IoIC Festival takeaways | Definition

Internal communication is not just about internal communication anymore. In just the past few years we (and other IC pros) have had to become experts in human wellbeing, identity and psychological needs. Our job has become about tackling organisational shifts and getting to grips with life-impacting tech changes.

So, when we attended the last month, we wasted no time getting stuck into topics like:

health and wellbeing
learning and development
DEI
recruitment and onboarding
vision and values
AI
belonging
neurodivergence
neuroscience

With nearly 50 sessions to pick from (including one I did with Andy Holt, MD of Employee Engagement & Experience), everyone got to pick and mix their own agenda.

Here are some of my key takeaways:

Gen Z plays by different rules

Boomer and Gen X leaders are finding it tough to get through to Gen Z. That’s because their terms of reference, use of language, attitudes and behavioural expectations are different.

Take phone calls. Keynote speaker Dr Paul Redmond says 71% of Boomers and Gen X are adamant that phone calls are an important way to stay in touch, but 32% of Gen Z barely make phone calls (and 20% find getting a call “weird”).

Dr Paul says leaders need support to bridge that generational gap. From a behavioural perspective, they need coaching to:

learn to show humility
give validation to others
stay curious about new ideas
keep an open mind.

Stop the survey spam. Start asking for real advice.

If you send out an employee survey and nothing changes, don’t be surprised if your employees think you’re not really listening.

Here’s a better approach: instead of asking for feedback, ask colleagues for advice. Get them involved in shaping solutions and making decisions. That way, they know you’re taking them seriously.

Employees want honesty and activism

The IoIC’s new IC Index by Ipsos Karian and Box is packed full of useful insights. Like these:

68% of employees asked to return to the office full time believe their employer isn’t being straight with them.
employee activism is alive and well. 62% say they want their employer to take a stance on key societal issues.

In other words, people want honesty, and they want their employer to stand by its principals. Adopting a position on a controversial issue does run the risk of alienating some employees, but at the same time it’s an opportunity to play true to your values and demonstrate what you represent as an organisation.

Create an oasis of calm

Let’s face it, the world’s a bit stressful right now. But according to Edelman research, people trust their employers more than governments, NGOs and the media. They also put a lot of trust in leaders themselves (80% according to the IC Index).

In all this chaos, people are looking to their employers for some calm, so leaders need to look out for the wellbeing of their teams. By showing genuine care and acknowledging the challenges that employees face, leaders will not only earn more trust, but will start to fashion a culture that is better at attracting and retaining people.

Turn verbs to nouns

Make your written comms stronger by turning verbs into nouns. For example, ‘winning’ is good, but being a ‘winner’ is better.

It’s a simple switch, but it can supercharge your words. Suddenly, what was just an action becomes a defining quality.

AI is here, and IC teams should be shaping it

Unfortunately, only a minority of businesses are putting taskforces in place to sustainably introduce genAI according to research by IoIC and Gallagher.

Good comms is key to getting AI at work right. Your internal comms team shouldn’t just be telling people about it, they should be helping to shape the company’s AI strategy and approach. They know your employees and what’s important to them.

(we can help with integrating AI into your business)

Even small changes can have a big impact

We also caught a great talk from IC consultant Rachel Miller and Adele McIntosh at ARM on engaging and empowering the organisation’s neurodiverse workforce.

ARM makes key internal comms in short, long and visual versions. That way, they cater for everyone’s needs across their business – making sure no one gets left behind.

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