The employee lifecycle typically consists of six stages: attraction, recruitment, onboarding, development, retention, and separation. Each stage presents its own challenges and opportunities, so it’s important to focus on them individually rather than one big, long journey. Attraction: getting the right people to join your company. You want to make sure that the company’s values …
In this episode of A View From The Top, Adrian Cropley talks to Jenni about her career trajectory from communication officer to business entrepreneur and how she uses her strategic prowess to get business outcomes for her clients. The pair speak in depth about delivering value to an organisation and leading as a senior advisor, …
We work with clients to help them build a more inclusive workplace – something that should be on the agenda for all organisations. We support through activity such as consultative workshops or awareness campaigns. When we do this, we work with Advita Patel, who is part of our collective team and an inclusion and communication …
In this podcast episode of Comms In A Nutshell by Oak Engage, Jenni talks empowering and supporting change, what processes to use, and how managers can better support their teams with communications. She explains how to stop change from becoming dehumanised and why people respond differently, accepting the stages at different speeds. . “Change …
In this podcast episode of ICON by Sparrow Connected, Jenni speaks to Julie Ford, Sparrow Connected Head of Content, as together they challenge conventional thinking about internal communication and employee engagement. “Internal communication and employee engagement aren’t the same thing. “When it comes to looking at an engaged workforce and how you can drive engagement, you have …
Streamline your corporate communication to drive efficiency and engagement Read More »
As leaders, we’re often tackling a range of organisational issues, including: lack of accountability, toxic culture, team friction, a disengaged workforce, or people blocking change. It’s creates a sense of confusion and it comes down to one main thing… communication. In this article for Forbes Business Council, Jenni shares six common organisational issues and the ways …
Why communication is the antidote to organisational chaos Read More »
We’ve recently been watching the latest docu-series of Couples Therapy, which follows four couples over six months of weekly treatment. It’s addictive and the fascinating fly on the wall nature gives an insight that we rarely see as the viewer follows couples visiting a New York psychologist and psychoanalyst, Dr Orna Guralnik. What’s critical that …
Three ways to improve your relationships at work Read More »
The human. The communicator. The leader. These are three roles that all require a level of trust. We need to trust the people we have around us. We need to trust the messages we are receiving. We need to trust the people who lead us. Sometimes there is a cross-over between roles and sometimes people …
Flexible working has been on the rise for a while now, and with good reason. Allowing employees to tailor their work schedules to fit their personal needs can lead to increased productivity, lower stress levels, and higher job satisfaction. And as the recent four-day work week trial in the UK has shown, and as BBC …
In this podcast episode of Deep Listening by Oscar Trimboli, Jenni talks about listening infrastructures and processes, how to use surveys purposefully, and how to deal with blockers in organisations. Her advice on why avoiding negativity is a red flag is a must listen “What’s the cost of not listening? Not understanding. That’s such a …
How to listen to what boards and executives value in internal communications Read More »
In this article for Startups Magazine, Lucy Kemp – our employee experience strategist – discusses how to create an EX for Gen Z staff that will last, and help to propel your business onto better things. Typically defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z are now starting to enter the workforce and, …
Designing a workplace for Gen Z: fostering a positive employee experience Read More »
As a leader have you ever been in a meeting where someone says, “Are we all on the same page?” And everyone nods obediently, only to go off and do their own thing? You’re not alone. The alignment between behaviours and purpose is an important part of culture and critical for success. Just as important …
In many cases, frontline workers were hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. They may have experienced job loss or furlough, or communication issues while businesses worked out how best to manage their workforce. It brought to light the many other challenges they face. As we continue to emerge from the global pandemic, it’s more important …
Effective internal communication for frontline workers in a post pandemic world Read More »
In this article for Forbes Business Council, Jenni Field shares three things you can do today if you’re starting to see symptoms of your teams not working well together and relationships suffering. There’s been a lot of discussion about working from home. The benefit of less commuting time is one of the main reasons people prefer it, …
Have we forgotten how to be in work relationships? Read More »
The Great Resignation has put an even bigger emphasis on the importance of company culture in recruitment and retention. In this article published by Kogan Page on its Trending page, Jenni Field talks about the Great Resignation and how it really isn’t something to fear. “The global pandemic has changed a lot for many around the …
Checking in with your culture and why the Great Resignation isn’t all bad Read More »
We’ve been working with BAE Systems for four years as an extension of the communications team, supporting a wide range of activities. We were asked to work alongside the diversity and inclusion team on a campaign around its Inclusion Week, which coincides with the UK’s National Inclusion Week. For BAE Systems, this week is an …
“We have to allow ourselves to be prepared to be convinced by opposing arguments. We must revisit conclusions as we receive new and relevant information, actively look for reasons why we might be wrong, and focus on understanding rather than winning”. We must focus on understanding, rather than winning. I think this is the biggest …
How to avoid team friction – from poles apart to pulling together Read More »
In this episode of Don’t Shoot the Messenger, Vicki Marinker talks to Jenni about corporate culture, the challenges facing the physical workplace and how to future-proof your career in communication. The conversation covers the role of communicators in establishing a positive corporate culture, how to recruit for culture fit and build a diverse workforce, toxic …
How to build a cohesive and diverse culture that’s fit for purpose Read More »
Following a podcast interview with Vicki Marinker – Don’t Shoot The Messenger – here I share my thoughts and suggestions on how to build a cohesive and diverse culture that’s fit for purpose in a post-pandemic workplace, and the value of communication. What is the role of communicators in establishing a positive corporate culture? Culture …
What is organisational culture and is it important? Read More »
It’s that time of year when our social media feeds start to fill with blogs about forecasts, trends and themes to look out for in the coming year. I always find these posts really interesting because I think it’s a great way to see what’s on people’s agenda. In fact, I wrote a blog on …
Communication trends in 2022 – and how they’re changing more slowly than we’d like! Read More »
I recently co-hosted a webinar with best-selling author of Remote Work, Chris Dyer, to explore the pitfalls and assumptions around hybrid working – one of the most talked-about terms of 2021. I discussed what we should be focusing on in organisations today and dispel five myths about hybrid working. The myths about hybrid working are: It’s …
In this article for HR Director, Jenni discusses hybrid working. All our focus and effort is being channelled into defining the hybrid workforce. But is hybrid the latest buzzword in a long line of corporate jargon that essentially stops us from moving forward? First published in theHRDIRECTOR, October, 2021. Reproduced with permission. “Hybrid working is …
The global pandemic has given us a rare opportunity to redefine work and society. But as we navigate these changes we must pay close attention to the impact on organisational culture, for it is one of the most important differentiators companies possess. You can still download this webinar for Poppulo – How to future-proof your …
Webinar: How to future-proof your culture for the new world of work Read More »
A few weeks ago I spent a day at a diversity and inclusion workshop. It was through my work with the CIPR and it was a great opportunity to reflect both as an individual and as an industry. In the last 18 months, I have invested more time to learn about diversity and inclusion. I’ve …
I’ve been writing and speaking a lot recently about culture and the return to the office. It’s becoming the topic for everyone in business as we navigate the changes in the workplace due to the COVID19 pandemic. For many, the conversation is around hybrid working, but you’ll know from my earlier blogs that I believe …
I’ve been writing and speaking a lot recently about culture and the return to the office. It’s becoming the topic for everyone in business as we navigate the changes in the workplace due to the COVID19 pandemic. For many, the conversation is around hybrid working, but you’ll know from my earlier blogs that I believe …
Jenni was recently the keynote speaker at the PRSA Employee Communications conference. The theme of the event was communicating with intention and Jenni shared her thoughts and advice on how we can go from panic to purpose in a post-pandemic world. Jenni shared six key things with the attendees and has created this video to explain …
Remote Work I’ve just been reading the book Remote Work by Chris Dyer and Kim Shepherd. We share the same publishers and Chris and I hosted an online event together earlier this year. Chris is the founder and CEO of PeopleG2, where he manages 30 full-time remote employees and 3,000 independent contractors. I loved his …
Inspiring Goodies – Remote Work, Ted Lasso and Sideways Read More »
It’s going to take us 25 years to reap the true benefits of flexible working… that’s if the industrial revolution is anything to go by. During my camping holiday in Cornwall I finished reading Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed and I cannot recommend it enough. I have highlighted so much of the book but a …
Redefining Communications has recently signed up to support the Better Business Act, which calls for every company in the UK to align the interest of their shareholders with those of wider society and environment. It was launched in Westminster in April 2021, with business leaders, coalition supporters, MPs and peers campaigning to change the law. …
Why we’ve signed up to support the Better Business Act Read More »
This article is a snippet from the Inspiring Workplaces eBook, which is packed with lots of suggestions from the top 101 influencers. Jenni was asked to contribute and she talks about the fact that hybrid isn’t new; people have been working flexibly for years and there are millions of workers who serve on the frontline …
How to return to the workplace (or not) – in a post-COVID world Read More »
In this article for CIPR International about finding calm in a global crisis, Jenni discusses The Field Model™ and the impact of globalisation on organisations. “Internal communication has never been more important. In a year when we’ve been forced to change how we’ve worked for decades, the need to connect and engage a workforce in …
Jenni hosts this discussion on CIPR’s quarterly Engage podcast. Jenni explores the different definitions of hybrid working and highlights the influence of organisational culture in adapting to working life in a post-lockdown world. She is joined by: Kate Shaw – Senior Internal Comms Manager for Nationwide Building Society Martin Flegg – Chair of Inside CIPR committee Sofia Cann – Head of Marketing …
Throughout March and April, we carried out some research into the role of line managers in organisations. This is for line managers to tell us more about their roles, their capabilities, and the support they must have to do their job. We want to know more about their purpose, how they communicate with their team, …
Back in 2019 Ben Reynolds, Managing Director of Gallagher’s Employee Experience and Communication division, engaged Jenni to implement The Field Model™ and explore the reality of the culture and communication inside the organisation. Understand, diagnose and fix The company wanted to address the symptoms they were seeing, such as stress and poor staff retention, and …
Out in the Field – Gallagher Employee Experience and Communication Read More »
In February I wrote about hybrid working and asked if the term is a red herring for leaders. In the blog I said: “So rather than getting caught up in the latest buzzword of hybrid organisations, can we focus instead on the need for flexibility. Flexibility that reflects the reality of life today. A way …
Organisations are complex. People are complex. It takes time and some difficult conversations to find calm amongst the chaos. This article – Keep calm: fix organisational chaos, streamline communication and drive engagement – was written by Jenni Field for Catalyst, the publication of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Jenni talks about how chaos …
Keep calm: fix organisational chaos, streamline communication and drive engagement Read More »
In this blog, which was originally featured in Influence, I talk about being mindful of interpretation. A few years ago, I was at lunch with a coach and we were chatting about experiences and interpretation of events. They used this example: If someone stands outside this restaurant with a clipboard and asks you questions about …
There is my truth, there is your truth, and there is fact Read More »
In this article, Jenni Field talks to The Institute of Leadership & Management to discuss her thoughts on how great internal communication can help leaders to fine-tune their collaborative reflexes amongst teams. She talks about how leaders in recovery mode need to look at the underlying rhythm of their organisation: “Examine the tempo of how …
What’s inspired me in the last month? Here are three things you can listen to (podcast episode and a book) and read (book and report)! Sharing insights on my podcastIn the final episode of series two of my podcast (Calm Edged Rebels) the three of us discuss those who inspire us. We talk about celebrities, …
Inspiring Goodies: the people who inspire me, five seconds and leaders with purpose Read More »
From the start of the day I was hooked. It was an event that had speakers I was connected with on social channels, but hadn’t met – and this was just some, as the majority were people I wasn’t connected with. There were attendees from all over the world who I didn’t know and yet …
The Field Model™ came from a conversation about how I describe what I do. Over the years the need to be mindful, explore other perspectives and manage emotional reactions has led to better conversations and quicker problem solving. Here’s an overview of the three elements of The Field Model™.
At the end of last year, I asked my community across LinkedIn and Twitter what they thought the trends were going to be for business and communications in 2021. I asked people from across the globe and I also reached out to my contacts in the USA to find out what their specific views were. …
Why being more specific in 2021 is essential for organisations Read More »
I’ve been doing a lot of research recently into mental resilience, reading about the increasing burnout, stress and loneliness we’re experiencing; the sense of being overwhelmed and difficulty in separating our work life from home life. Much of this, of course, has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that many of us …
Spotting burnout: seven ways to solve your stress cycle Read More »
This week I finished listening to the audio version of Ross Edgley’s Art of Resilience. He talks a lot about circadian rhythm in the book (which tells the story of his endurance swim round the United Kingdom) and towards the end he mentioned zeitgebers. All of this got me thinking about work, why we are …
Are organisations using technology ethically to help keep us safe and well, or is it a covert way to keep tabs on us now we’re not all in the office? Opinions will vary depending on who the organisation is, what the tech is and to what extent do the employees know about it. Either way, …
We attended the CIPD Future of Work conference last month and it sparked a number of ideas, the most timely being around the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace. How can internal communications and HR work together to achieve that? The CIPD is the professional body for Human Resources (HR) and people development. Perhaps …
Since we all shifted to working from home I have been wondering; what will cities and offices look like in the future and what will our homes become if this becomes the ‘new normal’. I’m fascinated to see what will happen to the world of work when we are gradually allowed back outside and back …
When home-working isn’t always the future you think it is Read More »
This morning I joined Hannah Sardar from Workplace by Facebook for a webinar hosted by the team (Graham Mackay and Jack Paine) at Generation Digital. Between the three of us we covered some of the themes around communications in a crisis, how Workplace can be the tool to help connect your teams and how to …
How do ‘Connected Companies’ communicate in a crisis? Read More »
I have presented on some big topics over the last few months – measurement being one of them. In the last two sessions I showed a selection of photos from measuring spoons for cooking to measuring blood pressure – each one is a type of measurement. My worry is that we are getting stuck using …
Big words, little meaning – what do we mean by measurement? Read More »
Mental well-being is a topic that more and more people are talking about as our society continues to evolve at pace with pressures from all angles to keep up with expectations. For those in PR it is something that comes up more and more because of the endemic always on expectation, 24-7 media, and increasing …
Mental health – the topic we love to talk about but hate to deal with Read More »
After watching The Great Hack at the weekend I shared some of my thoughts on my Instagram page which prompted some comments and email exchanges with a previous colleague/boss Mark Cox. He was kind enough to add his thoughts to my own so here are our thoughts on a conversation that probably needs to be …
The Great Hack – and the PR ethics debate rumbles on Read More »
Last year Lee Sheldon, founder of Mastering Multi-Units (MMU) invited me onto his podcast to talk about my experience in supporting organisations communicate with a remote workforce. I worked with Lee during my time at SSP as the Head of Internal Communications for the UK where our challenge was to communicate effectively with 10,000 employees. …
How do you achieve great communication in a multi-site organisation? Read More »
Last week I attended the Gatehouse (Gallagher Communications) State of the Sector research*. It was an insightful morning with some good debate in the room and a clear desire to further understand some of the data points. The research shows the results from over 650 communication professionals representing more than 400 organisations and based all …
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