Felicity Barber, founder of Thoughtful Communications, has penned speeches and spearheaded executive communications for some of the world’s most prominent financial institutions, including BlackRock, the Federal Reserve and Lloyds of London. Through her extensive experience, Felicity has discovered that storytelling—or as she calls it, “spinning a good yarn”—is one of the most effective ways to convey complex topics.

In this episode, Felicity shares how humor and openness can transform executive communications. She emphasizes the power of authenticity in storytelling to deliver key messages.

“A story gives a speech a really nice sense of completeness,” Felicity explains. “Adding an anecdote, or anything that humanizes the leader delivering the message, is a powerful way to connect with audiences.”

This engaging conversation delves into the challenges of executive communication, such as building trust with leaders and delivering strategic feedback. Felicity’s insights on honest communication and setting the right expectations offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to advance in their executive comms career.

The founder of Thoughtful Communications, Felicity Barber has written speeches and led executive communication for some of the most high-profile financial institutions in the world, including BlackRock, the Federal Reserve, and Lloyds of London. In her experience, she has found that one of the best ways to convey complex subject matters is to find a way to tell a story or, as she often puts it, “spin a good yarn.”

For more from Felicity, you can:

• Subscribe to her newsletter at thoughtfulcomms.com.
• Subscribe to her podcast, The Friendly Ghost.
• Reach out on LinkedIn.

The post EPISODE #78: CRAFTING STORIES THAT RESONATE – FELICITY BARBER ON EXECUTIVE COMMS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Let’s debunk a myth today: managing up isn’t about sucking up. In our second installment of “In Your Corner,” our career coaching segment, Sharon and I dive deep into what it really means to “manage up” and why it’s a critical skill for communicators. Managing up effectively is about making your indispensability known—creating a symbiotic relationship that helps support your career as well as enhances your team’s success.

We discuss:

• How understanding and aligning with your boss’s expectations and communication styles can dramatically improve your work relationship
• Practical examples from our real-life scenarios where managing up influenced workplace dynamics
• Tips on how to be proactive, such as sending weekly recaps to your boss to outline achievements and upcoming goals

Think of managing up as more than a career skill – it’s an essential partnership strategy that boosts both your growth and that of your leaders. Curious to see how this can support your professional interactions? Tune in for a deeper dive.

The post EPISODE #77: IN YOUR CORNER – MASTERING MANAGING UP appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Let’s face it: The world of internal communications is anything but boring. If you’re anything like us, the thrill of navigating our ever-changing landscapes — like hybrid work, AI and channel management, to name a few — is what gets you up in the morning. That’s why we’re diving into the big picture of what’s shaking up our field and the cool trends that are shaping our work in 2024.

In this episode, we’ll replay a recent Poppulo webinar, “Employee Trends for 2024,” featuring insights from Mark Dollins, President of North Star Communications Consulting, Ashley Tobin, Poppulo’s Director of Customer Success and Sharon McIntosh. 

In this conversation, we discuss: 

• The Convergence of Internal and External Forces: Dive into the dynamics shaping communication trends and what they mean for internal communicators
• Harnessing Analytics for Excellence: Explore how insights from data can inform the development of best practices uniquely suited to your organization
• Integrating AI in Internal Communications: Discover practical strategies for utilizing artificial intelligence to boost efficiency and engagement
• Building a Premier IC Function: Uncover the essential elements needed to craft a leading-edge internal communications strategy in today’s rapid-paced world.
• And much more!

For more information, you can: 

• Reach out to Mark,  Ashley and Sharon on LinkedIn. 
• Learn more about Poppulo: https://www.poppulo.com/. 

The post EPISODE #76: POPPULO WEBINAR REPLAY – UNLOCKING 2024 IC TRENDS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

“Let’s be careful out there.” 

The line made famous by Hill Street Blues’ Sgt. Phil Esterhaus holds up 40 years later – just ask crisis expert Andy Gilman. In addition to his formal title – President and CEO of CommCore Consulting Group – Andy is the standard-bearer for communicators tasked with navigating sensitive issues. 

In his fifth (!!) appearance on EE Voice, Andy joins us to take a look at the state of things in 2024 and advises us to prepare, prepare, prepare for potential crises. He urges communicators to “get the checklist going” and identify the events that may impact businesses and their employees in the near-term future. 

“I might take a whiteboard,” Andy suggests. “And put on the whiteboard, ‘What has happened to our organization in the past year?’ ‘What’s happened to our sister and brother organizations?’ ‘What’s happened to society at large?’ Then do the comparison and ask, ‘Okay, what are we ready for?’” 

In this wide-ranging conversation on 2024 preparedness, we discuss: 

• Coaching executives and spokespeople for public appearances 
• Handling divisive social issues with empathy 
• Conveying complicated issues in digestible ways 
• Incorporating AI without losing the human element of communications 
• Fair and balanced responses to employee activism 
• Planning for dangerous event in physical offices 

For more from Andy, you can: 

• Email him at [email protected] 
• Find him on LinkedIn 
• Check to the CommCore Consulting Group website at https://www.commcoreconsulting.com/ 

Note: The book we discussed during this episode was The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande. 

The post EPISODE #75: GETTING READY FOR 2024 — CRISIS EXPERT ANDY GILMAN RETURNS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Our work as communicators is always evolving – there’s no finish line to cross or book to close. And, because of that, many of us are guilty of forgetting to take time to reflect on lessons learned and consider how our work is changing.

This year felt especially frenetic. The evolution of generative AI may have been the first talking point in many of our conversations, but that doesn’t come close to telling the whole story. Luckily, Sharon and I were able to discuss many of the industry’s hot topics with a few of the best minds in comms – highlighted in this episode. Here are some of our favorite insights featured on EE Voice in 2023:

• Shel Holtz had the foresight to embrace generative AI way back in January.
• Mark Dollins and his team at North Star Communications Consulting spent much of 2023 interviewing, researching and writing the whitepaper, “Artificial Intelligence & the Communicator” – a catch-all for comms pros looking to harness AI.
• Jason Anthoine joined us to discuss how internal communicators can successfully connect corporate strategy to the emotions that drive employees.
• Barbara Rozgonyi got us a little nostalgic, and explained how lessons from the past can inform future comms strategy.
• Kristi Munno explained her award-winning strategy for Town Halls, and praised communicators’ ability to pivot in a moment’s notice.
• David Murray helped us see the full communications picture, and advised us to take some time to plan for the future.

Thank you for listening. We wish all of our friends, guests, listeners, commenters and more happy holidays and can’t wait to speak with you again in 2024.

The post EPISODE #74: OUR BEST EXPERT ADVICE FROM 2023 appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

A year ago, many communicators were unsure if generative artificial intelligence was going to have staying power in our industry. There have been supporters, detractors and plenty of folks who simply haven’t been able to wrap their heads around the technology. So, with accessible and evolving AI a reality, we’re left asking, “Now what?”

“This is an opportunity to learn-and-lead versus wait-and-wonder,” our friend and colleague Mark Dollins says of AI in comms on this episode of EE Voice.

Mark and his team at North Star Communications Consulting recently collaborated with the University of Missouri  School of Journalism to research and publish “Artificial Intelligence & the Communicator,” a fantastic whitepaper that delves into the big opportunity and bigger feelings tied to the use of AI within employee communications.

In our conversation, we touch upon many topics including communications’ role in company-wide AI integration, how AI will eventually grow from a time-saver to strategizer and, not least of all, the importance of communicators embracing this opportunity.

“We’ve worked too hard as a discipline and functions to lose the street credibility that we’ve gained in recent decades by making stupid mistakes with technology, because we haven’t kept our heads in the game,” Mark said.

For more from Mark, you can:

• Email him at [email protected]
• Find him on LinkedIn
• Visit www.northstarcomms.com
• Download “Artificial Intelligence & the Communicator”
• Read (and study!) Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication: Skills, Strategies, and Tactics, by Mark Dollins and John Stemmle

The post EPISODE #73: “A MIX OF UTILITY AND FEAR” – MARK DOLLINS ON AI IN COMMS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Introducing “In Your Corner”

In boxing, competitors head to their stools in the fighter’s corner for one-minute respites between rounds. They try to catch their breath, have cuts tended to and receive instruction from their trainers, or “cornermen.” A good cornerman builds relationships with their competitors; they are reliable, identify any changing variables and build strategies geared toward competitors’ strengths.

As an avid fan of boxing, my aim is to provide similar guidance to coaching clients looking to navigate their careers. During episodes of “In Your Corner,” Sharon Phillips and I will delve into some challenges suggested by their communications colleagues and discuss how we can respond positively.

This Episode: Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Whether you’re presenting on an unfamiliar topic, writing a speech for a demanding executive or issuing a statement on a hot-button issue, a little self-doubt can go a long way. Confidence may waver, but does that mean we don’t belong?

After recording and publishing more than 70 episodes of the EE Voice podcast, we have met some of the brightest, hardest working people in communications – and even the most accomplished industry leaders can experience something called imposter syndrome.

Common in high-achievers, imposter syndrome was the most requested topic when we were planning “In Your Corner,” and is the phenomenon that takes place when self-doubt begins to keep us from achieving our goals.

“Self-doubt is really important in identifying imposter syndrome,” said Sharon McIntosh. “Many of us who experience imposter syndrome — and I’ll count myself as one of them — often respond by over-delivering or self-sabotage.  You procrastinate and then over-deliver, trying to reach that perfectionism.”

In this conversation, we discuss times self-doubt has gotten in their way and offer ways to counteract imposter syndrome

Have a topic you’d like us to discuss on “In Your Corner”? Reach out in the comments or contact us on LinkedIn.

Sharon McIntosh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mcintosh/

Sharon Phillips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-phillips-2a03aa5/

The post #72: Introducing “in your corner”: Imposter Syndrome appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The best communicators are versatile; they proactively seek out opportunities to meet audiences and develop creative ways to deliver messages. Some of our greatest successes come when we recognize that one-size may not fit-all, leading us to develop new methods to reach unique sets of stakeholders.

Few understand these challenges more than Kristi Munno, who leads a full slate of communications initiatives for Ozinga, a fifth-generation family-owned company in the construction materials industry. Here’s how Kristi and team transformed their Town Hall meetings to be sure that each of Ozinga’s employees had the chance to participate — and how her team helped showcase frontline operations.

The challenge: More than half of Ozinga’s nearly 2,000 employees are considered frontline workers and do not have access to a company email addresses, creating obstacles when it comes to distributing internal communications.

The tactics: Kristi and team to shift Ozinga’s traditional, on-site Town Hall meetings to video – a livestream accompanied by some pre-recorded content – allowing workers from multiple locations to view and submit questions. The aim was to further develop a culture of learning – one of the company’s core values – by showcasing different business units and making it easier for employees in different locations and time zones to join.

The results: Their efforts were recognized by the Standard of Excellence ’23: The Best of the Inaugural Executive Communication Awards, as they took home the award for Executive Town Hall Series – an honor that paired nicely with record engagement from Ozinga  employees.

“People were so excited to see the authenticity – to see individuals and their personalities across locations – and they really let us know that we were on the right path,” Kristi told us. “It’s always a learning experience. We never feel comfortable, just sitting still where we are; we’re always pushing the boundaries and trying new things and, at times, it works in our favor.”

For more from Kristi, reach out to her on LinkedIn. You can read more about Ozinga, its employees and its mission here.

The post EPISODE #71: KRISTI MUNNO ON REACHING FRONTLINE BY REINVENTING OZINGA TOWN HALLS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

So much of our time as communicators is spent navigating uncharted territory – handling crises, adapting to emerging technology, etc. – that it’s easy to forget to take time to reflect.

We recently received a great reminder to do just that from our friend and former Sears colleague, Barbara Rozgonyi. A pioneer of digital communications and the leader of CoryWest Media, Barbara joined us to discuss the current popularity of retro culture and how lessons from the past can help shape how we work moving forward.

“It’s just really gives you a feeling that what was cool is still cool,” Barbara said. “I was looking at some of the projects we worked on together – and the groundwork that we laid back then may seem nostalgic, but it’s super relevant for today.”

Barbara, Sharon and I had a fun look back at some of the work we took on together and how, as much as things may change, they stay the same. (It may not always feel this way, but the 90’s weren’t that long ago.)

Among the topics discussed:

• “I am Sears,” a global initiative highlighting Sears employees
• The importance of establishing leaders as relatable and approachable
• Building cross-functional relationships
• Helping employees feel connected in different settings

For more from Barbara:

• Listen to her podcast, Growing Social
• Access articles on Barbara’s blog, http://wiredPRworks.com
• Visit her website at https://www.barbararozgonyi.com/
• Find her on LinkedIn
• Visit CoryWest Media

The post EPISODE #70: WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN WITH BARBARA ROZGONYI appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

As communicators, we are often at our best while functioning as trusted advisors to executives, colleagues and other key business stakeholders. But trust isn’t gained overnight. How do you build trust for the long-term?

Enter Jason Anthoine, the managing founder and “head honcho” of Audacity, a communications consultancy that helps companies inform, involve and inspire their employees by immersing themselves in businesses and absorbing as much as possible, from balance sheets and organizational goals to day-to-day operations.

“We will never be able to understand what their world is like unless we insert ourselves into it,” Jason told us. “We’re here to understand you better so we can give you more of what you want and, more importantly, less of what you don’t want.”

In our conversation, Jason explains how his team helps businesses define and simplify overall strategy, streamline communication and use relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) to marry employee engagement to the business’ goals: “We need to measure the efficacy of our comms efforts, but in support of the outcomes that the business is trying to achieve.”

For more from Jason:

• Visit Think Audacity.
• Email [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.
• In this episode, Jason referenced a pair of books by David C. Baker: The Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact + Wealth and The Secret Tradecraft of Elite Advisors. You can learn more about David, the founder of management consulting firm Recourses, Inc. and author of six books, at his website.

The post EPISODE #69: JASON ANTHOINE ON BECOMING A COMMS TRUSTED ADVISOR appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here, and no one is less surprised than Shel Holtz.

So many of us know Shel from his 40-plus years as a consultant, speaker, blogger, author, and co-founder of the FIR Podcast Network, but it is his fascination with emerging technologies that make him the ideal person to discuss AI models like ChatGPT.

“Mark my words,” Shel wrote in 2016, “Bots are coming to the workplace, to media relations, to public relations. They are coming just as surely as the web was going to completely disrupt the way communications was done a quarter century ago.”

Now, with his prediction a reality, Shel joins our podcast to urge communicators to embrace AI tools, rather than fear being replaced by them. To Shel, learning how to properly – and ethically – use AI is becoming an essential skill and can help us generate ideas, overcome writers block, teach writing, and save time. Here are Shel’s three keys to staying ahead of the curve:

• “Read everything you can get your hands on.” People are innovating all the time, and we have likely just scratched the surface of AI’s capabilities.
• “Identify the kind of work that can be augmented by AI.” AI will not do our jobs for us, but it can be an effective time saver.
• “Learn how to write a good prompt.” Garbage in, garbage out, as they say.

For more:

• Listen to our 2017 episode on chatbots with digital workplace consultant Chris McGrath
• Visit Shel’s website at https://holtz.com/
• Email Shel at [email protected]
• Listen to Shel’s podcast, For Immediate Release, and the other members of the FIR Podcast Network (including EE Voice) at https://www.firpodcastnetwork.com/

The post EPISODE #68: SHEL HOLTZ – EMBRACING CHATGPT FOR INTERNAL COMMS appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.