Black Belt Dojo

Fancy being a black belt guest blogger?

It has just struck me that about this time last year I was tentatively emailing Darren Crozier, Mark Darby and Timm Suess to say 'um, we thought we might try introducing the idea of a monthly guest blogger on the dojo - what do you think ... and would you be up for it?'

Being the helpful people they are, all three agreed, and in fact Darren has the dubious honour of being our first ever guest blogger, in December last year.

We're always looking for new guest bloggers, so if you're a regular reader and have found yourself thinking 'why don't they talk about x?' or 'wouldn't it be interesting to talk about y?', please mail us and let us know. If you've never blogged before, it's a good opportunity to have a go, too.

I have been very bad at doing my share lately - I'm sorry. I blame it on spending most of my life on an assortment of trains and planes at the minute. I must resolve to spend my journeys writing blogs instead of reading or sleeping ...

Sue

Learning to write (again)

Writing has always been one of my favourite parts of my job. I love the feeling when a note I've ghost-written sounds so much like a senior leader I can hear them speaking when I read it.  Or when I've pulled together a story that makes such common sense, the messages flow together like perfectly-fitting parts of a jigsaw puzzle.

But despite 16 years spent honing my corporate writing skills, for the second time in recent years I feel as if I'm back at primary school because I'm trying something a bit different.

The first time was when I did a feature writing course. Two days. Me and a room full of journalists. I loved it, but I sat practically quaking every time I had to read out yet another standfirst or introductory paragraph that sounded clunky and clumsy next to everyone else's. Afterwards, I wrote a series of one page interviews for a local magazine. I can't tell you how much I agonised over 750 words and what a fraud I felt when I had to call the BBC to get a photograph of one of the sports personalities I was writing about. "Are you a journalist?" asked the nice switchboard lady. "No!" I said instinctively. "Er, I mean yes." ("But not a REAL one", the voice in my head was shouting.)

Now, I'm learning to write again for a different reason. Some of you will know it's my dream to write books. Well, I've finally got my act in order and last week I started seeing a publishing coach. We talked a lot about my ideas, angles, what a publisher might and might not buy, and then she said "And how do you feel about the writing?"

At which point I realised I'm actually quite nervous about it. I've spent so many years writing for other people, I've forgotten what it feels like to write for myself.

So my homework is to write a piece about anything, of any length, just for myself. No brief whatsoever. I am NOT to think about objectives, structures, audiences, etc. I am not to finesse what I've written. Most importantly, I am not to worry about whether it's any good. (Gulp. I'm worrying about how not to worry.) The worst of it is, I don't have to hand it in. So I won't even know if I've done it right. Except there IS no right - that's the point. It's about remembering what it feels like to enjoy the experience of writing just for me.

This probably sounds very easy, but I'm a perfectionist (which is like a dead weight sometimes) and I work by planning, structure, going over and over things until I'm happy with them and asking for feedback at any possible opportunity. So it actually feels quite alien and daunting to me.

Which is a good sign that I'm about to learn something ...

Sue

Beginning with the end in mind

I had a blonde moment yesterday. I'm back in Stockholm to run a workshop and was checking into my apartment. Reception gave me the key card and said I needed to go to another building on the left.

Rather too busy thinking about the enticing shopping mall close by, I headed along the street, saw a card swipy-thing on the wall and set about swiping card. Several times. It didn't work. Finally, nice student-looking-man saw me looking perplexed and used his card to let me in. Went inside, saw lots of student-looking posters on the wall, thought it all looked a bit odd, and suddenly realised I had no idea exactly WHERE on the street my apartment building was. Or what number it was, or even what the apartment company was called.  Conversation ensued as follows:

Me: "Er, am I in the right place?"

Nice student-looking-man: "Erm, I don't know. Where IS the right place?"

Me: "I don't know"

Nice student-looking man: "Well, in that case, I don't know whether you're here. And if you're not, I don't know how to get you there either."

Very embarrassing. Had to go back to reception. But very good story for illustrating the importance of setting communication objectives in my workshop. (Every cloud ...)  If you don't sit down and work out what exactly you're trying to get to through communication, you probably won't get there. And even if, by chance, you do, you won't know whether you have, because you won't know where 'there' is. 

Setting goals is the starting point for any communication plan, or should be. But it's tempting to skip it, and I've seen lots of entries for communication awards fall at the first hurdle because there were no objectives in place.

Just a thought for the day. Always nice when something half decent comes out of one of my blonde moments ...

Overhyped, oversold, over here ...

The first post from our new guest blogger: Paul Massie, Chair of CIPRInside (the internal communications group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.)

Overhyped, oversold, over here ... that's my view of the current social media fad. Welcome to my first blog, and given my views on the social media craze it will probably be my last - I don't suppose Sue or Liam will invite me back again!

Come on, be honest, with people complaining about email overload can you seriously tell me that people have time to read blogs, let alone write them? And as for podcasts - have you heard the rubbish that's out there? It's like wading through treacle trying to find something half decent - is it really worth the effort? The reality is that social media is just another way for the chattering classes to get broader exposure to their views - but who cares? It's not as if their views are representative.

The overwhelming majority of people either do not have a computer or do not know how to use it, a pre-requisite for this type of communication. Social media, far from being socially inclusive, is socially devisive, emphasising the difference between the computer literate and the computer illiterate, the haves and have-nots, the time rich and the time-poor - not to mention those who have something to say and those who don't but want to say it anyway!

Take some traditional channels, sprinkle a bit of technology dust on them, give it a sexy name and hey presto, you've got a marketers dream. I've lost count of the number of so-called gurus, conferences and articles all encouraging us to jump on the bandwagon, and if we don't we're out of touch. Tosh. That's not to say that social media doesn't have its place amongst other channels - but that is all, so let's not hype it all up.

Go on, tell me I'm wrong! If just one person out of you millions of web users out there thinks I'm mistaken, let's hear from you (Sue/Liam, this doesn't include you!). Silence will just prove my point - you either agree with me or you haven't read it, in which case, what's the point?

Talking engagement (if I must)

OK, I admit it, I hate the 'e' word. It's joined 'strategic' and 'culture' as one of those wibbly terms that gets bandied about constantly whilst half the time people don't really know what it means ... but they manage to have an earnest-sounding conversation about it anyway.

I've seen a few debates on the go on various networks debating what 'the word' actually means. For a profession that's supposed to be about making the complex simple and creating understanding, we've done a great job at creating confusion by making a piece of jargon part of every day language.

I'm as guilty as anyone else. The first time I was asked to organise an 'engagement day' I moaned for ages about how people would think it was about wedding planning. These days it's just part of my vocabulary.

Excuse me for sounding cynical, but I've been in comms a long time (I have the scars to prove it) and the debates that go on around engagement are the same debates that have always happened. Except people used to talk about 'employee commitment' or 'involvement' or even 'morale' (ugh. Hated that one too. Yep, it's our job to make everyone happy smiley people. Where shall we have the Christmas party this year?).

But hurrah for 'engagement' - it's been a great excuse for survey producers and conference promoters I've never even heard of (where the heck are they all springing up from?) to persuade people there's something else they need to buy.

Not like me to rant, I know, but Liam's working overseas this week so I'd hate you to feel you were missing out...

Sue

 

Introducing yet another Black Belt blogger

In her relentless hunt for fresh guest bloggers (“Braaaiiins!”), Sue must have considered me a tasty prey, as she just wouldn’t stop stalking inviting me in the last few months. Ah well, my fault for getting her addicted to my own blog when I attended the Black Belt seminar back in January, I guess.

I tried to convince her that I’d really love to help her out, but had no idea what to write about internal comms. Even though I’ve been in the IC business for over 8 years now, I don’t consider myself to be some kind of a communications guru. I don’t have any grand conceptual theories I work by. I generally tend go with my gut feeling in IC matters. So what could I ever tell you about internal comms which you didn’t already know?

But then Sue suggested another approach, and convinced me. So here I am, politely introducing myself. My name is Jeroen, which strangely appears to be an unpronounceable name for most English-speaking people. Just say ‘Yuh-roon’ and you’re close enough. Never mind my last name though, you’ll break a jaw. I work at the Group Communications department of the Belgian-based financial group KBC. But if you’ve kept an eye on this blog, you may already know I also like to dabble in the art of cartooning, and that will be my topic for this month: using cartoons in internal communications. So get your pencils out, I’ll be back next week!

Jeroen

Would you stay in your job if you won the lottery?

My neighbour was joking today that her other half loves his new job so much she couldn't tear him away if they won the lottery.  Conversely it made me think about the survey Lee Smith talked about recently that said almost half all British workers want to move into a more fulfilling second career by age 45.

If all 6 numbers came up on Saturday night, would you turn up at work on Monday?  Do you yearn to be a yoga teacher, a charity worker or an animal welfare person (some of the top more fulfilling careers on people's minds according to the survey Lee quotes)? Or does internal comms do it for you?

Two things have made a difference to me in the past week thanks to people who were passionate about their work. On Thursday I saw Billy Elliott on stage. I loved it - it made me laugh, it made me cry and I came out on a real high. I wondered what it must feel like to have audiences standing on their seats cheering every night and thought about the people you see on Any Dream Will Do that get so emotional because they want the chance to perform so much.

On Sunday I went to church. Usually I'm half focused on stopping my 1 year old godson eating the hymn book or untangling his hands from my hair. But this week I was on my own and what the vicar said hit home and made me think - hard. By the time I walked out I'd realised some things about myself I hadn't thought about before. I found myself thinking what an excellent communicator he was and trying to work out why. I decided it must come from believing so much in what he was saying and wanting so much to make us think.

So am I passionate about internal comms?  Actually, yes - I've done lots of soul-searching this year because I want to really believe in what I do and I don't want to spend time on things I don't honestly care that much about. I've narrowed my focus and I pass some of the things I used to do onto other people. And I've cut down my hours. It's hard to be passionate when you're sleep-deprived and stressed, and I wanted some free time to write a book - something else I feel passionate about.  So comms actually does it for me ... but I've had to make a few changes in focus.

Personally, I don't think you need to find a cure for heart disease or find the solution for world peace to make a difference or feel fulfilled.  I think it's about knowing what really matters to you, wondering whether you're doing those things, and if not, deciding what changes you're prepared to make.

So what do you reckon?  Can you feel 'passionate' and 'fulfilled' in an internal comms job ... or is that pushing it a bit far?

Sue 

 

Cold and wet in Manchester!

I'm at a bit of a loose end today, bank holiday Monday, so I thought what shall I do?

Should I tackle one of my many projects like putting my Vinyl onto my itunes or start a new book "SEND" or tidy up my inbox?

I decided on non of the above and thought I would go an research the Company that I am to join in June The Co-op Financial Services. This was a pleasing find for me.

The Co-operative Bank have joined the wonderful world of ‘online social networking' with the launch of its ‘green' MySpace profile to celebrate the 15 th Anniversary of its Ethical Policy.

MySpace, founded in 2003 and originally designed for unsigned bands to promote their music, has quickly become the world's fastest growing networking website with approximately 80 million profiles at the last count.

The social site is currently the world's fifth most popular English-language website and has quickly become an arena for registered users to voice their opinions on a wide range of subjects - from what they had for breakfast to the global impact of climate change - with ‘ethical and environmental' profiles and blogs becoming increasingly popular.

‘Green' orientated profiles created by individual users like ‘Pimp my Plantpot', ‘Tree Hugger' and ‘Stop Global Warming' give eco-minded people the opportunity to exchange information/hints/tips with their ‘friends' via blogs, groups, voting and forums with top searches on MySpace regularly including the keywords ‘ green, environmental and climate change'.

For every new ‘ green' friend added to its profile The Co-operative Bank will donate 20p to the Children's Society**. To become a ‘Co-operative Bank friend' visit www.myspace.com/goodwithmoney and request to be added for the chance to make it into the bank's ‘top friends' list, whilst ensuring a donation to a good cause.

So share this site with your friends and colleagues and lets see it grow!!

All the best

Sarah x

It's who you know... isn't it?

I've recently been sucked into the world of social networking, through Facebook and LinkedIn. For those of you unfamiliar with these, Facebook seems to be overrun by teenagers and is like the interactive version of Friends Reunited. It makes me feel old (and I only caught the last few months of the 70's). Very much at the social end of networking spectrum. At the other end, LinkedIn, in my opinion, is the more worthwhile for career / professional networking. I've already found Sue on there and it allows you to find former colleagues, post your career experience and maybe find a new job there. All very neat and I wish I'd thought of it...

The beauty of these sites, as far as I'm concerned, is the ability to have a look at who your contacts are connected with. You can request an introduction - much less awkward in cyberspace - and an easy way to widen your networked circle.

However, I always have something to rant about in my posts, so here it is:

There is too much cloak and dagger competition in IC. While our companies may be competing, we're not. I'm not asking you for trade secrets of the sector you're in or begging for insider trading tips. Linking in to what Sue said last week, maybe there is no short cut to hard graft. I agree there is no 'quick fix' but, on the other hand, someone, somewhere is bound to have done it before. Maybe not to the letter, but in all the companies, in all the world, your dilemma / project / change programme / niggle has been tackled before.

So, perhaps this really does prove "It's not what you know, but who you know". You can hide away in a room and work out how to solve your problem. Or you can post a question on here. Let other people share their knowledge, experience and wisdom to make your life easier. Perhaps even log onto LinkedIn and find me - I'll gladly share my (limited) contacts with you and we can create our own network of IC professionals.

I'm all for making things easier - that's the natural lazy person in me. But I suspect that all our lives could be made a little easier if people in IC talked to each other a bit more.

Spring has sprung

A new month, and a new blogger! For a brief introduction before the ramblings begin, my name is Fiona Gibson and I'm a Communications Manager at Ernst & Young in the UK. I previously worked at Lloyds TSB doing Group communications and have only recently spread my wings to corporate pastures new - a challenge I'm very much enjoying. No piccie as yet (embarrassing ski tan at the moment) but I'll try to sort something out soon. Promise.

I love working in IC. Not popular to express such feelings for jobs in the UK. Better to conform to the national predisposition for doom or, even worse, ambivolence. But this is my first day back from holiday and I do love my job. It keeps me on my toes and gives me a decent mental workout. Someone once asked me why I like what I do. I'd never got the hang of the answer until I came to work here. I'd had to work out what job I wanted and why I should have it, which concentrates the mind somewhat. I like it because it suits my brain. Having a science background, I like analysis. But science isn't that creative (unless you were in my chemistry classes...) and I need to flex both sides of my brain to feel fulfilled in work. We're almost back to Sue's previous post on self-awareness.

So in a month of new beginnings (snowdrops, crocuses and gambling lambs), take a new perspective on life. Why do you love what you do? And if you don't, is it time to consider whether you can change that?