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More info – Next GCN lunchtime seminar – Crisis Communications – 10 November 2009

Following is some more information on the theme of our next lunchtime seminar:

 Suddenly management and decision-makers are obliged to keep those existing ‘daily business’ balls moving fluidly, while adding one- or several- chainsaws into their juggling act. The chainsaw(s) can be accidents, scandals, product defects, environmental disaster, health hazards or any other situation that poses a threat to operations and reputation. The real question: are you prepared to juggle a chainsaw or two? We find that while companies can manage to juggle the odd chainsaw, their structures and approaches tend to work in silos- the health and safety officer might deal with the accident, human resources with the scandal, the marketers with the product defect and so on. Can communicators become the bridge-builders within organizations, effectively de-siloing approaches to crisis communication and management? Our hypothesis is that social media can help to level the playing field, where communications can become a ‘centralizing’ platform internally. While it is true that communications has always played an important role in crisis management, since the advent of Web 2.0 the rules of the game have been turned upside-down with the citizen having the power to create content.

Who is now in command? Which are the new target audiences and how do we reach them? By putting communications structurally at the center of the crisis response and intelligently making use of social media, companies and organizations can be better equipped to mitigate the impact of a crisis. Come to this workshop and discuss the social media dimension with Raj and Tony who specialize in creating scenarios which simulate your Worstcase nightmares.

Register here for the lunchtime seminar >>

By | November 3rd, 2009|GCN lunch events|0 Comments

Next GCN lunchtime seminar – Crisis Communications – 10 November 2009

We are happy to announce our next Geneva Communicators lunchtime seminar!

Theme: Can you juggle chainsaws? Crisis Communication in the Social Media Age

Date/time:  12h20-14h00, Tuesday 10 November 2009

Venue: HD Centre, 114, Rue de Lausanne,  Geneva (map – pdf)

Speakers: Tony Murdoch and Raj Rana, co-founders of theworstcase.com

Cost:  10 CHF (light lunch included)

Register here for the lunchtime seminar >>

Thanks  to the HD Centre for the venue and the International University in Geneva for sponsorship.

By | October 25th, 2009|GCN lunch events|0 Comments

Guide to Green Communications

With companies becoming increasingly keen to create and promote their green credentials, changing people’s towards sustainability and CSR is an important challenge for corporate communicators. Not sure where to start? Then help is at hand in the form of a free guide explaining ways to approach green communications, which includes a great employee engagement case study for Jaguar Land Rover.

Download Green Communications guide >

Melitta

By | October 24th, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments

world usability day in Geneva – 12 November 2009

For those interested in usability and related-online communication issues, then keep in mind World Usability Day,  12 November 2009 and the special event being held in Geneva, more information as follows:

World Usability Day was founded by the Usability Professionals’ Association to ensure that the services and products important to life are easier to access and simpler to use.
 
Join us on Thursday 12 November at Hotel Bristol, Geneva, to participate in World Usability Day 2009.

This year, the event will have two parts:
1.     Usability training courses in the afternoon
2.     Presentations by invited speakers and our traditional networking apéro.

1. Training
§  How to integrate User-Centered Design into your projects by Mary Mooney, MBA
§  How to set up and run your usability tests by Florian Egger, PhD

2. Guest Speakers & Apéro
§  Achieving Usability with Interaction Design Patterns by Ahmed Seffah, PhD
§  Usability at Orange by Marjana Rapaic
§  Apéro sponsored by Telono

Cost
Training (course materials included):
Regular price: CHF 240
Student price: CHF 100

Guest Speaker Presentations & Apéro: FREE
More Information & Registration>>:

By | October 23rd, 2009|Other events|0 Comments

New jobs in Geneva

New communication jobs in Geneva are up on our career page

External & Corporate Communication Manager, Lake Geneva region

Corporate Communications Specialist , Givaudan, Geneva

Consultancy –  short film /  workshops / production,  UNICEF, Geneva

Good luck!

By | October 11th, 2009|Careers|0 Comments

One-day communication courses in Geneva

A GCN member has recommended the following one day courses, offered by a UK-based training company, that are taking place in December in Geneva (all in English):

01/12/2009
EFFECTIVE TRAINING SKILLS – train the trainer
£129/person
£105/person (pay online)
 
02/12/2009
TEAM BUILDING & GROUP DYNAMICS
£129/person
£105/person (pay online)
 
02/12/2009
MEDIA STRATEGIES AND CAMPAIGNS
£129/person
£105/person (pay online)

04/12/2009
FACILITATION SKILLS
£129/person
£105/person (pay online)

04/12/2009
PRESENTATION & COMMUNICATION SKILLS
£129/person
£105/person (pay online)

More information >>

(please note, the GCN has no commercial relationship with the company offering these courses).

By | October 7th, 2009|Professional development|0 Comments

Feedback on marketing masterclass roundtable

Thanks to 100+ persons who gathered at the marketing masterclass roundtable on branding organised by the International University in Geneva and Geneva Women in International Trade  on 1 October 2009 with the Geneva Communicators Network as a media sponsor. Some photos of the event can be seen here>>

By | October 5th, 2009|Other events|0 Comments

Key Data for Communicators in Global Survey

The latest global survey from Melcrum, Key Benchmark Data for Communicators 2009, has revealed that in the light of the recession, every area of internal communications is being re-examined. Here are some of the survey’s headlines and what they mean for IC professionals:

Budget cuts – almost half of respondents (46%) said they will be spending less on consultants in the next 12 months. External advisors will therefore need to “re-evaluate what they offer and become more focused”. For those working in-house, budget cuts will mean less opportunities to move position and engage employees on a grand scale – but will be a chance for savvy communicators to gain respect by getting creative working closely with leaders and to make a difference.

Strategy change – 47% of respondents stated that cutbacks have led to fundamental change in their communication strategy. The main focus for internal communicators today appears to be on rebuilding trust and giving employees the answers they need. This is good news as it puts IC in the limelight, but it is demanding work that often needs to be done with fewer resources. Now more than ever, IC professionals need to prove their worth to gain the resources they need.

Change in Channels – 45% of respondents predicted a reduction in print communications in the coming year, with many seeing the Internet as a more cost effective and engaging alternative, due to its ability to spread messages to the right audiences with simplicity, immediacy and transparency.

Priority skills – Most respondents indicated that over the next 12 months, the most important skills will be: ‘managing change communication’ (43.2%), ‘supporting senior leadership communication’ (37.9%), and ‘measuring the effectiveness of internal communication’ (27.6%). In terms of leadership communications, ‘coaching managers to communicate’ came out as the top priority (52.5%), closely followed by ‘strategic planning’ (51%) and ‘how to assess communication effectiveness’ (49.3%).

More about the survey and its findings >

Melitta

By | October 2nd, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments

Marketing masterclass on branding: 1 October 2009

The Geneva Communicators Network is a media partner for the following communications event where our members (that’s you!) can receive a discount entry.  Full details on the event below:

 The International University in Geneva and  Geneva Women in International Trade  have the pleasure to invite you to a roundtable:

“Marketing Masterclass: Can branding be a bridge between the corporates and the international organisations? “    

When: Thursday 1 October 2009, 6 p.m.

Where: Ramada Park Hotel, Avenue Louis-Casaï 75-77, Genève-Cointrin 1216

 “A mini-revolution is taking place among international and non-governmental organizations that are borrowing marketing strategies normally used in the corporate world to build stronger brands and partner more effectively with industry. What appeared to be a savvy trend before the current economic turmoil may now become a financial necessity. How can these two worlds with seemingly different agendas best maximise these new “partnerships”? Our panel brings together experts in marketing and communications who will share their insight, methodologies and provide practical examples.”

Panel members: • Sue Mizera, Managing Director, Young & Rubicam Brands
• John Kidd, Head of Global Communications, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Amanda Seller, Head of Private Sector Fund Raising, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Nada Dugas, Associate Director, Procter & Gamble,External Relations Baby Care, EMEA

Register online here and note in the comments box “GCN member”:
http://www.iun.ch/index.cfm/en/iun/news_events/registrationform?id=77

Entry fee: 35 CHF (25 CHF for GWIT, GCN and IUN Alumni) with 5 CHF donated for every entry to the Room to Read project

Agenda:
6.00 p.m.       Welcome
6.30 p.m.       Presentations followed by discussions
8.00 p.m.       Cocktail and networking

Register online here and note in the comments box “GCN member”:
http://www.iun.ch/index.cfm/en/iun/news_events/registrationform?id=77

For further information, please consult the roundtable flyer (pdf):
http://www.iun.ch/common/doc/en/Marketing_Masterclass.pdf

By | September 28th, 2009|Other events|0 Comments

Change communications and ownable truths

The key to effective internal communications that will support and drive positive change is a thorough understanding of your brand and your people. This demands that you uncover the ownable truths about your organisation – the genuine, inspiring and truly representative truths that define and unite your people and brand.

In a recently launched white paper, design, branding and communications consultancy Small Back Room, provide communication practitioners with the tools to do just this.

In this paper, Small Back Room explain how to uncover these ownable truths and used them to build or enhance a brand from the inside out, helping you to generate a platform for clear, direct and effective communications that will drive positive change.

The paper also looks at the relationships between brands, strategy, internal communications and change – and their impact on internal communications and includes a ‘change scenario assessment tool’ so that you can evaluate exactly where your organisation is in the change cycle and then plan your management of change from there.

Small Back Room has made the paper available for download by GCN members >

Melitta

By | September 26th, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments