Posts in Communication
Support for Sudden Onset Remote Work (and beyond)
Support for Sudden Onset Remote Work (and beyond)

Here’s our advice and synthesis from experts about what’s working in the brave new world of #remote work.

First: What’s always been true is still true, just more so.

We’re all different yet the same.

We’re all human. We’re social animals. We seek safety, recognition, and meaning. We want to be helpful.

And we come in many flavors, we humans. Introvert, extrovert, all sorts of personality styles (Some styles are readily suited to more solitary work settings and some need to work at working at a distance. Here’s a take on introvert/extrovert/ambivert remote work types.

It’s nearly impossible to over-communicate.

Once is never enough, but it’s especially true in dynamically changing and unfamiliar times.

It’s all about clear expectations, transparency and trust.

And now all three are being put to the test, requiring more and different effort on the part of leaders, managers and every worker. Here’s a look at how trust builds differently in virtual teams.

Read More
Culture, Leadership, CommunicationJanet SwayslandCOVID-19, Remote workComment
It's Spring. Time for some "life-changing magic of tidying up" Communications.
It's Spring. Time for some "life-changing magic of tidying up" Communications.

Here in Boston it doesn’t feel like it, but it is officially spring. New Englanders start to emerge from their wintry cocoons, and dare to imagine flowers and flipflops again.

And everyone from Martha Stewart to the Container Store to Marie Kondo impress upon us that it’s time for spring cleaning – getting rid of stuff we don’t need it, lightening our material loads a bit, and generally making room for fresh air and new energy. Same sensibility happens at work. Here’s the advice I shared in a webinar for the Boston IABC professional communicators network on “Breaking through Employee Communications Clutter and Overload.”

Read More
Tools & Tech, Engagement, Communication, Webinars, StrategyJanet SwayslandIABCComment
Four Enablers of Employee Engagement (H/T Glassdoor)
Four Enablers of Employee Engagement (H/T Glassdoor)

The truth hurts. And it’s really inconvenient, especially when employees have so much to say. And so much they want to hear from leaders. Here’s the convenient part: it’s really clear what it takes to truly engage employees. Today’s Glassdoor webinar, “Four Enablers of Employee Engagement,” provides a good summary for taking action. No blinding “aha’s,” but a pragmatic view of what leaders need to understand and do to gain trust, attract and inspire the best talent. Here are the four and what I think you can do to move from “I get it” to “let’s do something about it.”

Read More
Culture, Leadership, CommunicationJanet Swaysland