Internal Comms Talk

Jen Grogono, founder and CEO of uStudio, joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. Jen leads company vision and strategy for a new generation of media technologies for the enterprise transforming employee communications and learning experiences with podcasts, on-demand video, and live streaming.

Organizations are creating mediums to add to their internal communication, including podcasting. Podcasting is one way to quickly reach their employee base who are working from home, on the road, or are global. Should you add podcasting to your communications efforts? What is involved to make it successful? If you have a podcast but it is not garnering much traction, what can you do to make it beneficial to employees?

Dr. Alaina Szlachta, owner of By Design Development Solutions, joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. A learning experience designer and mission-driven entrepreneur, she helps transform subject matter expertise into consumer learning products.

Organizations are reexamining their learning and development for their employees. Virtual onboarding has created new challenges for companies. Businesses desire to establish better employee experience to strengthen loyalty and employee value and keep retention high. What should organizations understand when it comes to developing effective learning programs? What challenges might they encounter? Why should they factor in the psychology of how people learn when creating learning programs?

Video conferencing sends a message to our listeners that we can either be trusted and respected, or that we are not professional. Virtual meetings are an opportunity for us to shine as leaders or help us achieve our professional goals if leadership is in our view. What does our audience see when they see us? How do our behaviors affect trust? What messages are we sending people through video?

Stanford University report on Zoom fatigue

Stanford University article

Many are using video to conduct meetings, make sales calls, and connect with others. With more businesses maintaining the work-from-home model and using video to their financial savings advantage, leaders and employees should fine-tune their professional presence. Video has become a way to connect with others emotionally, and to shine as a leader. Why is professionalism on camera important? And what are some ways to build trust through video? 

Rachel Miller of All Things IC joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. An internationally recognized authority on internal communication, she advises professional communicators as a consultant, through training and mentoring. She is also the host of her podcast, Candid Comms.

 As businesses move forward in their goals, communication can become misunderstood and cloudy. Having a communication strategy in place with goals, objectives, and responsibilities is an asset to clearly defining communication. A strategy decreases burnout, keeps the company vision evident, and helps everyone understand their roles. What are other reasons why a company should have a structured communication strategy? What happens to communications without a clear strategy in place? What are the roadblocks to overcome toward building a strategy?

Elisabeth Wang, executive director of brand building and communications for Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia, joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. We talk about how communications have changed over the last year, especially in healthcare, one of the most challenged and tested industries.

Organizations have been thrust into a new way of delivering communications when information changes rapidly, especially when it comes to safety and response. Companies have begun to see the value in their communications teams and employees have learned to adapt and be resilient. How has resilience shaped and strengthened communications’ teams? Why is it important for companies to routinely review their crises communications plans?  (Elisabeth's website, Lit and Leisure)  

Sophie Oberstein, author, coach, adjunct professor, and L&OD consultant, joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. She is the author of “Troubleshooting for Trainers” and “10 Steps to Successful Coaching,” which we discuss in today’s episode. How do questions make leaders’ and managers’ roles easier? Leading and managing teams of various personalities presents many challenges. How do you know if your people are on the same page as you when it comes to goals and vision? Are your remote and virtual teams productive or are they showing signs of fatigue? What questions should you be asking to get the answers you need? And what questions should you avoid?

Many people are trying to navigate a different work environment while making decisions that affect how they move forward. Caught in the middle, employees hold back asking for help. What are some ways employees can approach their manager for help? When asking for a raise or change, how can they ensure the meeting is effective? How can you have a successful conversation with your boss to help you move forward? 

Victoria Dew, founder and CEO of Dewpoint Communications, joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. We delve into her “Insights Report: The New Rules of Employee Experience and Communications in Late 2020 and Beyond.”

Leaders need to shift their focus toward the human element to make better decisions. As the boundary between personal and professional worlds shifts, what do companies, leaders and managers have to consider to improve employee experience? What needs to be understood when it comes to the communications mediums? And what are the biggest challenges to these factors?

Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Inc., joins me for this episode of Internal Comms Talk. Kara’s first book, “Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters,” was released this past October. She also hosts the podcast: The Kara Goldin Show. Leaders set the example in company culture, work atmosphere, trust and communication. Practicing emotional intelligence is a way to be effective communicators and build and strengthen loyalty within the organization. Company leaders who desire growth and impactful change need resilient, creative teams and organizations. How can leaders develop a trustful workplace environment? How does emotional intelligence help them through periods of disruption? And why is showing employees their value important to the organization?