Circle of Fellows

With Generation Z just starting to enter the workforce, companies now employ workers representing six distinct generations (as defined by the Pew Research Center). A few members of the Greatest Generation, born before 1928, are still working, as are a considerable number of the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945). Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are still prevalent and retiring at lower numbers than historical trends indicate. GenX (born between 1965 and 1980) are still very much in the workplace, while Millennials (born between 1981 and 1997) represent the largest number of employees in America today. Each of these generations has been defined with different values, different expectations, and different generational experiences that influence their world views. In this episode of Circle of Fellows, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) discuss the role communicators can play in addressing generations and how the demographic fits among other employee breakouts.

About the panel:

Paul Sanchez recently retired from Buck Consultants, a Xerox company, where he started in 2012. Paul was responsible for consulting operations in four locations, with over 100 employees. Buck serves clients in all sectors, bringing human resource solutions and integrated technology platforms promoting workforce engagement and productivity.  He also is principal of CSF Consulting, addressing change management, organizational communication, and employee research. Previous positions include stints in London and New York with Mercer Human Resource Consulting as Global Director of Organization Research and Effectiveness.

Mark Schumann is the founder and principal of re-communicate. Most recently, he was VP of marketing and communications for Western Connecticut Health Network. He served as IABC’s chair in 2009-2010 and is currently IABC’s liaison to the Global Alliance. He was a managing principal and global communication practice leader at Towers Perrin for 26 years.

Jim Shaffer — Jim is a business advisor, leadership coach, author, speaker. As leader of the Jim Shaffer Group, he helps organizations accelerate results through superior strategy execution. The Jim Shaffer Group creates hard business results by translating the business strategy to the people who need to implement it, aligning systems, processes, and culture to make the gains sustainable.

Angela Sinickas is the founder of Sinickas Communications, which has worked with companies, organizations and governments in 32 countries on six continents. Her clients include 25% of the Forbes Top 100 largest global companies. Before starting her own consulting firm, she held positions from editor to vice president in for-profit and government organizations, and worked as a senior consultant and practice leader at Hewitt and Mercer. She is author of a manual, How to Measure Your Communication Programs (now in its third edition),and chapters in several books. Her 50+ articles in professional journals can be found on her website,www.sinicom.com. Her work has been recognized with 20 international-level Gold Quill Awards from IABC, plus her firm was named IABC Boutique Agency of the Year in 2015. She holds a BS degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MS in Leadership from Northeastern University.

The post Circle of Fellows #16: Communicating in a Multigenerational Workplace appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Most communication associations have codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide. New communication models have ethics and character at their heart. So exactly what can a communicator do to guide ethical behavior in the organization? How do communicators fulfill that mission when they don’t have leadership’s ear or trust? These are issues addressed on the latest Circle of Fellows featuring three IABC Fellows and moderated by FIR’s Shel Holtz, also a Fellow.

Shel’s answer to Brian Kilgore’s question, “No one’s talked about US law forcing maximizing of profits. That conflicts with ethics” (submitted at the end of the broadcast): It’s a common misbelief. The U.S. Supreme Court held in a recent case, “Modern corporate law does not require for-profit corporations to pursue profit at the expense of everything else, and many do not.” Here’s a New York Times article by a corporate and business law professor that goes into greater detail. In any case, law does not conflict with ethical behavior.

About the panel:

Priya Bates is a senior communication executive who provides strategic internal communication counsel in order to ensure leaders, managers, and employees understand the strategy, believe in the vision, act in accordance to the values, and contribute to business results. She is president of Inner Strength Communications in Toronto, and previously served as senior director of Internal Communications at Loblaw Companies Limited.

Dr. Amanda Hamilton-Attwell is accredited by both IABC and PRSA. She is managing Director of Business DNA, based on South Africa, which provides strategic research and consulting, including communication audits, customer service and other focused research and training in communication skills. Her career has also included a 15-year stint as a research manager for the National Productivity Institute.

Jennifer Wah, MC, ABC — Since founding her storytelling and communications firm Forwords Communication Inc. in 1997, Jennifer has worked with clients to deliver ideas, plans, words and results. The company operates as a strategic alliance of hand-picked professionals; all renowned for work in their areas of specialization. This approach means the right team is assembled for each project; no more, no less.   With more than two dozen awards for strategic communications, writing and consulting, Jennifer is recognized as a storyteller and strategist. She has worked in industries from healthcare to financial services to academia, and is passionate about the opportunity for stories to inspire actions and reactions within organizations.In 2013, Jennifer was named Associate Faculty of Royal Roads University, and in this capacity, continues to teach, coach and mentor others with an interest in business communication.

The post Circle of Fellows #15: Business Ethics and Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Four IABC Fellows join moderator Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) for a conversation about how social media has changed the practice of public relations. The discussion covered…

Alice Brink is an internationally recognized communications consultant. Her firm, A Brink & Co., works with businesses and non-profits to clarify their messages and communicate them in ways that change people’s minds. Her clients have included Shell Oil Company, Sysco Foods, and Noble Energy. Prior to launching A Brink & Co. in Houston in 2004, Alice honed her craft both in corporate settings (including The Coca-Cola Company, Conoco, and First Interstate Bank) and in one of Texas’ largest public relations firms, where she led the agency’s energy and financial practices.  Alice has been active in IABC for more than 30 years, including serving as chapter president, district director, and Gold Quill chair. She is the vice chair of the IABC Academy.

Christopher Bunting is president and CEO of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. For nearly six years, he was the senior managing director of Global Consulting Group London, and for more than 17 years was Chairman and CEO of Weber Shandwick Canada. Christopher was IABC’s chair in 1985-86.

Mary Ann McCauley — Mary Ann is committed to ensuring people communicate more effectively about their organizations’ products and services. With a specialty practice in crisis management, Mary Ann addresses sensitive issues with timeliness, dignity, and minimal backlash. “Managing communication during a crisis requires common sense folded into a structured process,” she says.

Brad Whitworth was most recently senior communication manager at Cisco Systems. Brad joined Cisco in 2007 and today leads integrated communication for the part of the company that builds partner ecosystems for new markets. Before Cisco, Brad led communication programs at HP, PeopleSoft and AAA. He earned undergraduate degrees in both journalism and speech at the University of Missouri and an MBA at Santa Clara University. A former broadcaster, Brad has made more than 300 presentations to executives, communicators, and university classes around the world. Brad has a long history with IABC, including serving as chairman of the international board and president of two local chapters. He is one of the authors of The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication.

The post Circle of Fellows #14: PR in the Social Media Era appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Three IABC Fellows are joined by FIR host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) for a conversation about content marketing.

About the panel:

Priya Bates is a senior communication executive who provides strategic internal communication counsel in order to ensure leaders, managers, and employees understand the strategy, believe in the vision, act in accordance to the values, and contribute to business results. She is president of Inner Strength Communications in Toronto, and previously served as senior director of Internal Communications at Loblaw Companies Limited.

In 1996, while on the fast track to a partnership in a growing PR agency, John Deveney opted to strike out on his own and form Deveney, a process and a practice that embraces the soundest principles, the newest media, and the most innovative technologies. Based in New Orleans, Deveney is particularly strong in the areas of crisis, healthcare, tourism, and hospitality. (After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, John led the only on-site communication operation and media center for both the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.)

Mark Schumann is the founder and principal of re-communicate. Most recently, he was VP of marketing and communications for Western Connecticut Health Network. He served as IABC’s chair in 2009-2010 and is currently IABC’s liaison to the Global Alliance. He was a managing principal and global communication practice leader at Towers Perrin for 26 years.

The post Circle of Fellows #13: Content Marketing appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Three IABC Fellows — Priya Bates, Jim Shaffer, and Angela Sinickas — join host (and Fellow) Shel Holtz to discuss the role communications can (and does) play in building employee engagement. The panel addressed audience questions submitted via Twitter using the hashtag #COF12.

About the panel:

Priya Bates is a senior communication executive who provides strategic internal communication counsel in order to ensure leaders, managers, and employees understand the strategy, believe in the vision, act in accordance to the values, and contribute to business results. She is president of Inner Strength Communications in Toronto, and previously served as senior director of Internal Communications at Loblaw Companies Limited.

Jim Shaffer is a business advisor, leadership coach, author, speaker. As leader of the Jim Shaffer Group, he helps organizations accelerate results through superior strategy execution. The Jim Shaffer Group creates hard business results by translating the business strategy to the people who need to implement it, aligning systems, processes, and culture to make the gains sustainable.

Angela Sinickas is the founder of Sinickas Communications, which has worked with companies, organizations and governments in 32 countries on six continents. Her clients include 25% of the Forbes Top 100 largest global companies. Before starting her own consulting firm, she held positions from editor to vice president in for-profit and government organizations, and worked as a senior consultant and practice leader at Hewitt and Mercer. She is author of a manual, How to Measure Your Communication Programs (now in its third edition),and chapters in several books. Her 50+ articles in professional journals can be found on her website,www.sinicom.com. Her work has been recognized with 20 international-level Gold Quill Awards from IABC, plus her firm was named IABC Boutique Agency of the Year in 2015. She holds a BS degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MS in Leadership from Northeastern University.

The post Circle of Fellows #12: The Employee Communication-Employee Engagement Connection appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.