Engaging Internal Comms
Employee engagement and internal communications interviews, ideas and best practices. Every other Tuesday we will be exploring industry best practice and hearing from leading practitioners. We will hear how they are making internal communications, employee engagement and related areas a strategic priority. We will cut through the gloss and get to the down-to-earth, practical issues we face when raising the profile of this essential profession. Craig Smith from The Big Picture People (formally BigPicture Learning) is your host for the show.
S5 E143 · Tue, December 31, 2024
The Final Credits | S5 E28
This is the final episode of the Engaging Internal Comms podcast for the foreseeable future. I've decided to end the show as part of a simplification strategy for my professional life. Thank you to all of the guests who have been part of the show and have shared their inspirational ideas with our listeners. All 143 episodes will remain live and will hopefully provide inspiration and information for listeners in the future. Take care and thank you.
S5 E142 · Tue, December 17, 2024
Unblocking organisations | S5 E27
In this episode we delve into the concept of unblocking organisations. Our guest discusses his book, "Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization." The conversation explores six key blockers: strategy, steering, decisions, ownership, teamwork, and meetings. Our guest offers practical insights on overcoming these challenges, emphasising clarity, adaptability, and empowerment to foster agile and responsive organisations.
S5 E141 · Tue, December 03, 2024
Human Centric Change | S5 E26
When considering human centric change, the link between change, communication, and employee engagement is critical. For any change to be successful, employees need to understand the rationale, expectations, and implementation process. Effective communication fosters engagement by creating transparent feedback channels, making employees feel valued. When employees are engaged, they are more likely to embrace and adapt to changes, leading to higher morale and productivity.
S5 E140 · Tue, November 19, 2024
Writing for impact | S5 E25
We explore the critical role of writing skills in internal communications and employee engagement, especially amidst the rise of social media and AI. We cover the importance of clear, effective writing for impact in professional settings. The interview identifies common writing challenges and offers strategies for improvement, including audience empathy and regular practice.
S5 E139 · Tue, November 05, 2024
Perfecting Presence, Presentation and Persuasion | S5 E24
Host Craig Smith speaks with Valerie Di Maria, a seasoned communications and marketing leader and executive coach. Valerie shares her expertise on enhancing leaders' communication skills through presence, presentation, and persuasion. The discussion highlights the importance of engaging audiences, making explicit asks, and fostering dialogue.
S5 E138 · Tue, October 22, 2024
Authentic communications | S5 E23
“Welcome Everything” – a simple yet profound principle discussed in my latest podcast episode with Gabe DeRita. It’s about staying present with our experiences without being overwhelmed by them. We explore how this and other principles can enhance our workplace relationships. Tune in to learn how to remain in the observer seat, allowing more choices and less reactive behaviours and authentic communications.
S5 E137 · Tue, October 08, 2024
Change Management and Internal Comms | S5 E22
In this episode, guest Mary Barnes stresses linking change management and Internal comms and the importance of "calming the chaos" that often accompanies organisational change. She discusses how new leaders sometimes implement structural changes merely to leave their mark, causing confusion and disruption. Instead, she advocates for a more thoughtful approach that prioritises stability, allowing teams to adapt without constant upheaval. It's a compelling perspective on how to manage change without causing unnecessary disruption and stress among employees.
S5 E136 · Tue, September 24, 2024
Meaningful conversations | S5 E21
Kyle Coon is a professional adventure athlete and Paralympian. Kyle's journey is truly inspiring—he overcame vision loss due to retinoblastoma to become a triathlete competing on the world stage. One key takeaway? He emphasised the power of meaningful conversations, not just in personal life but also in professional settings. In an age overshadowed by technology, his insights remind us that effective communication is fundamental to understanding and collaboration.
S5 E135 · Tue, September 10, 2024
Disability inclusion in the workplace | S5 E20
We explore the topic of disability inclusion in the workforce with David D’Arcangelo, a disability policy expert and president of Arc Angel Communications. David shares his personal journey of being blind and discusses the structural and societal barriers that hinder employment for people with disabilities. He advocates for modernising programmes, mentoring, and inclusive hiring practices to maximise the potential of disabled employees. The conversation highlights the broader benefits of disability inclusion, emphasising its positive impact on organisational engagement, diversity, and innovation.
S5 E134 · Tue, August 27, 2024
Using video for Internal Comms | S5 E19
Meet Pat Taggart, a documentary filmmaker specialising in corporate video storytelling. Together we explored the transformative role of video in internal communications. The discussion covers the evolution of video technology, the importance of authenticity, and the shift towards more organic content facilitated by smartphones. We also explore the benefits of enabling comments on internal videos to foster engagement and the pitfalls of overly scripted content.
S5 E133 · Tue, August 13, 2024
Systemic Discrimination in Organisations | S5 E18
Dr. Frank Douglas, a seasoned problem solver with a 24-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, shares his personal experiences with discrimination. We discuss his approach to reframing problems to achieve desired outcomes. The discussion highlights the need for empathy, understanding, and tailored solutions to combat discrimination. Dr. Douglas also underscores the role of middle managers and the significance of finding common ground to bridge divides in the workplace.
S5 E132 · Tue, July 30, 2024
Burnout and mental health | S5 E17
In this episode, we explore the pressing issues of burnout and mental health in organisations post-pandemic. There is a high level of stress among employees, with nearly 80% feeling burnt out. The multifaceted causes of burnout, such as lack of support and recognition, go beyond just long working hours. The discussion also highlights the importance of a balanced work-life approach and the preference for audio over video calls to reduce fatigue.
S5 E131 · Tue, July 16, 2024
Engaging Gen Z | S5 E16
Generational differences aren't just about age—they're about understanding diverse life experiences and how they shape work preferences. Anna Hislop shares valuable insights into why continuous feedback and individualised support are crucial for managing Gen Z employees. This generation values autonomy and trust in the workplace, and adapting leadership styles to meet these needs can significantly improve organisational dynamics.
S5 E130 · Tue, July 02, 2024
The state of frontline internal communications | S5 E15
What are the complexities frontline workers face in their communication channels? In this episode of Engaging Internal Comms , I explored this landscape with Ben Collier from Ocasta Engage. We unravelled the web of challenges such as limited communication time and the sense of detachment from the central office, emphasising the critical need for innovative delivery methods. It's a thought-provoking dive into the reality of those keeping the wheels of retail, healthcare, and more, smoothly running.
S5 E129 · Tue, June 18, 2024
Psychologically healthy conversations | S5 E14
We explore psychologically healthy conversations and the depth of interconnectedness between purpose and action. Our guest's "Eye of Power" model delves into the quadrants of our psyche, shedding light on fears that may hold us back. Fascinatingly, it's not just about being fearless; it's about taking the step despite the fear. How often do we find ourselves trapped by our own doubts? It's time we navigate these hidden aspects to move forward.
S5 E128 · Tue, June 04, 2024
AI: Friend or Foe? | S5 E13
We take a deep dive into the transformative realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound impact on personal productivity and organisational effectiveness. In this thought-provoking interview, we peel back the layers of AI's potential to revolutionise the way we work and communicate. Imagine tools like ChatGPT at your fingertips, streamlining your workflow and enhancing your team's collaboration. It's not just a vision of the future; it's a reality we're stepping into today.
S5 E127 · Tue, May 21, 2024
Using music to engage employees | S5 E12
We know how visualisation helps organisations grasp complex messages and identify challenges and opportunities. However, music is a tool that can foster conversations and ideas within companies. This episode delves into music's potential to clarify organisational priorities and unite people around common goals. Our guest specialises in using music for team building and strategic alignment. Join us as we explore the unique role of music in organisational communication and connection.
S5 E126 · Tue, May 07, 2024
Engaging Volunteers | S5 E11
Ever wondered how aligning volunteer work with your company's mission can boost employee engagement? In this episode, we delve into the art of connecting purpose and volunteering. It's not just about offering opportunities; it's about ensuring they resonate with your team's values. Listen in to discover how a meaningful match can transform your workforce's enthusiasm and commitment.
S5 E125 · Tue, April 23, 2024
The role of ego in communication | S5 E10
Understanding Ego in the Workplace: Ego is a term that frequently carries a negative connotation, conjuring images of arrogance and self-centredness. However, in this episode, we challenge this perception by dissecting the multifaceted role of ego in communication. At its core, ego can be seen as our sense of self-importance and identity, and it's not inherently negative. In fact, a healthy ego can contribute to confidence and assertiveness.
S5 E124 · Tue, April 09, 2024
The Rules of Persuasion | S5 E9
Persuasion is often seen as a double-edged sword, capable of both influence and manipulation. In this episode of our podcast, we grapple with the ethical dimensions of persuasive communication. It's fascinating to consider how the nuances of argument, emotion, and character shape our messages and actions. In the journey of aligning employees with a company's vision, understanding the true essence of persuasion is key.
S5 E123 · Tue, March 26, 2024
The impact of AI on internal comms | S5 E8
We're delving deep into the world of AI once again on the podcast! This time, we're exploring the role of AI in internal communications. It's not just about content generation, it's also about delivery. AI can ensure that the right content reaches the right audience at the right time. An often-overlooked aspect, but crucial nonetheless! We use the analogy of AI as the plumbing that delivers content, while humans or AI create the content. This episode will illuminate how AI can be a powerful tool in shaping and delivering internal communications.
S5 E122 · Tue, March 12, 2024
Dealing with retention, turnover and absenteeism | S5 E7
Curious about the drivers behind employee turnover? It's not just about the salary. Join us as we explore both financial and non-financial drivers, and the role of line managers in preventing the challenges of retention, turnover, and absenteeism in organisations. Our guest, Douglas Brown, provides insights and strategies for internal communicators and employee engagement professionals on how to create a more engaged and committed workforce.
S5 E121 · Tue, February 27, 2024
The pay gap and internal communication | S5 E6
An issue that has risen in prominence due to recent legislation changes, is the pay gap, particularly between genders, and its impact on employee engagement and internal communications. Michelle Gyimah, based in Spain, specialises in helping organisations improve conversations with employees about pay and pay gap issues. The episode also explores how organisations are using pay gap reporting to communicate their value as an employer and address the pay gap.
S5 E120 · Tue, February 20, 2024
Myth busting the hero's journey | S5 E5
This is a bonus episode about the hero's journey where we share a full show from our friends at "Infernal Communication". This is from Infernal Communication's 2nd season, where they take a deeper look at the wild little fires communicators have to put out every day. Their hosts, Lottie Bazley and Brian Tomlinson of Staffbase, bring together experts, authors and even a former private eye – for fresh perspectives that will soothe the burn of your latest communication breakdown.
S5 E119 · Tue, February 13, 2024
Comms lessons from a retired spy | S5 E4
Get ready to explore the intriguing correlation between espionage and internal communications with a retired spy. JJ Brun, who has applied his espionage skills to the business world, shares how the ability to build rapport, communicate effectively, and establish strong relationships can enhance leadership and communication. Together we provide insights into the unexplored world of espionage and its application in business, emphasising the value of awareness and effective communication.
S5 E118 · Tue, January 30, 2024
Communicating social purpose | S5 E3
In this episode, we explore the growing importance of social purpose within organisations. We explore how it manifests, its business benefits, and how to authentically embody it. This is of importance to employees of all generations, not just the younger ones, who are seeking to work for organisations with a strong social purpose. The episode aims to provide insights on how to build, communicate, and align an organisation's culture with its social purpose.
S5 E117 · Tue, January 16, 2024
Internal comms with a team of one | S5 E2
Ever wondered how to build an effective internal communications team from scratch? Meet Emily Hecker, the author of "Me, Myself, and IC: A Guide to Building Internal Communications as a Team of One." Emily shares her expertise in building internal communications teams from scratch, offering tips on resourcefulness, credibility, and trust. The episode provides listeners with foundational tips on becoming a successful internal communicator, even with limited resources.
S5 E116 · Tue, January 02, 2024
Workplace culture | S5 E1
We discuss workplace culture with Eric Stone and discuss his book about improving organisational culture. The interview explores misconceptions about workplace culture, and explores five factors to improve it. Eric introduces the hourglass model for translating and sharing strategy and culture within an organisation. Eric's insights are based on his extensive corporate experience. This episode is part of a series featuring authors discussing their recently published books.
S4 E115 · Tue, December 19, 2023
Sustainability and engagement | S4 E27
Sustainability is a topic that should not be approached solely from a compliance perspective. It's not just about ticking boxes or meeting the bare minimum requirements. Similar to health and safety, organisations should engage people on a human level when it comes to sustainability. In this episode, our guest emphasised the importance of connecting with people's values and aspirations when communicating sustainability. Many individuals genuinely care about the well-being of the planet, and tapping into this sentiment can create a more engaged and committed workforce.
S4 E114 · Tue, December 05, 2023
Understanding employee motivations | S4 E26
Intrinsic motivation is the drive that comes from within. It's about doing something because it's personally rewarding, rather than for some external reward. In today's knowledge economy, intrinsic motivation is more powerful than extrinsic motivation when it comes to influencing behaviour and performance. This episode explores intrinsic motivation and its measurement, with the goal of helping individual managers and organisations better motivate their employees.
S4 E113 · Tue, November 21, 2023
The ROI of Psychological Safety | S4 E25
Psychological safety is a term that many organisations are familiar with, but few fully comprehend its depth and significance. It is more than just a buzzword; it is a crucial element that can make or break an organisation's culture. Our guest expert, with his extensive experience in the mergers and acquisitions industry, shed light on this concept, explaining how it plays a pivotal role in successful organisational integration.
S4 E112 · Tue, November 07, 2023
What employees think about IC | S4 E24
In this episode, we explore the findings of recent IoIC Index 2023 research with its authors. The research explores the relationship between internal communications and employee engagement and reveals what employees think about IC. The interview covers the background, findings, and how listeners can use the report in their organisations. The discussion contains valuable evidence practical advice for improving internal communications.
S4 E111 · Tue, October 24, 2023
The Alignment Advantage | S4 E23
In this episode, we focus on the misalignment between strategy, culture, and customer experience within organisations. We emphasise the importance of addressing this disconnect and highlight the challenges it can cause. We find out that aligning these issues can provide the ultimate competitive edge by reshaping your strategy, transforming your culture and prioritising your customers and clients.
S4 E110 · Tue, October 10, 2023
Internal comms and high performance | S4 E22
Our guest is a Formula One industry expert who discusses the challenges of internal communication and employee engagement in high performance teams. We explore how Formula One teams, despite employing thousands of people, face routine communication challenges like any other organisation. However, what sets them apart is their relentless focus on performance and ensuring that everyone understands their role in driving success. The interview uncovers valuable lessons that can be applied to internal communication practices in other industries.
S4 E109 · Tue, September 26, 2023
Dealing with organisational burnout | S4 E21
In this episode, we address the issue of burnout and its impact on turnover and recruitment. These are being driven by the challenges organisations face such as the aftermath of the pandemic, cost of living issues, energy shortages, and climate problems. We explore the importance of helping colleagues reconnect with their sense of identity, vocational calling, and finding joy and fulfilment in their work. Our guest, who has experience in a healthcare setting, shares insights that can be applied to any sector.
S4 E108 · Tue, September 19, 2023
BONUS EPISODE: The "Unite 23" Employee Experience Conference | S4 E20
This is a bonus episode of the podcast recorded at the "Unite 23" Employee Experience Conference in London on 13th and 14th September 2023 and hosted by Unily. The episode includes my reflections on the conference, some clips from the keynotes delivered by Stephen Fry and Steven Bartlett, and some brief conversations with other delegates and the hosts at the conference.
S4 E107 · Tue, September 12, 2023
Communicating sustainability | S4 E19
With our guests, we discuss the challenges organisations face in implementing sustainability practices and the importance of engagement and communication in driving behaviour change. We emphasise the need for employees to be motivated by conviction rather than just compliance with legislation. The episode aims to provide insights and strategies for organisations to effectively address sustainability and engage employees in the process.
S4 E106 · Tue, August 29, 2023
Employee engagement and brand advocacy | S4 E18
With our guest, we explore the concept of brand advocacy and its significance in marketing strategies. We emphasise the role of employees as brand advocates and how they can promote the brand through their social networks and interactions. The conversation raises the question of whether organisations should enable employees to talk about the brand in a coordinated manner without being manipulative. The interview aims to explore the relationship between employee engagement, brand advocacy, internal and external marketing, and internal communications in creating a group of employees who actively and positively promote the brand.
S4 E105 · Tue, August 15, 2023
Inclusion, Diversity, and Representation | S4 E17
In this podcast episode, I'm joined by Jen O'Ryan, an expert in diversity and inclusion. Together, we delve into the topic of diversity and inclusion from a human perspective, shedding light on the significance of language in fostering an inclusive working environment. They go beyond mere compliance and explore how organisations can genuinely embrace diversity and inclusion. The role of both internal and external communications is discussed, emphasising the power of inclusive language in shaping branding and policies.
S4 E104 · Tue, August 01, 2023
Investing in Employee Engagement | S4 E16
As employee engagement and internal communicators, we already comprehend the significance of engagement. We know that engaged employees are healthier, happier, and more productive. However, here lies the challenge - how do we construct a compelling business case for it? How do we establish an employee engagement programme for those who do not have one, or strengthen existing programmes? That is precisely what we will explore in this episode.
S4 E103 · Tue, July 18, 2023
Communicating strategic intent | S4 E15
Craig and his guest, Jim Gitney, discuss the importance of aligning organisational strategy and activities, as well as the challenges of communicating strategies throughout the organisation. They explore the concept of the most important goal and the need for clear communication. Jim introduces the Business Hierarchy of Needs, a framework for successful strategy implementation. They also discuss involving middle-level leaders in the strategic planning process and the importance of aligning business strategies with the most important goal.
S4 E102 · Tue, July 04, 2023
Context and Connection - Why they matter | S4 E14
In this episode, we explore six critical approaches to turning around underperforming or crisis-stricken organisations, all starting with the letter C. The episode focuses on the first two approaches, context and connection, and how they can be explained to employees to help them understand their role in contributing to the organisation's bigger picture. We emphasise the importance of improving business literacy within organisations and exploring how organisational developers, employee engagers, and internal communicators can play a role in improving context and connection within their organisations.
S4 E101 · Tue, June 20, 2023
Early career internal communications | S4 E13
A voice that we've rarely heard is that of early career internal communications employees. Often it's quite difficult to find people who are new to an internal comms role, who are willing to step forward and talk on a show like this. However, I was recently approached by today's guest who came forward who did want to talk about that their experiences, mostly positive, in fact, mainly positive in terms of their role and their new role within internal communications, but also someone who's got a lot of drive and passion and commitment for other causes outside of their professional role and someone who's clearly very keen to learn and to try new experiences. What I did today in today's episode is we have an interview with someone who's new to the profession.
S4 E100 · Tue, June 06, 2023
Internal comms as Change Makers | S4 E12
In the 100th episode of the podcast, we discuss how internal communicators can become change makers within their organisations. The episode covers topics such as non-verbal communication, storytelling, and building deeper connections to drive meaningful change. The guest speaker shares insights on how to deliver internal communications with authenticity and purpose, and how to build a positive legacy. The episode is informative and engaging for those interested in internal communications and organisational development, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
S4 E99 · Tue, May 23, 2023
Connecting mission and results | S4 E11
How do we help our people connect our overall mission, purpose, vision, and values, and the bottom line results that we deliver? There often seems to be two separate conversations going on in many organisations. Our purpose, our mission, our vision, our values should not be something that's abstract and distant. On a day to day basis, people are being driven by KPIs, scorecards and other metrics and there somehow seems no connection between these and our mission related goals.
S4 E98 · Tue, May 09, 2023
Responsive versus Reactive Communications | S4 E10
In this episode of the Engaging Internal Comms podcast, host Craig Smith and guest Lena Scullard, an interactive keynote speaker and trainer, discuss the difference between responsive and reactive communications and how cognitive behavioural psychology can be used to create positive cultures and employee engagement within organisations. Lena shares her background in theatre arts and corporate training and emphasises the importance of mindset shifts before behaviour shifts. The episode also touches on the importance of measuring and gamifying internal communications, catering to different communication preferences and personality types, and using resources like the DISC model to improve internal communications.
S4 E97 · Tue, April 25, 2023
Creating Psychological Safety in a messy world | S4 E9
In this episode, we look at the 'business case' for creating psychological safety, particularly when we look at it from a mental wellbeing perspective. Psychological safety has been very more openly talked about since the pandemic, but is there a business case increasing psychological safety in our organisations? We also look at the tools and techniques are available to us on an individual, team and organisational level. Finally, we look at the impact of remote and virtual working and the impact that that's had on psychological safety.
S4 E96 · Tue, April 11, 2023
Why we don't finish what we start | S4 E8
Our guests in this episode are going to be telling us all about the science behind why we don't finish what we start. They will explain how this is related to much more fundamental issues within our organisations when it comes to employee engagement and our willingness to see things through both in our personal lives but also in our work. We're going to be finding out all about this phenomenon known as 'Swipe', which is what their book is called.
S4 E95 · Tue, March 28, 2023
Communicating with frontline employees | S4 E7
In this episode we explore frontline workers and how we communicate with them. These are employees who do not usually interact with technology in the way that we think they will. Sometimes this population is referred to as deskless workers. Globally, there are 2.7 billion deskless workers, and they span a number of sectors, including supply chains, manufacturing, health and education.
S4 E94 · Tue, March 14, 2023
Using stories to teach, lead, and inspire | S4 E6
Sometimes stories are overlooked from the perspective of how we can use them to make meaning of our own experiences. This is important in order to be able to help people to learn from what we've learned and also to be able to get our points of view and ideas across more clearly. In this episode we look at using our own stories to teach, lead and inspire within our organisations.
S4 E93 · Tue, February 28, 2023
Civility and politeness in organisational communications | S4 E5
In this episode we explore the importance of civility and politeness in organisational communications. A recent article in Psychology Today discussed how, in America, people routinely engage and witness aggressive or mean spirited behaviour towards each other. How we can air differences in a way that is civil and not allow hostility and incivility to become a problem within our organisations?
S4 E92 · Tue, February 14, 2023
The importance of trust | S4 E4
Whether we are working in an organisation that has a lot of trust or one that is inherently distrustful, the impact that can have on the way our messages land and how receptive people are to them can be significant. So in this episode, we're going to look at trust, we're going to dig into it in a lot more detail and understand what it is.
S4 E91 · Tue, January 31, 2023
The Conscious Workplace | S4 E3
According to some surveys, 85% of employees are reporting to be disengaged. A key part of that is the inclusivity and sense of belonging that we have in our workplaces. It's often the case that our workplaces have evolved over time and there's not really been a lot of conscious thought gone into them. In this episode we explore how can create a conscious workplace, particularly in the context of multigenerational working.
S4 E90 · Tue, January 17, 2023
Communicating with remote employees | S4 E2
In this episode, we explore the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication and the ways that we can improve the way we use these approaches. In particular, we look at them in the context of supporting our workers who are working remotely.
S4 E89 · Tue, January 03, 2023
Comms and leadership lessons from motorsport | S4 E1
What are some of the lessons that we can learn from a communications, from an engagement, and from an alignment perspective when it comes to lessons from Formula One, a highly competitive, highly visual, very glamorous industry. How can we use some of those lessons that Formula One deploys week in, week out, successfully year after year?
S3 E88 · Tue, December 20, 2022
Leading internal communications | S3 E25
Our guest has more than 18 years of experience in internal communications and is going to share with us the experience of building their career within internal comms from starting off just as themselves, through to now having a team of seven people serving 6000 employees across the globe. During that journey, we're going to find out some of the tips of how they've built up a team, some of the challenges along the way and some of the key lessons from that journey.
S3 E87 · Tue, December 06, 2022
The relationship between internal comms and branding | S3 E24
In this episode, we will be exploring the connection between internal and external brand, and also some of the common misconceptions that organisations have about brand and what brand is. It's not just the logo, it's not just the font, it's not just the colours that we use, it's much deeper than that and how we get our employees to connect to that brand and embody what is really important.
S3 E86 · Tue, November 22, 2022
Connecting internal comms with learning and development | S3 E23
How are internal communications teams working with learning and development teams? What are some of the shared objectives that they have? What sort of partnership opportunities exist? And also what sort of role does employee engagement and internal communications play within the organisation in terms of supporting capability, development and transformational change?
S3 E85 · Tue, November 08, 2022
Creating a highly motivating workplace | S3 E22
Whether you work in employee engagement or internal communications, it is likely that you are trying to create an engaging and motivating workplace where your employees want to be. However, current research has shown that about one-in-four employees are currently considering leaving their work and this has a massive impact on the type of culture and performance that we find within our organisation. In this episode, we're going to look at how we can create a highly motivating and engaging workplace and walk through ten different factors that contribute towards that.
S3 E84 · Tue, October 25, 2022
The psychology of communication | S3 E21
A lot of focus for internal communicators can be around the tools and channels and techniques that we have available to us to help us to get our messages out to our audience. It's also important to understand the psychology of the audience as well and what's going on when it comes to the messages that we are relaying to them and how we need to tailor those messages in order to fit the psychology of their brains.
S3 E83 · Tue, October 11, 2022
Inclusive cultures and internal comms | S3 E20
We all want to work in an organisation where we feel a sense of belonging, where we can bring our whole self to work. And the relevance of diversity and inclusion in our organisations is higher now that ever before. In this episode, we explore how we can help to build inclusive cultures within our organisations with social entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ and neurodiversity advocate, Arthur Woods.
S3 E82 · Tue, September 27, 2022
Putting internal comms first in a crisis | S3 E19
Internal Comms in a crisis - At some point, all organisations will have a crisis. The role of Internal Comms in a crisis is vital. What we're going to look at in this interview is actually our primary focus should be our internal communications. Whilst obviously we need to deal with the crisis and we need to mitigate it and we need to stop the crisis getting any worse, what we need to do is let our employees know what is happening as soon as possible.
S3 E81 · Tue, September 13, 2022
Storytelling and organisational communications | S3 E18
Many organisations refer to storytelling. They talk about their narrative when they are communicating, either externally or internally, and they talk about how they are using stories to bring things to life. It's integral to the work that we do at The Big Picture people when it comes to telling visual stories and linking that to a conversational process that organisations can use to really explore what their values are, what their strategies are, what their purpose are with their employees in a way that unlocks conversations that traditional approaches don't normally deliver.
S3 E80 · Tue, August 30, 2022
Aligning leadership and action | S3 E17
Aligning leadership words and action is vital for effective achievement of organisational strategy and goals. Alignment has multiple meanings. It's a term that gets misused, it gets misunderstood, and that we find that leaders sometimes think alignment is one thing. Many think alignment is about everybody pointing in the same direction. While this is certainly a part of alignment, but it's much deeper than that. It goes down to an individual level with how aligned our people are with the organisation.
S3 E79 · Tue, August 16, 2022
The importance of digital wellbeing | S3 E16
Since the beginning of 2020, for most of us, we have experienced a huge transition in the way that we work. We are now more of us are more working from home. We're working hybrid, we're working in ways that we would never have been able to probably contemplate before the pandemic and before the needs of the pandemic and the isolation that follow. How can we build a digital culture where we communicate effectively, where we listen, where we share, but also where we create ways of working that are conducive to our mental health, to good mental health?
S3 E78 · Tue, August 02, 2022
Comms and engagement during mergers and acquisitions | S3 E15
It's very easy to think that all of the change that we've experienced over the last couple of years has been related to the pandemic and the aftermath of the pandemic. But, as we probably all know, there's been a lot of business as usual change going on with organisations as well and there's also been a significant amount of merger and acquisition activity. Our guest, Stephanie Briggs, talks about her about her experience of going through a significant merger and acquisition process, whilst also experiencing a significant personal change in her life, a major relocation.
S3 E77 · Tue, July 19, 2022
The ABC (DE) of internal communications | S3 E14
My guest. Lesley Allman, has developed the ABCDE of internal communications and in the interview we work through those together. Just to explain, A is audience, B is behaviours, C is content, D is delivery, and E is evaluation. We think it's a really nice, compact model which helps us to think about our campaigns, about our work and behind each of those 'letters' is a much more detailed set of thinking and ideas, which we explore together in this episode.
S3 E76 · Tue, July 05, 2022
Using games in internal communications | S3 E13
We create games for organisations that are learning games, communication games that we provide to our clients to help them to facilitate conversations around lots of different topics. These conversations could be around health and safety, company values, vision, strategy, all of those different types of areas. My guest reached out to me because he's someone who is interested in board games, it's his passion. When I got into a conversation with him I found out that not only was he interested in playing board games, he was actually bringing them into the workplace to create culture change, but he didn't call it that.
S3 E75 · Tue, June 21, 2022
The role of IC in clarifying roles and responsibilities | S3 E12
An area we've not covered on the show before is about internal communications within charities. Charities are really interesting organisations in that a lot of people who work in charities are employees, but there are also a significant number of volunteers. I was really interested to find out what it's like to be an internal communications manager or leader within an organisation that is a charity, and what challenges that brings in terms of communicating with people who already have a very deep sense of purpose, which is often why they work with the charity or volunteer for the charity.
S3 E74 · Tue, June 07, 2022
Neuroscience for organisational communication | S3 E11
It's long been known that the use of emotion in communication is a very powerful device. It's not always been used to the best ends and we have a history of people who have used emotion to manipulate people. But actually what we need to recognise is that emotion in communications is a really powerful way of getting our messages across and used appropriately can be highly effective. Now, what's happening when people are using emotion is that we're using something called neuroscience. I'm sure you've probably heard of neuroscience. It's the science of the brain and the activity within the brain. But how can internal communicators use neuroscience principles to make their communications more effective.
S3 E73 · Tue, May 24, 2022
Personal branding for internal communicators | S3 E10
How do we build a brand as an internal communicator and as a professional internal communicator and employee engager, and how do we represent that brand? To find out how to do that, I'm going to be talking to someone who, although they are working within an organisation, has a really strong professional brand that I think is very worthy of recognition and also someone we can learn from. So this interview is all about how we develop personal branding as internal communicators and develop trusted advisor status.
S3 E72 · Tue, May 10, 2022
Talking about menopause and mid-life | S3 E9
Menopause is not just a gender or age issue. It impacts colleagues both directly or indirectly and should therefore be considered as an organisational issue. All managers and employees need to know about it and understand how they can support their colleagues. In this interview, Craig is joined by Carolyn Hobdey and Dave Algeo. Together, they will be exploring the impact of organisations and managers ignoring the menopause and mid-life issues their employees are experiencing.
S3 E71 · Tue, April 26, 2022
Connecting employees to the big picture | S3 E8
Connecting employees to the big picture - How do we connect our employees at a local level to the corporate bigger pictures of corporate values and corporate messages whilst recognising their local needs and their local requirements? This is what we're going to be looking at in today's interview and we hope you'll find this a really interesting conversation.
S3 E70 · Tue, April 12, 2022
Building a dedicated IC Team | S3 E7
What are some of the things that you need to be really mindful of when you're growing an internal communications team now? In particular, when you're working in a global organisation with thousands of employees, that's even more challenging where you've got multiple channels, multiple audiences, multiple requirements in your stakeholders.
S3 E69 · Tue, March 29, 2022
Facilitating change through effective communication | S3 E6
So in this interview, we explore that dilemma, how do we communicate change effectively to our employees using technology or using the modern tools that we have at our disposal? It's also important to remember that there are some fundamental things that we need to be aware of as communicators, we need to be acting as trusted advisers, experts within our organisation.
S3 E68 · Tue, March 15, 2022
Hopeful internal communications | S3 E5
Hope is a powerful motivator and something that many organisations have been starved of since the pandemic began. Richard Nugent, Founder of TwentyOne Leadership, explains to the Engaging Internal Comms Podcast why communicators need to start bringing hope back and how they can go about doing this.
S3 E67 · Tue, March 01, 2022
Helping leaders to walk the talk | S3 E4
A lack of leadership buy-in is an issue that often hinders organisational change but is one that Dean Batson, an educator of communications in colleges across Arizona, knows can be overcome. He explains to the Engaging Internal Comms Podcast the effects of authentic leadership and why it is crucial they are connected to any large-scale change effort.
S3 E66 · Tue, February 15, 2022
The importance of language in change comms | S3 E3
Understanding the psychology behind the most effective ways to communicate with employees can make the difference in any change effort. Founder of The MindTime Foundation, John Furey, is an expert in this area and he tells the Engaging Internal Comms Podcast the benefits of understanding employee thinking and how to tailor your communications around this.
S3 E64 · Tue, February 01, 2022
Living company purpose | S3 E2
As Global Head of Employee & Community Engagement at Life Sciences business Merck, Melissa Hackmeier is responsible for the development of volunteer programmes in all parts of the world. She tells Craig Smith the importance of these programmes, how they demonstrate the organisation’s purpose to employees and other stakeholders.
S3 E65 · Tue, January 18, 2022
Measuring Employee Experience | S3 E1
Employee experience is something which has often been overlooked by organisations and leaders, despite the crucial role it plays in both productivity and revenue. Award-winning communicator and author Nicholas Wardle is working to change perceptions on this and speaks to Craig Smith about the key role communicators have to play in shaping employee experience.
S3 E63 · Tue, January 04, 2022
Series 3 Trailer | S3 E0
Series 3 of the Engaging Internal Comms Podcast will be based around the key questions that communicators need to be able to answer when dealing with change. This is a constant for many organisations and Craig Smith explains why it is so vital in this short trailer episode.
S2 E62 · Tue, December 21, 2021
Purpose, vision and organisational culture | S2 E32
In the final episode of Series 2 of the engaging Internal Comms Podcast, Craig Smith takes some of the highlights from the show so far to display the best examples of implementing a strong culture within an organisation. The guests explain their own experiences with showing employees a clear vision and why it is crucial to have a strong sense of purpose.
S2 E61 · Tue, December 07, 2021
Remote working and change management | S2 E31
Craig Smith gathers the thoughts of several of the guests that have featured on the show so far to discuss remote working and change management. Using some of the best insights from Series 1 and 2, the interviewees explain their thoughts around becoming leaders in organisational change and how the shift to remote working has affected their communications.
S2 E60 · Tue, November 23, 2021
Internal Comms in 2022 | S2 E30
It has been a turbulent year for internal comms, but what does 2022 look like for the industry? IoIC CEO Jen Sproul reflects on the lessons that can be taken from 2021, while assessing the challenges that lie ahead, with community playing a key role for communicators in overcoming difficulties like change management, hybrid working and information overloads.
S2 E59 · Tue, November 09, 2021
Communicating change | S2 E29
Off the back of their new book, Mark Dollins and Jon Stemmle chat to Craig Smith about the growing links between change management and employee communications. Mark and Jon bring both industry and academic experience to the conversation, explaining how techniques such as storytelling can help those in internal comms become trusted advisors for organisational change.
S2 E58 · Tue, October 26, 2021
The role of audio in internal comms | S2 E28
Podcasting and audio content is growing in popularity, which is making it of interest to internal communicators. Brian Landau is the Co-Founder and CEO of audio distribution platform Vennly and he explains to Craig Smith how internal comms professionals can take advantage of this emerging medium.
S2 E57 · Tue, October 12, 2021
IC lessons from the pandemic | S2 E27
The pandemic has been a turbulent time for everyone in the internal comms industry as they have seen their influence grow tenfold. This progress is something IoIC Board Member Kirsty Bowen feels needs to continue, as she reflects on what those in the profession can take from the last 18 months.
S2 E56 · Tue, September 28, 2021
Measuring the impact of Internal Comms | S2 E26
What are the metrics that determine the success of an internal communications strategy and how can we use this data to increase engagement? Andrea Scarpulla has a keen interest in this topic and explains to the Engaging Internal Comms Podcast why she has found it so effective, drawing on examples used in her current role at DHL Americas.
S2 E55 · Tue, September 14, 2021
Organisational purpose and remote working | S2 E25
The Department of Health and Social Care has been at the centre of media attention since the pandemic began, helping shape the UK’s ‘COVID battle plan.’ Its Head of Internal Communications and Niall Ryan has played a pivotal role in this, as he tells Craig how his newly formed team dealt with the pressures of this unprecedented situation and how they engaged its newly recruited remote workers.
S2 E54 · Tue, August 31, 2021
A place at the table for Internal Comms | S2 E24
Lisa Gwinnell has been helping drive internal communications at Siemens Mobility for a number of years now and knows just how important it is to the organisation. During her time here she has seen the profession's rise, something she wants to help further as she explains to Craig how those who work in internal comms can strengthen their hand when it comes to being a trusted advisor who truly earns their 'please at the table'.
S2 E53 · Tue, August 17, 2021
Employee communications in complex organisations | S2 E23
Craig talks to Neil Jenkins (Director of Communications Business Partnerships at Iron Mountain) about using the power of communication to get the best out of people, connect them to their organisations and build reputation and trust from the inside out. Craig and Neil also discuss the challenges of communicating to a very diverse workforce across the globe, from frontline truck drivers to the commercial team.
S2 E52 · Tue, August 03, 2021
Engaging remote, virtual and hybrid workers | S2 E22
Craig talks to Kevan Hall who leads a team at Global Intervention with people in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Kevan is a pioneer in remote, virtual and hybrid working and since March 2020 the rest of the world has been playing catch-up with his philosophies, ideas, tools, and concepts. They discuss the pace of the change to remote working which was startling and the previous main objection which was lack of control of employees by managers. In fact, it has been found that people are incredibly adaptive, trustworthy and productive when they work from home.
S2 E51 · Tue, July 20, 2021
Sharing company values with 16,000 employees | S2 E21
In this episode we speak with Laura Colantuono who is International Internal Communications and Employer Branding Manager at Kraft Heinz. Kraft Heinz have recently communicated their purpose… ‘Let’s make life delicious’. This is supported by six new core beliefs which make up their values. In the interview, Laura explains the challenges of sharing company values with 16,000 employees from diverse backgrounds.
S2 E50 · Tue, July 06, 2021
Podcasting as an internal comms channel | S2 E20
Craig speaks to Jen Grogono of uStudio Inc about the use of new media in comms and in particular podcasts and audio. Jen discusses the 6Ps of podcasting – people, programming, production, publishing, promotion and performance – and explains how our ‘voice’ is 500% more effective in terms of conveying meaning.
S2 E49 · Tue, June 22, 2021
Innovative employer branding | S2 E19
Employer branding is a topic which is highly relevant when it comes to employee engagement and employee experience. How can internal comms and employee engagement professionals innovate and support the development of a world-class employer brand? Farrah Ekeroth shares some of the great work going on in this space at EY.
S2 E48 · Tue, June 08, 2021
Leading employee engagement | S2 E18
Craig speaks with Paula Leach from Vantage Points about creating an organisational culture where employees thrive. In the interview, we explore two key roles for leaders - creating clarity and getting out of the way. We find out that if a leader only ever does two things, then these are the right two things. We also look at the implications of these leadership behaviours for employee engagement and internal communications professionals.
S2 E47 · Tue, May 25, 2021
Creating an internal podcast | S2 E17
Craig Smith talks with Matthew McLean from The Podcast Host about the value of podcasting as an effective channel for internal communications. Matthew provides tips for growing and retaining an internal audience and explains what sort of metrics should be used to measure the success of your internal podcast.
S2 E46 · Tue, May 11, 2021
Communicating with offline employees | S2 E16
In this Series 2 Episode 16, Craig speaks with Eoin Weldon from Merck about the challenges and opportunities of communicating with “offline” employees (i.e. those without access to digital channels such as Yammer, Slack or email). We explore what organisations can do to ensure that these employees are not left behind and are kept fully informed and engaged.
S2 E45 · Tue, May 04, 2021
Tools for sharing your values | S2 E15
Craig Smith gives a recap of the five tools for sharing your values we’ve discussed over the past few weeks. They are all free to download from the resources page. All of these tools are designed to take you to a point where you can identify your values, pressure check them for being fit for purpose but also start to embed them within your organisation.
S2 E44 · Tue, April 27, 2021
Creating a strong employer brand | S2 E14
In Series 2 Episode 14 Craig Smith talks to Anna Kilmurray who is Chief People Officer at ClearScore. Anna was one of the first 6 employees at ClearScore who now employ over 200 people. Anna explains how creating a strong employer brand, is essential for fast-growth businesses to thrive and to attract and retain the most promising talent. Anna explains the role that internal comms and employee engagement play in creating an employer brand.
S2 E43 · Tue, April 20, 2021
How to better live your values | S2 E13
This episode is about the resource ‘How to better live your values’ and is designed to be a team exercise. The exercise is about getting people to identify the areas within your organisation where you’re excelling and finding examples of where you could utilise those strengths. It’s also about identifying where you have the biggest gaps at the moment and what you need to do in order to plug those gaps.
S2 E42 · Tue, April 13, 2021
Employee engagement in a 24-hour operation | S2 E12
Our interviewee is Kristina Vaneva who is Director of Employee Engagement & Internal Communications at Atlantis Resorts in Dubai. Kristina describes the Atlantis Dubai as one of the largest integrated resorts in the world. There are 2200 employees from 87 different countries leading to a very diverse workforce operating 24/7 which is an accurate reflection of what Dubai itself is about – a melting pot of people and diversity. Employee engagement in a 24-hour operation is always something Kristina is driving for.
S2 E41 · Tue, April 06, 2021
Using stories to illustrate values | S2 E11
Craig Smith brings you the fourth of our free communication tools and resources called "Using stories to illustrate values". It the is first in our series of resources designed to be used as a team and is especially good for large groups. Values need to come to life and help people understand how they fit within the organisation. Sharing stories is a great way to help people understand how people have embodied your values.
S2 E40 · Tue, March 30, 2021
Creating a modern, social intranet | S2 E10
Internal communicators have a wide range of tools at their disposal but this also means that there are potentially too many to choose from and this can cause confusion. Internal comms teams need to know which channel to choose to have the most impact with their messages. Integration over the past few years has been key to improving the use of the intranet, it can pull all the other different platforms in use together in one place.
S2 E39 · Tue, March 23, 2021
Assessing your values | S2 E9
Understanding how well your current organisational values fit with your organisational priorities and strategy is an important first step in deciding whether you need to revisit them. The resource we’re sharing with you today is called ‘Assessing your values’ and it asks you to write down your organisational values and think about how well they act as a guideline for behaviour. Are people generally proud of the values, do they mean something to people, and do they drive their motivation?
S2 E38 · Tue, March 16, 2021
Adapting internal comms to changing situations | S2 E8
In this episode of Engaging Internal Comms we are talking with Tanya Pakhuta about adapting internal comms to changing situations. Tanya is Senior Global Internal Communications Manager at LeasePlan. For an internal comms professional this has been a very challenging time. From one day to another Tanya and her team have had to rethink how they were going to operate. They had to keep adapting internal comms to the changing situation.
S2 E37 · Tue, March 09, 2021
Determining your values | S2 E7
Today we will be sharing a personal reflection exercise with you (which could also be used with your team if you wish) and it’s all about determining your values. A lot of clients that we work with will already have established values within their organisation. They will probably have spent quite a lot of time designing them and pulling them together. If you haven’t got values or haven’t spent time articulating the values you have, then this exercise is a good starting point. Even if you do have values this is a good opportunity to reflect and check that the values you have as your espoused values are the ones that the organisation actually use.
S2 E36 · Tue, March 02, 2021
Engaging multi-cultural employees | S2 E6
Craig Smith talks to Shira Tabachnikoff. Shira is a Stakeholder Relations and Internal Communications Manager at ITER, an intergovernmental organisation established in 2006. In large organisations in which cultures and languages differ so greatly, and so broadly across vast variations of roles and seniority, internal comms becomes a gigantic challenge. Communication and interpretation of an organisation’s values is a challenge even for internal comms leading an English-speaking audience. So how can internal comms of multicultural employees best tackle communicating values and ensure the audience has interpreted it as intended?
S2 E35 · Tue, February 23, 2021
Bringing meaning to work | S2 E5
This week’s episode of Engaging Internal Comms is a short interim episode between our normal interviews. In it we would like to share some ideas with you that we think are useful and valuable. The Big Picture People are already using these ideas with our clients so we know how helpful they can be. In these short episodes we’re going to share resources with you that are free to download from our website (www.thebigpicturepeople.co.uk/resources) These resources are a mixture of personal reflection exercises, which are things that you can do on your own, and team exercises. The first resource we want to introduce you to stemmed from work we are doing with clients where they are starting to look at how people’s expectations of their work changed during the pandemic and how this affects what people want from their work.
S2 E34 · Tue, February 16, 2021
Measuring online collaboration | S2 E4
Cai Kjaer, Co-founder and CEO at SWOOP Analytics, tells us about the importance of measuring online collaboration. SWOOP is a leading enterprise social network analytics platform that uses data from Microsoft Teams, Yammer and Workplace by Facebook to help organisations and their people to become better collaborators. Cai stresses the objective is to have a two-way conversation rather than a one-way broadcast and to establish an authentic line of engagement between the CEO and the frontline.
S2 E33 · Tue, February 02, 2021
Employee Ambassadors and Change Agents | S2 E3
Craig Smith talks to Imogen Hitchcock, the owner of Beaumont – a company whose mission is to change the way companies tell their story. The role of internal comms has evolved in line with how people expect to receive, locate, and trust information. Employee ambassadors play a vital role in delivery of this information. The creation of an employee ambassador happens organically within an organisation, with only mild direction and instruction. This ensures authenticity in the ambassador’s purpose, with the role growing from the ambassador’s loyalty and passion – qualities that cannot be mandated.
S2 E32 · Tue, January 19, 2021
Becoming a Trusted Advisor | S2 E2
Elizabeth Isaacs-Sodeye has been Internal Communications Manager at LexisNexis UK since September 2019. The company employs around 10,000 people globally and provides information and analytics to professional and business customers. Elizabeth describes the function of her team of internal comms people at LexisNexis as the cultural engine of the organisation, bringing people together in interesting ways in a timely manner, involving engagement, diversity and inclusion, employer brand, and a dabble of learning and development. Though internal comms are held responsible for the connection amongst organisation levels and its people, how effectively it operates depends on how much senior management believes in strong communication and whether they see them as Trusted Advisors.
S2 E31 · Tue, January 05, 2021
Employee advocacy and pride | S2 E1
In this first episode of the second series of the Engaging Internal Comms, The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Linda McCormack, who is Head of Internal Communications at Anglian Water. Anglian Water has around 5,000 core employees and thousands more partner employees who bring required skillsets to enhance the company as a business and a service. Successful organisations rely on a good reputation. This provides the foundation of customer loyalty that leads to repeat business and referrals. However, an organisation’s good reputation externally will only surface from a good reputation internally, amongst its own people and this is what we explore in this episode.
S1 E30 · Tue, December 29, 2020
End of Series 1 | S1 E30
In this final episode of Series 1 of the Engaging Internal Comms podcast, host Craig Smith looks back at some of the highlights of the first series and also explains what to expect in Series 2 of the show which will begin in the first week of 2021. So, we’ve come to the end of Series 1 of the Engaging Internal Comms Podcast, and what a first series it’s been. We started the podcast in April, during lockdown, with the aim of using our time positively and productively. Most importantly, we wanted to create something that would prove useful for others. We’ve enjoyed some amazing discussions with amazing people. The experiences and insight they have shared are second to none and have generated quite a response from a rapidly growing audience.
S1 E29 · Tue, December 22, 2020
The future of internal communications | S1 E29
In this Christmas 2020 special episode of Engaging Internal Comms, The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Jennifer Sproul, Chief Executive of the Institute of Internal Communications since 2016. Jen explains that, for some time, internal communications has been used as a broadcasting function, acting as an executive megaphone to transmit messages. Today, internal communication means much more. It provides essential access to engagement within an organisation and empowers learning and organisational development. Internal comms is now a key mechanism in successful and forward-moving organisations. Internal comms people must help organisations understand that communication is a key contributor to the solutions they seek.
S1 E28 · Tue, December 15, 2020
Employee alignment: Unlocking the engagement puzzle | S1 E28
The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith explores the topic of Employee Alignment with Lindsay Uittenbogaard. Employee alignment is often viewed as a consequence of employee engagement. In reality, alignment is a precursor to engagement. Alignment is crucial to employee engagement. Lindsay explains that without alignment and a clear view of the strategy on how to collaborate and implement it, employees will not be engaged. However, she also puts forward that employees may be aligned yet not engaged. When employees understand the vision, the strategy, their team’s purpose, and how they can implement it, engagement is achieved to advance the organisation’s mission through their role.
S1 E27 · Tue, December 08, 2020
Measuring organisational culture | S1 E27
Craig Smith talks to Victoria Bond about measuring organisational culture. Victoria is passionate about helping organisations to better measure and understand what their employees are thinking and feeling, thus finding ways to help their leaders to respond to that feedback in real time. Victoria points out how management often focuses too heavily on profits and sales, when it’s the engagement of its people that can truly make the difference, especially when merging or introducing potential investors, or acquisitioning. When focus is not solely placed on sales and profits, and instead attentive of people engagement, the culture that cascades throughout the organisation strengthens the spine of the company. This adds exponential value to a company’s investors and potential buyers.
S1 E26 · Tue, December 01, 2020
Using humour in internal comms | S1 E26
The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Costanza Tobino about using humour in internal comms. Costanza’s work experience ranges from marketing to internal communications and employee engagement. Costanza has led numerous communication projects involving change integration, mergers, acquisitions, executive leadership, product launches, corporate social responsibility, learning and development, and community engagement. Her biggest interests are in powerful communications, video, new technologies, and humour, which is what Craig will be discussing with Costanza in this podcast.
S1 E25 · Tue, November 24, 2020
Motivational Intelligence | S1 E25
Craig Smith talks with Executive Vice President at 2Logical, David Naylor, about the subject of Motivational Intelligence. The original concept of intelligence was quantified in the form of an IQ back in the 1600s. This is still used to measure mental ability. Additionally to IQ, David explains how emotional intelligence (EQ) is essentially the human being’s understanding of emotions and how these emotions influence behaviour. Further to this, David explains how psychological researcher Dr Carol Dweck discovered a third type of intelligence, motivational intelligence, which consists of two types of mindset that we explore in the interview.
S1 E24 · Tue, November 17, 2020
Building a career in Internal Comms | S1 E24
Craig Smith talks to Dureen Anwer, who is the senior Corporate Communications Manager at NHS organisation NEL, a role that involves both employee engagement and external corporate communications. Dureen has followed a phenomenally successful career path. After moving to the UK from Pakistan, she moved up from the role of communications officer to a senior IC role within five years. Dureen has worked in several organisations including the NHS and Herefordshire Council. Dureen identifies self-belief is a key requirement for an individual to reach their goal. Added with the willingness to embrace change, willingness to invest in a long-term career path, and remaining positive and passionate about what you’re good at, you will confidently steer your way into a successful career in internal communications.
S1 E23 · Tue, November 10, 2020
Communicating from the C-Suite | S1 E23
Craig Smith talks to Hillary U, who is Executive Internal Communications Leader for the Salesforce security team. Hillary is currently based in Washington, Seattle. Good internal communication is imperative within a company to ensure that changes, messages, and transformations are effectively and accurately communicated throughout an organisation. The source of the communication begins in the C-Suite. However, with the C-suite housing a corporation’s most senior executives, there’s a risk to overall trust and clarity if this level within the organisation does not communicate effectively. With decision making and technical issues requiring prioritisation, communication beyond the C-Suite can often become jarred, preventing the seamless flow of communication that is required throughout the organisation.
S1 E22 · Tue, November 03, 2020
The comms role of a line manager | S1 E22
In this podcast, Craig talks to Chris Coburn of XE about the overlooked topic of the comms role of a line manager. They discuss the importance of line managers, and the relationships they must build to create internal communications of engagement within an organisation. Chris talks about how one business will have quite a different communication strategy to another, yet they all need line managers to identify any issues within their teams. But with large organisations, it is imperative that the line managers themselves also fully understand what is being communicated before representing their company’s message.
S1 E21 · Tue, October 27, 2020
Employee volunteers and engagement | S1 E21
The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Leader of the Volunteers Hub for Engage for Success, Vlad Levitsky. We learn about the positive impact that volunteering can have on employees, and why it can be a great strategy to boost employee engagement. Volunteering creates a rich culture within an organisation. Vlad explains how giving them the freedom to act in favour of what they believe in or enjoy, or the time to help where it is crucially needed and therefore rewarding, will enrich a company’s workforce tenfold. Employees will be engaged in their organisation and all that it supports: freedom, encouragement, collaboration, and pride – the golden ingredients for a thriving company.
S1 E20 · Tue, October 20, 2020
Empathy in communications | S1 E20
The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to the FT's Megan Dold about the challenges of communicating within an organisation, and how to overcome them by using empathy. Communicating effectively across a business internally requires empathy in a sense that internal comms people are understanding of the importance of employees’ roles, and are adaptable in their approach to ensuring a message, that they will care about and is of importance to them and their company, reaches them.
S1 E19 · Tue, October 13, 2020
The future of face-to-face communications at work | S1 E19
While the world has adjusted to communicating remotely, there are still a lot of challenges to overcome. Where previously ideas could be discussed ‘on the fly’ and teams could create ideas and solutions together in a working environment, conferences must now be scheduled, taking distractions and home life into consideration. In this episode of Engaging Internal Comms, The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Rob Woodhead, who is the MD at Simply Better about how they’ve adjusted to new ways of communicating, and how he believes this will change the future of face-to-face communications at work.
S1 E18 · Tue, October 06, 2020
Returning to the office after major disruption | S1 E18
Craig Smith talks to Leanne Spencer, who is co-founder of Bodyshot Performance – an award-winning health and wellbeing company that uses technology and science-based solutions to create happy, healthy and resilient teams for organisations including Britvic and Zurich. The wellbeing of an employee has only recently come into the headlines in line with mental health awareness. But it is becoming evermore transparent to organisations how important it is to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of their staff both in the office and when working remotely. It’s being discovered that this not only improves the individual’s performance, but the organisation’s too.
S1 E17 · Tue, September 29, 2020
What is Employee Engagement? | S1 E17
This week we are talking to Susan Elliott, who is an Employee Engagement Experience and Wellness Specialist. Susan has a wealth of experience and has held positions as Head of Internal Comms and Employee Engagement with Allied Irish Banks, Head of IC as well as People Engagement for Tesco Bank, and is also a qualified CliftonStrengths coach with Gallup. Susan helps organisations’ employees to connect with their business and play a part in achieving the company’s goals. There are copious amounts of content claiming to define employee engagement. But Susan cuts through to the evidence-based theories of what engagement really is.
S1 E16 · Tue, September 22, 2020
The Iconist - The Art and Science of Standing out | S1 E16
In Episode 16, Craig Smith talks to Jamie Mustard, multimedia consultant and author of The Iconist: The Art and Science of Standing Out. Peppered with history, analogies and metaphors, this is an engaging episode that puts slogans and taglines in their place and describes how to communicate in an iconic way that will resonate with your target audience. What is an iconist?“Someone who punches through their own unease or discomfort and the constant thrum of messaging noise that goes on around them and figures out a way to get through, get attention, get engaged, and get their offering out to the world.” Jamie asserts in his book that you can achieve iconic status (something that is emblazed within our minds) with a targeted individual or group in five minutes.
S1 E15 · Tue, September 15, 2020
The future of the workplace | S1 E15
The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks about the future of the workplace with Tracy Brower, Principal at Steelcase, a company leading the way in designing workplaces that allow people to deliver their full potential. Tracy is a contributing writer at Forbes and Fast Company and the author of ‘Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organisations’. Tracy is a huge believer in the workplace having something very important to offer us, something of a contrarian view in the middle of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to forecast working from home as being the way forward in the world of work.
S1 E14 · Tue, September 08, 2020
Developing a diversity communication strategy | S1 E14
In this episode of Engaging Internal Comms, The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Teresa Boughey about diversity and inclusion and the critical nature of a diversity communication strategy. Teresa is founder and CEO of Jungle HR, an award-winning business consultancy, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development, and the author of bestseller Closing the Gap. You’ll hear Teresa expand on the meaning of diversity and inclusion, and explain her company’s TRIBE model.
S1 E13 · Tue, September 01, 2020
Audience segmentation in internal comms | S1 E13
In this episode of Engaging Internal Comms, The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Prarthna Thakore about audience segmentation in internal communications. Prarthna is an internal comms expert at an organisation called ISG, a dynamic construction company that employs 3,000 people working across 24 different countries, specialising in construction projects that include new build schools through to office fit-outs – a range of everything that encompasses the construction sector. One of ISG’s biggest communication challenges is communicating with its remote, deskless workers, office-based employees, and on-site employees and contractors across several different languages.
S1 E12 · Tue, August 25, 2020
How Job Crafting can drive employee engagement | S1 E12
During this episode, Rob Baker from Tailored Thinking will introduce us to job crafting. We will be provided with a framework that covers why Job Crafting delivers greater employee engagement, how to implement the practice within a team or organisation, and the elements that make it so successful. Job crafting can be defined as “Making changes in the way that you do your job, the tasks, relationships, and how you think about your job, to make it a better, more comfortable fit, and to bring your passions and your strengths to life within the work that you’re doing.”
S1 E11 · Tue, August 18, 2020
Using Career Management to build engagement | S1 E11
An award-winning consultant, coach, speaker and author, Antoinette describes the work she does with organisations and individuals as “Developing employees’ careers in organisations, and progression of a person’s working life within an organisation as well as between organisations and between jobs.” She helps to answer the question, “How can we retain, engage and develop people by helping them develop careers within the current organisations?” and provides the link between proactively managing careers and an organisation’s bottom line.
S1 E10 · Tue, August 11, 2020
Bringing company purpose to life for your people | S1 E10
Hannah’s role is Head of Customer Marketing at Virgin Media, where she has worked for 16 years. She has held a variety of roles, from retail to external communications, including positions such as Head of Retail Experience and Head of Internal Communications. Hannah shares a plethora of stories and examples that demonstrate the role of communications in an organisation. Her passion for her work shines through. Hannah shares her journey to employment with Virgin Media – from a musician with big dreams to a role in internal communications role – before diving into the knowledge she gained from her in-store role and how that has helped inform her in her position in internal comms.
S1 E9 · Tue, August 04, 2020
Using data to drive engagement | S1 E9
What is important is that the questions you ask and the data you collect are relevant to the employees you are asking. During the COVID-19 lockdown, when you may have assumed that survey participation numbers would have fallen, Ryan says that numbers are up by a staggering 15% on average. The reason? People are being asked questions about COVID-19 and their experiences, thoughts, and ideas – and this is relevant to them.
S1 E8 · Tue, July 28, 2020
The 7 myths of measuring internal communications | S1 E8
In this episode of Engaging Internal Comms, The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Sarah Carr about the seven myths of internal communications. Sarah is the Global Communications Insights Lead for Aviva, a financial services company with around 30,000 employees located around the world. She’s passionate about data and measuring outcomes, and finding the nuggets that help to discover how to communicate best with people.
S1 E7 · Tue, July 21, 2020
Effective use of digital comms | S1 E7
Lauren walks you through the journey that Auto Trader UK took when implementing its collaboration platform, starting with the fanfare release of Yammer in 2015 and how people took ownership for it. She talks about the organisation’s surprise that areas of collaboration extended beyond work and developed into deeper social connections – channels that included a book club and cookery. However, use on Yammer slowly dissipated, and by 2019 only 20% of employees were active on it. The business responded by taking action to learn why this was, and what its people really wanted. What they found was that its technology employees (most of the organisation) had set up on Slack. Thus, the decision to transition to Slack across the organisation was made.
S1 E5 · Tue, July 14, 2020
Using experiential and social learning for engagement | S1 E6
The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith talks to Jamie Thompson about experiential learning and the benefits of in-person learning. Jamie is an expert in the subject, the Managing Director of MTa Learning and the Leader in Residence at Leeds University Business school. Jamie begins by talking about his work and discussing experiential learning, which he describes as getting people to take ownership for their own development, and making it relevant to them and their workplace by delivering a learning journey through experience-based exercises.
S1 E5 · Tue, July 07, 2020
Using traditional comms channels effectively with Amy Holmes | S1 E5
Having worked for a variety of large companies, including Hermes, Asda, and O2, internal communications expert Amy Holmes is building an internal communications function at Marshalls. Amy explains that neurodiversity is a non-traditional way of thinking about your workforce (and about your customers). Instead of considering diversity as an issue of race, disability, gender, and so on, neurodiversity considers the deeper issues of education and understanding.
S1 E4 · Tue, June 30, 2020
Personal and organisational purpose with Dr Graham Ward | S1 E4
Dr Graham Ward, Adjunct Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD Business School, talks to The Big Picture People’s Craig Smith about managing personal and organisational transition. Graham discusses his own transition from life as a trader at Goldman Sachs to a new career in executive, leadership and career coaching, before describing the key tactics that organisations should take through periods of change. A particularly apt conversation recorded as the UK begins to exit lockdown and head toward the ‘new normal’.
S1 E3 · Tue, June 23, 2020
Cross-generational employee engagement with Martin Fitzpatrick | S1 E3
The workplace is becoming more multigenerational, with employees more likely to continue working longer. Does an older workforce really cause challenges that businesses otherwise wouldn’t have? Martin Fitzpatrick, who has filled many senior internal communications roles with several major organisations, discusses statistics and myths that will leave organisations better informed to deliver effective business strategies for their multigenerational workforces.
S1 E2 · Tue, June 16, 2020
The ROI of employee wellbeing with Dave Algeo | S1 E2
Stress and wellbeing expert Dave Algeo discusses the ROI of a wellbeing strategy, a manager's role in employee wellbeing and data and statistics for a establishing wellbeing as part of an employee engagement strategy.
S1 E1 · Tue, June 16, 2020
Building brand promise from the inside out with Arafa Heneghan | S1 E1
Arafa Heneghan from online retailer AO explains how internal branding works, and how, together with external branding, it allows values and behaviours to flow throughout the organisation.
Trailer · Tue, May 26, 2020
The 'Engaging Internal Comms' podcast trailer | S1 E0
Introducing the Engaging Internal Comms podcast, from The Big Picture People's Craig Smith. Engaging Internal Comms is for anyone working in employee engagement, internal communications and other related areas. Every Tuesday we will be exploring industry best practice and hearing from leading practitioners. We will hear how they are making internal communications, employee engagement and related areas a strategic priority.
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