It is essential that leaders can (even momentarily) disconnect from the constant demands of productivity and immerse themselves in the experience of human connection. It's during these moments that they realize the key role relationships play in raising engagement levels. Once leaders prioritize connection, there are infinite tactical options, most of which stem from a solid internal communications strategy.
Corporate social responsibility helps build trust, raise awareness, and encourage social change. Although there are tens of thousands of companies doing their part, large global corporations’ efforts have far-reaching results that can impact major world issues from hunger and health to global warming. Here are examples of how some major brands are doing CSR successfully.
The rise of remote work has drastically changed the relationship between companies and their employees. Nearly 60% of employees who can work from home would prefer a hybrid work schedule going forward. At the same time, roughly 60% said they want more structure from their employers when it comes to deciding hybrid work schedules. Less clear for employers, though, is how frequently employees might come into the office. Check out what these business leaders and experts think about the future of hybrid work:
In the early stages of any crisis, it can be difficult to know what actions to take. And in the face of a human tragedy on the scale of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, you may be tempted to act now and think later. Alternatively, you may wonder what marketing could or should do at such a time, especially if your sector or industry is not immediately impacted by the crisis. Although marketing is sometimes seen as secondary in managing and mitigating enterprise risk, marketers are accountable for their brands and serve as the de facto voice of the customer. Consequently, it’s important that you ensure you have a seat at the decision-making table. Once you get there, take these five essential steps.
While organizations are just beginning to regain some stability, many of tomorrow's challenges are already knocking at the door, and they need to be prepared to meet them. The expectations of all stakeholders have evolved, and some of these imperatives are here to stay. Here are the trends our corporate and financial communications experts see for 2022…
The pandemic has dramatically increased the speed at which digital is fundamentally changing business. McKinsey’s latest survey confirms that the future will belong to companies that put technology at the center of their outlook, capabilities, and leadership mandate. Check out this comprehensive report to ensure your business is leading with the right focus moving forward.
If you want an open company culture, start this one habit - participate in the corporate Blog. When people read personal blogs from their co-workers, it helps to build positive relationships, increases productivity and saves time as knowledge is shared effectively and easily. An internal blog sends a clear message that an organization actually wants to hear from all of its workers. When people at an organization actually start blogging, a culture can begin to develop where people feel comfortable offering their perspectives or giving feedback. Personal blogging, in particular, gives workers a space to express themselves. It can let them know that it’s okay to bring their passions, their interests and their sense of humor to work!
2021 will be an opportunity for businesses to consolidate, and to make sure they learn lessons from the challenges brought by the pandemic - by reevaluating and rethinking their values, their objectives and their operations. Here are the trends that our corporate and crisis communications experts see for 2021…
Research shows that new ventures that reinvent their businesses—even multiple times—cut their chances of failure by conserving resources while continuing to learn more about customers, business partners, and new technologies. But pivots can incur a penalty if they’re not correctly managed. The companies that are likely to endure will be those that nimbly adapt—and can effectively get stakeholders on board with change. Learn about a sequence of stratagems critical to establishing and maintaining stakeholder support during major reboots.
Leaders must tap into a different skill set to effectively deliver their messages and be engaging in a remote environment. Virtual venues require you to transition from reading nonverbal cues in the moment to getting curious about your participants before, during, and after presentations to ensure your message lands. Here are six ways to deliver well-received presentations when you and your audience are bound by the limitations of virtual communication.
The pandemic has hastened a rise in remote working for knowledge-based organizations. This has notable benefits: Companies can save on real estate costs, hire and utilize talent globally, mitigate immigration issues, and experience productivity gains, while workers can enjoy geographic flexibility. At the same time, concerns include how to communicate across time zones, share knowledge that isn’t yet codified, socialize virtually and prevent professional isolation, protect client data, and avoid slacking. Research into work-from-anywhere (WFA) organizations and groups that include the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Tata Consultancy Services, and GitLab (the world’s largest all-remote company) highlights best practices and can help leaders decide whether remote work is right for their organizations.
Many employees are now doing the work of three or more people. They’re doing their own jobs, their childcare worker’s jobs, and their children’s teacher’s jobs… and a key divide seems to be between parents and non-parents. “I’ve noticed that there is a huge split among my trial lawyer colleagues. Those without children are, for the most part, getting a lot done. Those of us with kids at home are litigating as if sinking in quicksand,” said Gordon Kaupp, a lawyer in San Francisco. Companies need to get analytical about the optimal role of remote work going forward. Lots of research shows that telecommuting typically makes workers more productive….but not without the right structure.
Building a culture of equality is not just an ethical imperative, it is a business priority. Ask yourself… are you ready to build a culture of equality where people can thrive and create? As a starting point, you should have an inclusion and diversity (I&D) strategy in place - one that is aligned with your overall business plan. Let TKO help you build one that resonates and promotes a progressive corporate culture. Also, check out this comprehensive Accenture report, filled with incredible graphs and visuals to support this important initiative.
Is work today permanently different from what it was before Covid-19 and the work-from-home shift? We don’t know yet, but the data can give us ongoing, real-time information that we can use to influence what happens next. Microsoft believes that what we learn about these changes will be key to organizational resiliency in the months and years to come.
