EE Voice

In this era of hyper-alertness about everything from data security to natural disasters, it’s no longer a question of whether you need to develop a crisis communication plan. It’s how to develop one that works. As an employee communication professional, you’re key to this process. So are employees, as is – no surprise here – social media. The latest episode of EE Voice, Sharon Phillips explores th...

Change is a given in our global corporate marketplace. As internal communications leaders, it’s our job to keep employees informed and engaged amid a constant state of organizational change. But how do you do that when you’re up against outdated internal infrastructure and a loud, ticking deadline? In the latest episode of our EE Voice podcast, Sharon Phillips and I spoke with Jim Smith, VP of Int...

Here’s a new topic that Sharon Phillips and I have been exploring: employee activists. In this podcast, we defined employee activists as those who vigorously advocate for their companies and leadership to support or oppose a cause or issue. After learning that Google’s employees sent a petition to their CEO, I recently wrote a blog...  Continue Reading → The post Episode #26...

It’s spring, and the Sharons are finally on the same continent. Fresh from a month in Southeast Asia, my co-host Sharon Phillips was struck by the warmth and grace of the people she met in Thailand and Cambodia. Their ability to slow down and thoughtfully engage her in a conversation was a refreshing change of pace. It’s also a good reminder of how often we Americans fall into the trap of “seat-of...

Talk about pressure. Our guest this month, Jeff Herrington , has written two murder mystery books , conducted countless writing workshops and served as a consultant for 20+ years to companies worldwide. Plus, he’s a good friend. So I wanted to get this podcast right. Fortunately, Jeff and I had a great conversation about upcoming trends that communicators should either watch – or watch out for – i...

Our listener and friend Laura Field had a terrific suggestion: Pull our top guest tips into one podcast. So here it is. It was tough choosing since Sharon and I had so many edifying interviews over our past 22 episodes. But looking back, these were our favorites. Just some of the tips we discuss: Continue Reading → The post Episode #23: The best of EE Voice: Looking back (and ahead) on our t...

Ethan McCarty can freak you out, particularly if you’re an internal communications professional. For example, he recently wrote a blog entitled, “ Don’t Measure Internal Communications .” Wait … what? And when I heard him speak at a Poppulo conference last summer, I knew he’d be a terrific EE Voice guest. Because he’s doing some unexpected – and successful – work in his job as Global Head of Emplo...

If y ou work in employee communications, chances are you’re experiencing and communicating change in your organization. Want a master playbook on change management – in less than 30 minutes of your time? Well, here it is. This month, we are delighted to welcome Mark Dollins , our former boss and now head of Executive and Global Employee Communications for DuPont , where among other duties he is ta...

Hard to believe, but we made it to podcast #20! (Sharon and I want to thank all of our listeners for sticking with us this far.) In this episode, we talk to David Cronin , chief technology officer of DevFacto , about how we can better measure our digital communications. Continue Reading → The post Episode #20: Taking the Mystery Out of Digital Measurement appeared first on FIR Podcast Networ...

This month, we handed the podcast reins over to Selbe Dittman, And Then Communications summer intern. Selbe talks to Professor  Holly Hill  about internal social media and aspects within it. Holly is the director of Web and New Media Services as well as an adjunct professor in communications for Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. Continue Reading → The post Episode #19: How Flagler Colle...

Lessons we can learn from United, J&J, Steve Harvey (and others) Andy Gilman has had a busy spring. He has been a frequently-quoted source by journalists covering the recent crises, including United , Uber , the Oscars and American Airlines , and most recently, Steve Harvey ’s internal note to employees, among others. As president, CEO and founder of CommCore , Andy and his team have helped se...

“Mark my words,” Shel Holtz said in a 2016 blog , “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.” When we read that, Sharon and I knew we wanted to know more about chatbots – and how they will affect employe e communications. Soon after, we m...

Nearly every  organization is currently undergoing some type of transformation. But are internal communicators changing as well? In this episode, we discuss the evolving role of internal communicators – and what training and focus areas they should be developing today to serve the company of tomorrow. We also hear from three experts in the field: Shel Holtz, principal of Holtz Communication + Tech...

In our 15 th podcast, we were delighted to welcome Victoria Lewis-Stephens and Alys O’Neill of Instinctif Partners, an international business communications consultancy that specializes in reputation, influence and engagement.  The topic: How to lead change from inside the organization by identifying your employee influencers. Continue Reading → The post Episode #15: How employees can lead c...

Welcome to our first podcast for 2017. In this episode, we welcome back Tamara Snyder , leader of Edelman’s Chicago Employee Engagement team , to chat with us about mergers and acquisitions (M&A), an area that has seen increased activity over the last year . She also shares a few findings from the recent Edelman Trust Barometer , which was just issued in January. Continue Reading → The p...

Welcome to our special holiday episode, where Sharon and I offer five fast tips to improve your CEO’s end-of-year letter for 2016. We reference a blog I wrote on this topic a couple of years ago, but many of the same recommendations still apply. Continue Reading → The post Episode #13: Five tips to improve your end-of-year CEO letter appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

Welcome to episode 12, where we discuss how to engage your millennial workforce. Sharon and I interview  Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky , a millennial workplace expert, internationally renowned keynote speaker, and bestselling author of  The Quarter-Life Breakthrough: Invent Your Own Path, Find Meaningful Work, and Build a Life That Matters . Continue Reading → The post Episode #12: How are you eng...

Welcome to epi sode 11, where we are delighted to interview Stephanie Bickel from Speak by Design , a team of executive coaches and trainers who are committed to helping clients elevate their impact and increase their influence through better communication skills. Continue Reading → The post Episode #11: Is it time for you to speak up? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

Whether you love them or hate them, for most internal communicators employee town halls are an expected part of the job. In this month's podcast, we share our town hall war stories (the good and th e bad) and what energizes us most as we prepare for these leader-employee dialogues. We suggest practical tips that will assist in preparing and planning for your town hall, executing day of, and follow...

Have you considered starting your own communications business? If so, we invite you to take a listen to this month's podcast, where we share our personal experiences and provide tips on how to make your own journey an energizing and successful venture. Continue Reading → The post Episode #9: Are you ready to hang out your communications shingle? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

Welcome to episode eight, where we welcome our friend and colleague Kim Grieser for a great discussion on change management. Since retiring from PepsiCo in 2014, Kim launched her consultancy, Grieser Communications, working with a variety of clients in the consumer products, pharmaceutical and hospitality industries. Continue Reading → The post Episode #8: Change is in the air…and how...

Welcome to episode 7, where we enjoy a great conversation with Tamara Snyder about an inside peek at the soon-to-be-released analysis of the employee specific data of the 16th annual Edelman Trust Barometer. Long known for revealing that the average employee ranks higher than the CEO as trusted company spokesperson, the Trust Barometer has been a wealth of insights for communicators. And for the f...

Welcome to episode six, where we discuss one of our favorite internal communications topics: employee ambassadors. Continue Reading → The post Episode #6: Is it time to start an employee advocacy program at your company? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

Welcome to episode 5, where we are honored to welcome Measurement Maven Katie Paine. If one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2016 is to strengthen your measurement focus, today’s show is made just for you! With nearly three decades of communications measurement experience under her belt, it’s fair to say that Katie Paine lives and breathes measurement. She has founded two measurement companies -...

Welcome to episode #4 of EE Voice, where we interview Christine Lai , chief of staff for Delivering Happiness – and a self-described “collaboration catalyst and life enthusiast.” Christine and I discuss: De livering Happiness’ birth from the book written by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, and how this start-up has evolved How Christine and the team define culture – and the role internal comms should play H...