time” in executive communication and, while we’ll happily grant our friend some room for hyperbole, the reality is that we have absolutely reached an inflection point. Tune in as David discusses the unprecedented spotlight on – and access to – executives, an increasingly influential workforce, emerging AI technology, and how communicators can plan accordingly. (Tune in for the terrific storytelling; stay for the great advice.)
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and no one is less surprised than Shel Holtz.

So many of us know Shel from his 40-plus years as a consultant, speaker, blogger, author, and co-founder of the FIR Podcast Network, but it is his fascination with emerging technologies that make him the ideal person to discuss AI models like ChatGPT.

“Mark my words,” Shel wrote in 2016, “Bots are coming to the workplace, to media relations, to public relations. They are coming just as surely as the web was going to completely disrupt the way communications was done a quarter century ago.”

Now, with his prediction a reality, Shel joins our podcast to urge communicators to embrace AI tools, rather than fear being replaced by them. To Shel, learning how to properly – and ethically – use AI is becoming an essential skill and can help us generate ideas, overcome writers block, teach writing, and save time.
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As communicators, we are often at our best while functioning as trusted advisors to executives, colleagues and other key business stakeholders. But trust isn’t gained overnight. How do you build trust for the long-term?

Enter Jason Anthoine, the managing founder and “head honcho” of Audacity, a communications consultancy that helps companies inform, involve and inspire their employees by immersing themselves in businesses and absorbing as much as possible, from balance sheets and organizational goals to day-to-day operations.

“We will never be able to understand what their world is like unless we insert ourselves into it,” Jason told us. “We're here to understand you better so we can give you more of what you want and, more importantly, less of what you don't want.”
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The post EPISODE #69: JASON ANTHOINE ON BECOMING A COMMS TRUSTED ADVISOR appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

So much of our time as communicators is spent navigating uncharted territory – handling crises, adapting to emerging technology, etc. – that it’s easy to forget to take time to reflect.

We recently received a great reminder to do just that from our friend and former Sears colleague, Barbara Rozgonyi. A pioneer of digital communications and the leader of CoryWest Media, Barbara joined us to discuss the current popularity of retro culture and how lessons from the past can help shape how we work moving forward.

“It's just really gives you a feeling that what was cool is still cool,” Barbara said. “I was looking at some of the projects we worked on together – and the groundwork that we laid back then may seem nostalgic, but it's super relevant for today.”
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The post EPISODE #70: WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN WITH BARBARA ROZGONYI appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The best communicators are versatile; they proactively seek out opportunities to meet audiences and develop creative ways to deliver messages. Some of our greatest successes come when we recognize that one-size may not fit-all, leading us to develop new methods to reach unique sets of stakeholders.

Few understand these challenges more than Kristi Munno, who leads a full slate of communications initiatives for Ozinga, a fifth-generation family-owned company in the construction materials industry. Here’s how Kristi and team transformed their Town Hall meetings to be sure that each of Ozinga’s employees had the chance to participate -- and how her team helped showcase frontline operations.

The challenge: More than half of Ozinga’s nearly 2,000 employees are considered frontline workers and do not have access to a company email addresses, creating obstacles when it comes to distributing internal communications.
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The post EPISODE #71: KRISTI MUNNO ON REACHING FRONTLINE BY REINVENTING OZINGA TOWN HALLS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Introducing “In Your Corner”

In boxing, competitors head to their stools in the fighter’s corner for one-minute respites between rounds. They try to catch their breath, have cuts tended to and receive instruction from their trainers, or “cornermen.” A good cornerman builds relationships with their competitors; they are reliable, identify any changing variables and build strategies geared toward competitors’ strengths.

As an avid fan of boxing, my aim is to provide similar guidance to coaching clients looking to navigate their careers. During episodes of “In Your Corner,” Sharon Phillips and I will delve into some challenges suggested by their communications colleagues and discuss how we can respond positively.

This Episode: Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Whether you’re presenting on an unfamiliar topic, writing a speech for a demanding executive or issuing a statement on a hot-button issue, a little self-doubt can go a long way. Confidence may waver, but does that mean we don’t belong?

After recording and publishing more than 70 episodes of the EE Voice podcast, we have met some of the brightest, hardest working people in communications – and even the most accomplished industry leaders can experience something called imposter syndrome.
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A year ago, many communicators were unsure if generative artificial intelligence was going to have staying power in our industry. There have been supporters, detractors and plenty of folks who simply haven’t been able to wrap their heads around the technology. So, with accessible and evolving AI a reality, we’re left asking, “Now what?”

“This is an opportunity to learn-and-lead versus wait-and-wonder,” our friend and colleague Mark Dollins says of AI in comms on this episode of EE Voice.

Mark and his team at North Star Communications Consulting recently collaborated with the University of Missouri  School of Journalism to research and publish “Artificial Intelligence & the Communicator,” a fantastic whitepaper that delves into the big opportunity and bigger feelings tied to the use of AI within employee communications.
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The post EPISODE #73: “A MIX OF UTILITY AND FEAR” – MARK DOLLINS ON AI IN COMMS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Our work as communicators is always evolving – there’s no finish line to cross or book to close. And, because of that, many of us are guilty of forgetting to take time to reflect on lessons learned and consider how our work is changing.

This year felt especially frenetic. The evolution of generative AI may have been the first talking point in many of our conversations, but that doesn’t come close to telling the whole story. Luckily, Sharon and I were able to discuss many of the industry’s hot topics with a few of the best minds in comms – highlighted in this episode. Here are some of our favorite insights featured on EE Voice in 2023.
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“Let’s be careful out there.” 

The line made famous by Hill Street Blues’ Sgt. Phil Esterhaus holds up 40 years later – just ask crisis expert Andy Gilman. In addition to his formal title – President and CEO of CommCore Consulting Group – Andy is the standard-bearer for communicators tasked with navigating sensitive issues. 

In his fifth appearance on EE Voice, Andy joins us to take a look at the state of things in 2024 and advises us to prepare, prepare, prepare for potential crises. He urges communicators to “get the checklist going” and identify the events that may impact businesses and their employees in the near-term future. 

“I might take a whiteboard,” Andy suggests. “And put on the whiteboard, ‘What has happened to our organization in the past year?’ ‘What's happened to our sister and brother organizations?’ ‘What's happened to society at large?’ Then do the comparison and ask, ‘Okay, what are we ready for?’” 
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Let's face it: The world of internal communications is anything but boring. If you're anything like us, the thrill of navigating through ever-changing landscapes -- like hybrid work, AI and channel management, to name a few -- is what gets you up in the morning. That's why we're diving into the big picture of what's shaking up our field and the cool trends that are shaping our work in 2024.

In this episode, we’ll replay a Poppulo webinar, “Employee Trends for 2024,” featuring insights from Mark Dollins, President of North Star Communications Consulting, Ashley Tobin, Poppulo's Director of Customer Success and Sharon McIntosh. 
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The post EPISODE #76: POPPULO WEBINAR REPLAY – UNLOCKING 2024 IC TRENDS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Let’s debunk a myth today: managing up isn't about sucking up. In our second installment of “In Your Corner,” our career coaching segment, Sharon and I dive deep into what it really means to "manage up" and why it's a critical skill for communicators. Managing up effectively is about making your indispensability known—creating a symbiotic relationship that helps support your career as well as enhances your team's success.

We discuss:

• How understanding and aligning with your boss’s expectations and communication styles can dramatically improve your work relationship
• Practical examples from our real-life scenarios where managing up influenced workplace dynamics
• Tips on how to be proactive, such as sending weekly recaps to your boss to outline achievements and upcoming goals

Think of managing up as more than a career skill – it’s an essential partnership strategy that boosts both your growth and that of your leaders. Curious to see how this can support your professional interactions? Tune in for a deeper dive.
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The post EPISODE #77: IN YOUR CORNER – MASTERING MANAGING UP appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Felicity Barber, founder of Thoughtful Communications, has penned speeches and spearheaded executive communications for some of the world's most prominent financial institutions, including BlackRock, the Federal Reserve and Lloyds of London. Through her extensive experience, Felicity has discovered that storytelling—or as she calls it, "spinning a good yarn"—is one of the most effective ways to convey complex topics.

In this episode, Felicity shares how humor and openness can transform executive communications. She emphasizes the power of authenticity in storytelling to deliver key messages.

"A story gives a speech a really nice sense of completeness," Felicity explains. "Adding an anecdote, or anything that humanizes the leader delivering the message, is a powerful way to connect with audiences."

This engaging conversation delves into the challenges of executive communication, such as building trust with leaders and delivering strategic feedback. Felicity's insights on honest communication and setting the right expectations offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to advance in their executive comms career.
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The post EPISODE #78: CRAFTING STORIES THAT RESONATE – FELICITY BARBER ON EXECUTIVE COMMS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.