How can you ensure your organisation’s internal communication demonstrates results? That was the topic addressed by #CommsConf in London back in June this year.
This is the third article in my All Things IC Countdown to Christmas series. It’s your chance to catch up with guest posts you may have missed throughout the year.
One of the speakers, Kes Johnston, @KesJohnston, has written a guest post for the All Things IC blog to share what we missed. Plus discover her top three takeaways from the event.
Kes (pictured) is Transformation Communication Specialist at O2. She was one of 32 speakers on the day. Over to you Kes…
Thoughts on #Commsconf
Joining Sarah Mullins, @SarahMRealIC at the lectern for the last slot of the day, it struck me what real enthusiasm and passion there was in the room from all the comms pros.
The day was packed with an even packeder agenda – I am breaking the rules here making words up, but it was impressive.
(You can see some of the Tweets from Kes and Sarah’s session below – Rachel).
Are comms resonsible for the success of line managers asks @SarahMRealIC @O2 #commsconf #internalcomms pic.twitter.com/dPgcOL536J
— Synergy Creative (@synergycreative) June 28, 2016
The purpose of great change communication is to keep the business performing @SarahMRealIC O2 #commsconf
— HarknessKennett (@HarknessKennett) June 28, 2016
Don’t spoon feed managers. Be too slick & you’ll be a victim of your own success. Sarah Mullins @O2 #internalcomms #commsconf @commsconf
— Carolina Georgatou (@carolinaki) June 28, 2016
Go @KesJohnston & @SarahMRealIC #commsconf pic.twitter.com/X2KXj5wxEt
— Owen Vittanuova (@owen_paradigm) June 28, 2016
You can’t assume anything about your audience @SarahMRealIC O2 #commsconf
— HarknessKennett (@HarknessKennett) June 28, 2016
So we know who the hardcore people are now. Stay till closing time people – I bet they get great value from their IC budgets! Either way, you made my day.
What did I think of the conference?
It was well run, still a bit paper-based, and needs to tighten the timings. But there was lots of great content and some a bit meh, but then it’s really personal. Well worth the ticket.
Great sponsors too. No hard sell just ideas which was refreshing.
It’s always nice to swap IM and email far actual faces and catch up with partners and old friends @harknesskennett @owen_paradigm @brandconversation @iainlumsden
Here’s my top three things I took away from the day:
1. I loved @suepacomms and @CazzaG1981 from National Trust. Why? 60K+ volunteers. No wifi or 4G on rural farms (@o2 would like to help with that!).
Historical buildings and acres of countryside and did they say oh dear. No they said ‘our people have so much passion, this is an opportunity’. Loved them a lot.
Great to learn the #national trust via #CommsConf reaching remote areas with no WiFi with a creative personalised int comms
— Hywel David (@Haroldonthejob) June 28, 2016
#commsconf love how @nationaltrust saw challenge as opportunity. My favourite is triumph from adversity 🍀🍂🍃 pic.twitter.com/q0cnI4giDL
— Sarah Mullins (@SarahMRealIC) June 28, 2016
Creating a shared vision visual by using employee drawings – innovation when budget is tight @ National Trust #commsconf
— HarknessKennett (@HarknessKennett) June 28, 2016
Absolutely love this drawing – an amalgamation of employee’s drawings!! #CommsConf pic.twitter.com/AEsx3VfIlw
— Kayley Marchant (@kayleymarchant) June 28, 2016
2. Jo Bleasdale from BT resonated for me because she was clear, concise and practical. Sometimes for me conference presentations can get a bit Game of Thrones instead of Game of Life (wee bit fantastical) so some hard-core advice and experience really works for me.
‘It has to be leaders that own their own engagement’ -wise words from BT’s Jo Bleasdale @CommsConf
— Comms Conf (@CommsConf) June 28, 2016
(Thank you Catherine Finn @finncath30 for your Tweet today – Rachel):
Keep on learning! Great advice from @bt_uk ‘s Jo Bleasdale #commsconf great to see @AllthingsIC mentioned pic.twitter.com/lgYdtQScCs
— Catherine Finn (@finncath30) June 28, 2016
3. Camilla Rigby from OVO Energy braved a panel and up front even though she was losing her voice.
Okay, I will be honest her summer party video is something we do in-house and wasn’t too special for me. Her awards video had lots of special because of the scripting.
Yes The X Factor voice is funny, but the real gem was the way the OVO people were featured. Loved it. Copying it one day. Plus her enthusiasm and passion.
Getting X-Factor voiceover guy on your staff awards vid: genius and “not as expensive as you might think” -Camilla Rigby of OVO #commsconf
— Joe Dumont (@JoeDumont) June 28, 2016
Summer party for OVO Energy people to showcase their talents. Also use clips in induction and on social media. Great fun! #commsconf
— Cathy Power (@cathypower2003) June 28, 2016
Fantastically engaging awards video from OVO Energy using the X-Factor voiceover guy #commsconf
— Cathy Power (@cathypower2003) June 28, 2016
Multiple comms tools are ok – use whatever works and “put the front door on it” – Camilla Rigby of OVO at #commsconf
— Joe Dumont (@JoeDumont) June 28, 2016
At the end of the day, oh yes people I just said that, we are all facing similar challenges because people are people.
How they hear a message and how they respond is unique to them, but the ways of reaching them are pretty universal.
It’s always lovely to spend a day with people who not only love their job like me (well okay I didn’t ask everyone, perhaps @mrsihill from wazoku.com could run a post conf survey for me?) but also never stop trying to do it better.
I am new to Twitter so take help me out and follow me @kesJohnston. @commsconf thanks for having me.
Post author: Kes Johnston.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts Kes.
First published on the All Things IC blog 29 June 2016. Republished 3 December 2016.