How can internal communication professionals ensure they are agile and able to adapt to change to be tomorrow’s business partner today?
This question has been posed by the Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC) who plan to answer it through the annual gathering of comms pros at its annual conference #ioiclive15.
IoIC states: “The need for skilled, learned and agile IC professionals is growing as the IC function takes on more responsibility for driving and facilitating communication – as well as delivering it.”
IoIC Live 2015 is taking place at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, UK, starting with an evening session on Thursday 30 April followed by a full-day session of debate, discussion, case studies and presentations on Friday 1 May.
I’m not able to attend this year’s conference, but if you want to know what it’s like, see the article I wrote after going to the 2014 event.
Friday’s sessions include:
- ‘Mind the gap: Understanding and influencing different generations’ with Dean Van Leeuwen of TomorrowToday
- ‘Smarter collaboration through social media’ with Will Foy of Sovereign Housing Association
- ‘The IC professional as coach’ with Sheila Hirst of Omilia Hirst
- ‘Don’t just write stories – design and play them!’ with Ezri Carlebach
- ‘Becoming a trusted advisor’ with Saskia Jones of Oxfam GB
- ‘Creating an agile intranet’ with Anne-Marie Imafidon of Deutsche Bank
- ‘Making social collaboration work’ with Angela Ashenden of Collaboration
- ‘Bring health & safety to life via a cartoon superhero’ with Greg Stewart of Tesco
“As internal communicators take on more responsibility for driving and facilitating communication, the need for skilled, experienced and agile IC professionals grows,” says IoIC president Suzanne Peck (pictured).
“We need to fully understand how to get the best out of collaboration, how mobile adds value, how to coach line managers and colleagues to be better communicators and the impact the digital workplace is having on our role.
“So, how prepared are you?”
This year’s IoIC Live will focus on the strategies, tools and tips that will help communicators step up to today’s challenges.
“This year is for investing in your own and your team’s skills and to understand what it takes to be an effective business partner, adding value to your organisations,” adds Suzanne.
All you need to know
The cost for the whole conference including all sessions, breakouts, meals and one night’s accommodation at the Grand Hotel is £550+VAT for IoIC members (£650+VAT for non-members).
See the IoIC website for more info, find them on Twitter @ioicnews and download the IoIC Live 2015 programme.
What else is on?
Want to know what other events are on for internal comms professionals to attend? Dates in my diary include the ESN Anon unconference on 21 March and IABC’s (International Association of Business Communicators) EuroComm in April.
See my comms calendar for a complete round-up of what courses, conference and awards are taking place. I’m going to be running a one-day course for IoIC on social media on 17 November in London.
Plus find out how you can save money off PR Week’s PR360 event, simply by being a reader of All Things IC.
Post author: Rachel Miller
First published on All Things IC blog 14 March 2015.
