Internal communication & people engagement
What helps us feel seen and valued at work?
Does this lead to engagement, productivity – and team dynamics that let each member thrive? When organisations have gaps in trust, why does this happen?
And what role does communication need to play in improving the situation at hand?
These are the questions that fuel my curiosity for people. As a craft expert in comms, I’m a:
- sharp writer
- natural relationship builder
- effective strategy-to-narrative translator
- masterful storyteller
…which is based on always being willing to listen, assuming good intentions and, sometimes, just having a sense of humour. At the end of the day, we all need connection. Here are some highlights from my work with culture building, people engagement and internal communication, including cross-functional comms support, acquisition change management, event communication, employee engagement and DEI/ERG initiatives.
Cross-functional comms support
Stepping into the unknown together: internal communication during COVID-19
Like so many companies at the onset of the pandemic, Zettle by PayPal adopted long-term remote work policies to keep employees as safe as possible. But how would it nurture culture? No matter if an existing employee, new hire or consultant, we wanted to ensure that information was at their fingertips – but most importantly, that they felt connected, no matter their situation. The Zettle Virtual Office was the answer, and I later crafted a hybrid workplace comms strategy as a follow up. Read the full case study.
Acquisition change management
Evolving as a team: communicating a company rebrand internally
If you’d joined iZettle early on as a disruptive startup or jumped aboard during its scaleup journey, being acquired by PayPal was an exciting prospect. It signified incredible opportunities – but major adjustments on several levels, culturally most of all. When becoming Zettle by PayPal, how might we encourage the Zettle team to open up to a new culture, while feeling that theirs was – though evolving – still there? One aspect of this change was communicating the acquisition rebrand of iZettle to Zettle by PayPal. This case study shows how we got Zettle employees excited about their new chapter.
Event communication
Let’s get together: the art of selling a good time
Digital hangouts are great, but there’s something about meeting face to face that just helps things…flow. If that face to face meeting is a party, you’re already half way there – just add a (sometimes wacky) theme that makes people smile and set the scene for swapping “You’re on mute” to “Need a refill?” Here’s how I helped hype up some of my favourite internal events.
Employee engagement
This is us: capturing our spirit, celebrating people and building connection
Having the right processes, workflows and tools in place is important for building high-functioning teams – but that’s not enough on its own. Applying a culture-first lens helps identify opportunities to bring an organisation’s values to life, and create a sense of belonging, psychological safety, trust and, hopefully, engagement and growth. Here are some projects designed to foster positive employee experiences by leading with culture.
DEI and ERG communication
View the social post sharing Diversity Day for iZettle employees
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Appreciating differences: diversity, equity and inclusion from the heart
A lot of workplaces promise the freedom to be yourself, but iZettle truly delivered. The reason it worked came down to how it stuck by a philosophy of openness, acceptance of different perspectives and embracing employee individuality. One of the ways iZettle created a culture of conversation was through employee resource groups – and the internal Diversity & Inclusion Working Group wanted to introduce a sweet new tradition that would reflect the company’s internal brand values (being easy, reliable and inspiring). Here’s more on the project.
Having the right processes, workflows and tools in place is important for building high-functioning teams – but that’s not enough on its own. Applying a culture-first lens helps identify opportunities to bring an organisation’s values to life, and create a sense of belonging, psychological safety, trust and, hopefully, engagement and growth. Here are some projects designed to foster positive employee experiences by leading with culture.
DEI and ERG communication
View the social post sharing Diversity Day for iZettle employees
Appreciating differences: diversity, equity and inclusion from the heart
A lot of workplaces promise the freedom to be yourself, but iZettle truly delivered. The reason it worked came down to how it stuck by a philosophy of openness, acceptance of different perspectives and embracing employee individuality. One of the ways iZettle created a culture of conversation was through employee resource groups – and the internal Diversity & Inclusion Working Group wanted to introduce a sweet new tradition that would reflect the company’s internal brand values (being easy, reliable and inspiring). Here’s more on the project.