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Communicating to boost morale and performance in a downturn

Only 40% of full-time UK employees feel their company has a clear plan to withstand the recession, according to a new study by Threshold Communications, specialists in communication and behaviour change.

These figures are particularly important to business leaders as the research also shows that a link with productivity and morale. Of those who feel strongly that their company has a clear plan to withstand the recession 82% have considerably more enthusiasm in their day-to-day jobs and 86% feel committed to their organizations long-term success.

The research also stresses the importance of good manager/employee communications, stating that: “People don’t leave companies – they leave managers”. Key in this relationship is the managers ability to listen and respond to staff. 

Other key findings:

  • The extent to which employees beleive their company has a plan to withstand recession, correlates directly with their motivation and long- term commitment.
  • Most employees are not confident that their organization has a plan to withstand recession.
  • Employees are considerably more likely to trust their direct line managers than senior leaders.
  • Only 32% of employees feel that the way in which their line manager communicates with them supports their motivation.
  • Where line managers talk through company plans and aims employees are  significantly more likely to feel motivated and committed.
  • Where line managers genuinely listen and seek input and ideas, employees are significantly more likely to feel motivated and committed.

For more information about the survey and its findings, see the full report >

Melitta

By | May 20th, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments
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10% discount for GCN members at communications evaluation conference

The first European Summit on Communications/PR Measurement is taking place from 10 to 12 June 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
The Summit will look at evaluation issues for all aspects of communications with speakers from academia and the corporate world.  Glenn O’Neil,  one of the founders of the Geneva Communicators Network will speak on evaluating human rights campaigns with Victor Fernandez of UN Human Rights.
The Summit organisers are offering a 10% discount to all members of the Geneva Communicators Network – 644 Euro instead of 715 Euro.
More information and registration:
Please note, to receive the GCN discount, on the membership pulldown on the registration form select “guest member”.
By | May 19th, 2009|Other events|0 Comments
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E-Business Event in Geneva – 28 May 2009

E-Business Events is organizing the 3rd E-Commerce Geneva edition on May 28, 2009 at the International Conference Center of Geneva (CICG).

– Over 2000 professionals expected
– 50 speakers
– 4 training sessions
– 1,500 sq meters of exhibition space, almost 40 exhibitors
 -Business Conventions

For 10 years, E BUSINESS INFO has been creating and organizing several conventions and trade shows each year in the IT industry, thus bringing together 40,000 decision makers, 1,500 speakers and exhibitors all over France, and in various towns of Europe. In a very short time, the E COMMERCE convention has become THE European trade show in the industry.

For more information>>

By | May 14th, 2009|Other events|0 Comments
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New jobs in communications

New communication jobs in Geneva are up on our careers page!

Head of Public Relations, IEC, Geneva
Communications Officer (Publications) and Senior Web Editor / Lead Facilitator at The Global Fund
Programme Officer – Advocacy and Communications, GAVI

Good luck!

By | May 8th, 2009|Careers|0 Comments
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Online communications during a crisis

In October 2008, when the Financial Crisis was in full tilt, Lundquist Srl, a corporate communications consultancy based in Milan, surveyed 51 of the worlds most important banks to discover what information, if any, they were putting on their respective websites.

The research highlighted a growing gap between the demand and supply of corporate information. While users are increasingly turning to online resources for answers, on the whole banks are ignoring this important medium as a means of sharing key information.

Learning from the survey, Lundquist suggest that to effectively communicate online the following principles should be kept in mind:

  • Honesty – demonstrate awareness of the situation as the first step to regaining confidence
  • Clarity of language – make the information easily understandable, include things  such as an investor Q&A or a well written management statement
  • Completeness – provide background by explaining the context
  • Link to other resources – such as reliable third party information
  • Authoritativeness – the presence and opinions of company management should be felt
  • Easy to find – make the information users want to find highly evident
  • Coherence – online message must be integrated with traditional media channels
  • Interactivity – make use of technologies such as: video, Q&A and dedicated contacts

A summary of the survey’s findings was presented earlier this year to the annual meeting of the world federation of stock exchanges Zurich. For more information, download a copy of this presentation >

Melitta

By | May 8th, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments
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Global survey on communications evaluation

If you are a communications professional, please take a few minutes and participate in a global benchmarking survey designed to measure best practices in public relations measurement and management.

This survey builds on research undertaken five years ago. The results of the current survey will be presented at the First European Summit on Measurement, June 10-12 in Berlin, Germany.

Complete the survey here>>

By | May 6th, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments
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Social media and business

An interesting post by Sharlyn Lauby about implementing social media policies in business:

Companies are realizing that people are talking about them whether they like it or not. As a result, they’re deciding whether they should consider having a social media presence, and hence, a policy. A social media policy outlines for employees the corporate guidelines or principles of communicating in the online world.

Social media is quickly moving from an emerging form of communication to the mainstream. So, just like in the old days when companies had to figure out how to deal with email, now they have to figure out how to deal with Facebook() and all other new media venues. Let’s talk about the Five Ws to adopting a social media policy.

1. WHY have such a policy?
2. WHAT can social media do for my organization?
3. WHO should the policy cover?
4. WHERE should you let employees know about this policy?
5. WHEN is the right time to implement a policy?

By | May 3rd, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments
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Out of sight, out of business!

As communicators, we know that in tough times it is more important than ever to maintain, if not increase, communications with staff and stakeholders to give them confidence in the future of your business and keep them loyal and positive. 

A recent study by The Nielsen Company has given further credence to this approach, as it shows that consumers who have been exposed to ‘more’ advertising and marketing messages have more positive perceptions about the long-term health of their financial institutions; with those stakeholders who have seen ‘less’ messaging having lower levels of confidence in their institutions.

“This research shows that ‘out of sight’ can mean ‘out of business’,” said Richard Khaleel, EVP of Nielsen IAG’s Financial practice. “The current economic climate makes it more important than ever for financial institutions to bolster confidence among their clients and this study clearly demonstrates the link between advertising and confidence levels. With constant scrutiny on the industry it’s clear that taking control of the message in advertising and press can make all the difference for a brand.”

More about this AC Nielsen study >

Melitta

By | April 29th, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments
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GCN lunch event wrap up

Many thanks to the over 60 participants who attended the GCN lunch event today at the Swiss Press Club. A special thanks to Liam FitzPatrick for his very interesting presentation. We will be distributing a copy of the slides to those who attended. If you want to contact Liam directly for any further queries you can reach him www.simply-goodadvice.com.

View the photos of the event on the left hand column of this page or on our Flickr page.

For those who are interested, you can read more about Liam on Swisster following an interview conducted by Marcus Berry.

As mentioned, our  next event will be another networking apero in May and one more lunch event before the summer break in June.

Patricia, Melitta, Glenn, and Vincent

By | April 24th, 2009|GCN lunch events|0 Comments
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Origins and purpose of Internal Communications

With tomorrow’s GCN lunch being on the topic of Internal Communications, I thought it would be interesting to take a quick look at the origins and purpose of this discipline.

In a series of blog posts, a journalist explores what could be the first ever book published on the subject of Internal Communications called ‘Sharing Information with Employees’  – way back in 1942!  Read posts >

But if this does not satisfy your curiosity about the roots of IC; then perhaps UK agency, 44 Communications, can offer more insight in their document: ‘A Quick History of Internal Communications and its value’.

With regards to the current purpose of IC, experts and practitioners seem split, as demonstrated by a recent discussion on Melcrum’s LinkedIn Group. Russell Pearson, who started the debate, has summarised the various views on his blog.

Liam Fitzpatrick, tomorrow’s GCN speaker who also contributed to the Melcrum discussion, offered the view that while there may not be a definitive purpose for IC,  there are five main reasons why companies embark on and invest in internal communications; to:

  • make people stay with the company and feel great about staying 
  • direct people towards working harder on the right things 
  • get people to say the right things about your organisation 
  • get employees behind change, to support and see through change 
  • to remain legal and compliant.

I agree that there is no one definitive purpose – that’s why we IC professionals take so much care to align our comms strategies to the purpose and goals of the overall organisation and develop the right messages and channels for each organisation. There are no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions. For me, it’s this ongoing challenge that makes IC one of the most exciting and rewarding areas of communications to be involved in. 

Melitta

By | April 23rd, 2009|Other resources|0 Comments
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