Face Forward

Summary: Culture in the workplace is often assumed to be human-to-human contact in the office environment, so the concept of culture in a solely remote business, on the surface, seems irrelevant. On this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott discusses the importance of culture within a remote-only business framework with Camilla Boyer, an experienced speaker and Head of Internal Communications and Culture at Hopin. Camilla shares her extensive background in public speaking and communication and reveals that promoting positive culture is not only possible in the remote setting, but also necessary for the success of the company. A key term that she uses throughout this episode is ‘deliberate’ – being more deliberate helps effectively shape a culture within companies, and this starts from the top down. Camilla breaks the barriers of any preconceived notions one might have regarding culture in the virtual realm. Find out the advantages and disadvantages of remote-first business models in relation to culture,

In this episode, Scott talks about why recognition, why it's important and some ways to do it in a way that's authentic and builds price among your people   Key takeaways:   ➡️ Recognition is an important leadership skill that improves employee engagement. ➡️ A simple 'Thank you' is often enough - but let people know why you're thanking them so they know what they've done ➡️ Recognition goes supersonic when you relate it to your values - show your people what living your values looks like day-to-day   #internalcommunications #creatingconnections #culture #leadership #recognition #values #purpose ---------------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth on subjects in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, organisational culture and internal communications.  #buildingbettercultures #BBCShorts #inspiringchange #creatingconnections

Summary: The culture and structure of military service is completely unique, and yet on some levels there are commonalities with commercial organizations of any type. In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott welcomes two front-line officers whose experience shaping the Irish Defence Forces offers lessons applicable within any workplace environment. Vice Admr Mark Mellett, recently retired Chief of Staff, and Sgt Rena Kennedy, Head of Internal Communications, have devoted their careers to fostering excellence in leadership and pride throughout the ranks. Like all complicated institutions, the Irish Defence Forces has its own challenges with internal communications, diversity, accountability and effective leadership. Whether within a commercial enterprise or military line of duty, find out why the concept of Just Culture has an important role to play and how ego can undermine trust, pride and morale among IDF ranks – or among the ranks of enterprises of any other type. Many of the most innovative work

In this episode, Scott talks about why podcasting isn't just an entertainment medium for millions of people around the world.    Organisations - American Airlines, Tata Steel, Deloitte, Permanent TSB and more - are starting to realise that using podcasting internally for staff and harnessing the human voice brings a new level of authenticity, empathy and understanding to communications.   Key takeaways:   ➡️ Organisations large and small are now using podcasting to reach their staff wherever they are. ➡️ The bar to entry is low - it's not expensive and you don't need loads of experience or oodles of equipment ➡️ It's a great way to put your people and their stories at the centre of your internal comms by giving them a hand in creating them in the first place.   #internalcommunications #creatingconnections #culture #leadership #podcasting #ICChannels ---------------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth

Summary: There is a reason that storytelling has been a primal means of communication dating back to our earliest tribal traditions. In this episode of Building Better Cultures, Scott McInnes’s guest, Eoghan Tomás McDermott explains why – and how – people across the spectrum of business, sports and public service arenas can benefit from deploying the power of narrative. All it takes is awareness, guidance and practice! Managing Director of The Communications Clinic, Eoghan works with clients to help them put in place the building blocks for compelling communications, both internal and external. His expertise centers around three core competencies: Strategic communications, PR, crisis communications and story placement Corporate training and coaching Careers and job interview preparation But it is storytelling that's the thread that links all of the above.  Since its founding in 2008, The Communications Clinic has helped people at all levels of leadership identify, locate and articulate the personal, memorab

Summary: The summer of 2020 brought a reckoning on race around the world that few anticipated, but we may have all needed. After the months of Black Lives Matter protests and racial reconciliation, organizations and individuals alike have been left to grapple with what it actually looks like to promote diversity in the workplace. On this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, host Scott McInnes sits down with global DEI thought leader Wema Hoover to talk all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), how the virtual work environment has brought this concept to the forefront in new ways, and how organizations can work to effect lasting change for their leaders and employees. Wema believes the “right” way to approach DEI is different for each individual organization, but that doesn’t negate the fact that DEI is an essential aspect to a successful organization. During her time at some of the world’s biggest companies— including Google, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers-Squibb—Wema saw firsthand what it tak

Our world was flipped upside-down when COVID-19 entered the vernacular in 2020, and virtually everything, including how and where we work, changed. Eighteen months into the pandemic has society adjusting to this “new normal” in ways few could have predicted. One of those adjustments? —working remotely has become much more of the rule than an exception. On this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, host Scott McInnes sits down with bestselling author and CEO Chris Dyer to discuss all things remote work and how it has affected both managers and employees. Chris is the author of The Power of Company Culture and Remote Work. A self-described remote work leader and advocate, Chris is a firm believer in the fact that company culture is built not through in-person chats at the watercooler, but instead by principles like transparency, listening, mistakes, and recognition—all things that can be practiced whether workers are together around a table or meeting via Zoom. Throughout their conversation, Chris an

At this point in the pandemic, none of us are strangers to change. But for Kyoko Minegishi, change has been the one and only constants in a life full of cross-cultural moves, varied leadership positions, and now spearheading a startup with an eye on the convergence of living spaces and robotics. On this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, host Scott McInnes talks with Kyoko, the vice president of marketing for transformable furniture company Ori, about what forms change has taken in her own life, how change affects her teams, and why change is and always will be a driver of progress in company culture. Kyoko began her career in the music industry, right when the traditional model of record companies and labels was making way for the digital age of streaming. She then spent time at Red Bull, helping transform the beverage company into the sports and adventure brand it’s known as today. Recently she landed at Ori, a startup bent on transforming the way we see and live in spaces through tech-driven

In this episode, Scott talks about why connecting your people to your strategy is so important and how an inspiring story can help you capture their hearts and their minds.   Key takeaways:   ➡️ Why strategy is a necessary evil. ➡️ How you can create a story that brings your strategy to life and connects with your people. ➡️ Why leaders are so critical in translating that strategy for teams across your business.   #internalcommunications #creatingconnections #culture #leadership #corporatenarrative #inspiringstories #winningheartsandminds ---------------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth on subjects in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, organisational culture and internal communications.  #buildingbettercultures #BBCShorts #inspiringchange #creatingconnections

On this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes welcomes Jonathan Reed of Paddy and Scott’s coffee. A defining sense of purpose is the seed from which everything else at this disruptive, upstart coffee company grows. Hear Jonathan explain why he believes success starts with an alignment of core values. In the case of Paddy and Scott’s, that means honoring the suppliers of the coffee beans the company serves. Social responsibility and a sense of pride are key to their workplace culture but the strong employee buy-in comes from something more basic: Fun. Jonathan offers insights into how he hires the right people and cultivates their engagement on the job. He also shares managerial tips that resonate up and down the enterprise: from the coffee bean growers in Kenya to the baristas serving customers at their local cafes to the executive ranks driving the overall metrics and corporate mission. In an unlikely origin story, Jonathan recalls the wake-up call that transformed the direction of b

This week Scott talks about onboarding, how it's failing you and your new joiners, and how some communications and engagement thinking can maybe help.  Key to success is creating a more human connection with new joiners as quickly as possible.  Yes, the operational stuff is important, but more important is how you make people FEEL when they join your business.  It could mean the difference between them staying and going! Key Takeaways: ➡️  Purpose and how you help people to feel a connection. ➡️  The power of tone and language. ➡️  Success by being a bit more creative. ---------------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth on subjects in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, organisational culture and internal communications.  #buildingbettercultures #BBCShorts #inspiringchange #creatingconnections

Mark Edgar isn’t a stranger to challenges, he’s built a career teaching organizations how to thrive in spite of it all. As a people-centric, strategic and innovative consultant, facilitator, and coach he has global experience developing and delivering impactful and business focused people strategies. The HR expert and self-proclaimed optimist shares his passion for people and creating better workplaces in this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast with Scott McInnes. The core of Mark’s philosophy of work is trust - something he’s learned from years of experience and researching, looking ahead to an ever-changing work environment. Instead of running away from hybrid work models, he has assessed the setbacks and challenges others to see the opportunity to rethink the status quo and re-define what it means to be a successful company and how we get there. By capitalising on this moment, we have the opportunity to build leaders who are better equipped to support employees in this new world. But how do we

Summary: Friends of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Ireland Together (www.IrelandTogether.ie) ran a series of mini-conferences focused on the next great reset—returning to the workplace. They asked Scott to facilitate a discussion on the Future of Work—what we will do, how we will do it and where we will work from. The panelists today are thought leaders in their own right, and during this discussion, they offer their insights into how work will be shaped by trends going forward. Our featured speakers are: Denise Black, Head of HR at Invest NI; Gillian French, CPO at Cubic Telecom; and Kevin Empey, Founder at WorkMatters. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Key Takeaways: Opinions about where work can be done vary widely. Employers should focus on gaining their employees’ trust before moving into mandated reporting. Establish key contact points for in-person gathering. Companies should look at this as an opportunity to change the culture. Organizations need to include their employees in the conversatio

If it were up to Stuart Lancaster, he’d make emotional intelligence, communication and leadership core subjects starting early on in school. The nationally recognized rugby coach and high-performance leadership expert shares his experience and insights  -- on and off the field -- in this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast. Vision and purpose are the starting point for Stuart, whose online master class distills years of learning gleaned from navigating highly competitive environments. He has observed that the most successful leaders take focused time to know themselves and, with that self-awareness, are able to communicate authentically. That vulnerability, says Stuart, is more than anything else what compels and inspires people to give 110% to whatever team effort. But where do leaders come from? How are they made? Based on his own observations as a coach, Stuart believes age and seniority in no way guarantee the ability to empower and drive teams. Organizations depend on clearly articulated goal

Some thoughts in this episode on the power of linking and labelling. It’s something that we often don’t focus on enough when it comes to internal communications and it's REALLY powerful! Key takeaways: ➡️ What linking and labelling is and why it’s important ➡️ How it can turbocharge engagement around your survey results➡️ How it's critical in showing your team their role in delivering your business strategy  ---------------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth on subjects in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, organisational culture and internal communications.  #buildingbettercultures #BBCShorts #inspiringchange #creatingconnections

Summary: Words matter -- whether the goal is to promote buy-in among staff, save time on internal communications or create a more inclusive workplace culture. In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes invites Charli Nordone, group creative director at The Writer, to take a deep dive into the power of language. It has never been more important to be intentional and disciplined in choosing the right tone of voice, along with words that communicate with precision. Great writing produces positive results across the enterprise – from creating engaging internal HR documents to building a big-budget advertising campaign to producing a coherent annual report that can be digested quickly and easily. Flabby, unfocused or cliched language can have just the opposite effect. A decade ago, Charli had difficulty persuading clients to consider using the word “use” rather than “utilise.” Few people understood the value of word choice and the power of clarity. Not so anymore. She explains why leade

This week a couple of thoughts on the idea that 'Awareness Precedes Action' - that if we don't take the time to realise that we can change the way we do things, nothing will ever change. 3 key takeaways: ➡️ Why it's important to take time to reflect. ➡️ Using your company values as a lens for decisions ➡️ Cultivating a culture of honest and open feedback ---------------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth on subjects in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, organisational culture and internal communications.  #buildingbettercultures #BBCShorts #inspiringchange #creatingconnections

Summary: In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott welcomes Gihan Hyde, CEO and founder of Communique, a London-based social enterprise start-up specializing in communication strategies in ESG and sustainability. According to Gihan, Communique is an “ESG social enterprise communications start-up.” Her company is unique in that it recruits its associates from underdeveloped countries and underrepresented communities. The mission of Communique is to help companies start their ESG journey, place them with the right experts who can help them implement the strategies, and then communicate those strategies effectively to all their stakeholders. Gihan defines sustainability and ESG, explains the role that internal communicators play in ESG, and proposes specific strategies for broadcasting sustainability initiatives. She and Scott discuss what it means to create champions and the importance of personal relationships. Gihan also shares several examples of employees whose stories she had the priv

Lived values are the foundation of a successful culture.  In this episode, we take a look at :   * Why they're important? * How you create a set of values that people can buy into?  * 5 ways you can bring them to life for your people?    Please like and share this if you found it useful or interesting (or both!) ------------------------------------- 'Shorts by Building Better Cultures' is a short-form podcast in which we share our tuppenceworth on subjects in the areas of leadership, employee engagement, organisational culture and internal communications.  #buildingbettercultures #BBCShorts #inspiringchange #creatingconnections

In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott welcomes Pritesh Shah, Chief Commercial Officer at the oncology company Novocure. When it comes to the bio-science space, Novocure leads the way with an emphasis on empathy – not just for patients confronting cancer but also for employees tasked with driving breakthrough science. Pritesh explains how Novocure’s workplace emphasis on employee engagement and strong internal connection are critical components to its workplace ethic and overall corporate vision.   With its patient-forward focus, Novocure offers a new treatment modality featuring Tumor Treating Fields, a proprietary therapy that disrupts cell division in cancer tumors. In addition to empathy, purpose and vision are two other key pillars within the company’s business model. Pritesh shares with Scott the ways in which healthy and vital workplace communication enables employees to be most effective in serving patients confronting life-altering health challenges.   For a workplace environm