A common and consistent point of feedback we hear from employees when auditing a company’s internal communications can be distilled into just two words: “email overload.” Across industries and sectors, companies large or small, employees are often quick to share that they feel they receive too many emails. And yet, emails are among the most selected preferred way to receive time-sensitive, relevant information. Data Shows: Internal Social Media Not Preferred Channel for Information With employees desiring a more streamlined email inbox, it would seem natural that other channels – such as inte ..read more

The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer is hot off the presses and chock-full of valuable information. This tried-and-true resource for more than two decades provides data-based insights on trust and credibility by helping readers to understand those institutions that people turn to most when they need information, guidance, or a general pulse on decision-making influencers. This year, the Barometer shows that the most trusted sources of information are: Scientists (76%) My coworkers (73% among employees) My CEO (64% among employees) Notably, the Edelman Trust Barometer also looks at the level of ..read more

The prevalence of disinformation – defined as deliberately misleading or biased information – continues to be a significant problem in both Canada and the U.S., according to the 2022 Institute for Public Relations Disinformation in Society Report, which was conducted with Leger and McMaster University. Key headlines from the study include ..read more

Following the "Great Resignation” and “quiet quitting,” America’s workforce is grappling with a new era: “loud layoffs” – shocking reduction in force announcements (RIFs) that are taking employees by surprise and dominating media headlines. Top global companies – including Twitter, PepsiCo, Buzzfeed, Morgan Stanley, Salesforce, and Amazon, just to name a few – have recently made headlines for mass layoffs. While coverage of these layoffs has focused on job market ramifications and signs of economic recession, a more worrying trend for communication professionals is the lack of importance orga ..read more

A new year brings new challenges and new opportunities for businesses of all types, and effective, clear internal communication is critical to meeting both with success. Here are my top three tips for ensuring crystal clear internal communications ..read more

As we begin the new year, we wanted to take a moment to look back and see what resonated most in 2022. There’s a wide variety of content here, including posts on how to solve poor communication inside your organization to successfully implementing your next change initiative. There’s also guidance on how to develop an internal communication strategy and plan that gets results, build trust among your employees and teams, a how to guide for developing a 100 Day Plan, and more. Read on to see what popular posts you might have missed this year. Our 10 Most Read Blogs in 2022 ..read more

“How do I be a better leader now?” As I sit in discussions with leaders these days, I inevitably get some version of this question. We may be meeting about communication, discussing how to navigate change, or working to define a new strategy, and inevitably the conversation evolves to this critical point. Leaders want to know how to lead such that employees feel compelled to follow. They want to know the secrets behind motivating employees – through all forms of communication and action – to be “all in.” In my decades of advising leaders at top companies, the answer comes down to one core co ..read more

Giving feedback can be one of the most difficult things to do as a leader, which is why so many leaders avoid it. Some leaders may hesitate to avoid hurting any feelings. Others are nervous about how the employee will take the feedback. Still, others wonder whether the outcome sought is achievable in the first place. All speak to the need to master how to effectively give feedback to achieve the behavior change you seek. We've shared a helpful framework in the past with you – The Four Fs of Feedback – which helps you be planful and purposeful, and increase your chances of success ten-fold ..read more

If you’re like me, you’re probably planning your Thanksgiving menu (if you’re hosting) or planning a dish to pass if you’re visiting friends and family. So, I thought I’d make it a little easier for you by sharing my all-time favorite Thanksgiving recipe: Grandma Elsie’s Famous Pumpkin Chiffon Pie and a few other favorites. If you’re not familiar with the backstory, you can read it here.  In the meantime, here’s the recipe for the best pumpkin pie you’ll ever taste (often dubbed better than Oprah’s): Ingredients ..read more

A senior executive I work with recently said, “I’m tired of sharing these same messages and stories.” My response: “YES! That’s what we want, because it says you’re being consistent with your messages across audiences.” It’s crucial to look at your communications as a process of repetition. Leaders who haven’t realized the benefits of effective communication tend to think of it as a check-off-the-box activity. For example, they’ll think, “I sent an email. Therefore, I communicated.” By doing so, they confuse getting the message out with actually creating shared meaning and understanding. New ..read more