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!
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)
(please note, the GCN has no commercial relationship with the company offering these courses).
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>>
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
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
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
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Thanks to the many communicators who came out for the 4th Geneva Communications Forum «Taking Brand Initiative: Aligning Strategy, Culture, and Identity» on Monday evening (the Geneva Communicators Network was a co-organiser of the event).
Read a summary of the event here>>
New communication jobs in Geneva are up on our career page
Visual Communications Specialist, BIS, Basel
Communication positions, UNAIDS, Geneva
Consultancy – web projects UNICEF, Geneva
Good luck!
Internal communication agency, theblueballroom, has a released a social media white paper giving internal communicators a practical guide to social media tools. Called Collaboration in Action, the white paper is free to download, but you must register first.
Melitta
A new British Government review has highlighted the importance of effective engagement to successful business performance, showing that high levels of employee engagement are inextricably linked to the successful achievement of commercial and other organisational objectives.
The MacLeod Review, commissioned by the British Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, also states that British firms need to improve engagement levels. It cites a number of impeding factors ranging from leaders not really understanding what employee engagement is or recognising its importance, to not knowing where to go for assistance, and the poor people skills of many line managers.
David MacLeod, who lead the review with Nita Clarke, said: “This is about unleashing the potential of people at work and enabling them to be the best they can be. Whether we are in a downturn or in better economic times, engagement is a key to innovation and competitiveness.”
Nita Clarke said: “By respecting the contribution employees can make and ensuring they are fully involved in developing their organisation’s future, employers can help unlock their full potential. When done well, employee engagement is a win for the organisation, a win for the individual and therefore a win for the country as a whole.”
Read more about the review’s findings >
Melitta