The Future of Internal Communication

S8, E2: Sustainability is an inside job with Illana Adamson

Illana Adamson is a leading sustainability consultant and educator, working with business and non-profits to introduce science-based sustainability initiatives, actions and behaviours into their organisations. She moves beyond the greenwashing to surface action that actually counts.

In this episode, Illana provides us with a progressive definition of what sustainability is and why it’s a business issue. She also shares why she believes the role of internal communication is integral to long-term organisational sustainability.

Tune in to hear from one of the UK’s leading voices in sustainability to learn about the opportunity for internal communication.

S8, E1: Nurturing bloom in work and life with Dan Pontefract

Dan Pontefract is a renowned leadership strategist, author, and keynote speaker. With more than two decades of experience in senior roles in the technology industry, he speaks and writes on the topic of people at work and how to create more inclusive, engaging workplaces.

 

His latest book – Work-life Bloom – explores the key elements that humans need to flourish at work. Most poignantly, he explores the optimal mix of work-life factors needed to create fulfilling lives and careers.

 

In this episode, Cat, Jen and Dom invite Dan to share what inspired him to write the book and to unpick the requirement to maintain healthy boundaries between work and the rest of life. How we work has been reshaped by the pandemic; Dan shares his thoughts for the role internal communication has in helping maintain thriving teams.

BONUS EPISODE – Exploring the IC Index with Susanna Holten

What if there were data to prove the business case for internal communication? What if we could see in fine detail the impact of internal communication on employee experience and engagement?

Well, now there is and now we can. In July 2023, the IoIC launched brand new research in partnership with Employee Research and Experience Agency, Karian and Box. The IC Index is the first of its kind analysis of the value internal communication provides to employees across the UK. If you haven’t already done so, you can download your copy here.

In this bonus episode, Jen, Dom and Cat welcome Susanna Holten, Senior Consultant with Ipsos Karian and Box to discuss the report’s findings and explore what this means for the future of internal communication. They unpick the highlights and showcase opportunities for internal communication professionals to add even more value to their organisations.

S7, E6: The evolution of internal communication with Katie Macaulay

Many of you will recognise this episode’s guest, Katie Macaulay. She’s the Managing Director of award-winning Internal Communication agency AB Communications and host of the The Internal Comms Podcast.

Katie chats with Jen, Dom and Cat to explain what she’s uncovered through her work with The Acid Test Audit, a tool that uncovers discrepancies in communication and flaws in strategic alignment.

With an expert view, she shares her views on the current challenges faced by Internal Communicators and the opportunities she believes lie ahead. 

S7, E5: The transformation opportunity for internal communicators with Kevin Green

When Jen Sproul met Kevin Green at a conference in late 2022, they immediately hit it off. With a long-standing career in HR, staffing and employment, Kevin has an expert view on how to accelerate inclusion, engagement and performance at work.

Today, Kevin is Chief People Officer of First Bus, one of the UK’s largest bus operators, with some 14,000 staff. As labour markets continue to perplex leaders across the board, it’s increasingly obvious that organisations must rethink the role people play in business sustainability and resilience.

Kevin is leading the way in this area. First Bus has initiated a transformational people strategy to place colleagues and customers at the heart of its commercial goals. In this episode, Jen, Cat, Dom and Kevin discuss the opportunities for internal communicators as we move into the future of work.

S7, E4: The crucial role of communication in leadership with Jon Rennie

Spending months underwater will inevitably teach you a huge amount about the role of communication in effective teamwork. And this is what this episode’s guest learned during his military career serving as a US Navy Nuclear Submarine Officer.

Ever since, Jon Rennie has been fascinated by leadership communication. With various civilian leadership roles under his belt, today, in addition to his day-job as CEO of Peak Demand Inc, Jon enthusiastically writes, podcasts and keynotes about leadership and leadership communication.

We were keen to hear his ideas and hope you’ll agree this conversation is one of our most thought-provoking episodes yet.

S7, E3: Can marketing change the planet, with Michelle Carvill and Gemma Butler

To mark World Environment Day, it’s a special treat to hear from co-authors of the best-selling book Sustainable Marketing, Michelle Carvill and Gemma Butler.

Since their book was published in early 2021, Michelle and Gemma have gone on to host the ‘Can Marketing Save the Planet’ podcast series. This has led to many fascinating conversations across the marketing domain.

When organisations have such a primary role to play in the race to net-zero, we were keen to hear Michelle and Gemma’s views on the evolution of responsible business and the opportunities for both marketing and internal communication as we push towards a carbon-neutral economy.

S7, E2: Internal Communication priorities with Bill Quirke

Bill Quirke was our very first guest, when we launched this podcast back in 2021. As author of the celebrated book, ‘Making the Connections: Using Internal Communication to Turn Strategy Into Action’, he’s an influential figure within the IC field.

Given all that’s unfolded in the past two years, we wanted to catch up with Bill to hear his latest reflections on the risks and opportunities for the internal communication profession. With so much change and adaptation required by organisations today, what might internal communication look like five years from now?

Tune in to hear from our profession’s most seasoned expert. 

BONUS EPISODE – Internal Communication and Mental Health at Work with Georgie Mack

In 2017, Georgie Mack co-founded the mental health charity Minds @ Work. Her goal was to normalise long-overdue conversations around mental health in the workplace. She also wanted employers to examine how their workplaces were contributing to anxiety, stress and mental ill-health.

We’ve come a long way since then. Today workforce health and wellbeing are priority agenda items for any discerning internal communication and engagement team.

But a primary societal fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic is a marked rise in anxiety and low mood.

In this special episode, recorded to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Georgie about what more employers should be doing to address mental health issues at work. And of course, the opportunity for internal communicators to add even more value in this vital area.

S7, E1: The changing nature of employment with Neil Carberry

The 2023 UK labour market continues to perplex policy makers and frustrate employers. A perfect storm of a shrinking workforce and chronic skills shortages mean it’s harder than ever to recruit, and more crucially, retain, the staff needed to maintain organisational stability.

To better understand the trends and undercurrents, we were delighted to welcome the CEO of the UK’s Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), Neil Carberry.

Tune in to hear Neil’s thoughts about the current state of employment in the UK and the role internal communication has to play in improving hiring outcomes across the board.