In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss the importance of in-person gatherings, the concept of long-haul leadership, and the challenges of hybrid work environments.

The conversation covers two favorite topics - hybrid work and leadership, discussing the fact that rules about days in office will never outperform rituals that help teams do the right work in the right way. The surprising truth about the engagement of managers is uncovered and the link that has to recognition in the workplace.

The pair debate the dangers of narrowing and specialising in your comms career and they tackle the important topic of productivity and exhaustion - and why listening is the answer.

Articles and links related to this episode

From Exhaustion to Empowerment: The Meaningful Productivity Report (Forty1)

Hybrid Work Is Not the Problem — Poor Leadership Is (MIT Sloan Management Review)

Employees Say Only 59% of Leaders Are Actively Engaged (Nectar)

Public relations • communications strategy • career growth (Michelle Frith on LinkedIn)

Books mentioned in this episode:

Long Haul Leader by Chris Ducker: https://longhaulleader.com/book/

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/my-new-book-slow-productivity/

Cues by Vanesss Van Edwards: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/cues/

Busy by Tony Crabbe: https://tonycrabbe.com/books/

Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Talieb - https://a.co/d/8wSDUKO

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode, Chuck Gose and Jenni Field dig into the latest report into the value of internal communication. It’s a report authored by Jenni with Dr Kevin Ruck and published by the Internal Comms Research Hub. They go on to debate the role of HR inside organizations and tackle the big question of the purpose of workplaces in general. Middle managers are back on the agenda and this time discussing what we can learn from the history of the 1990’s reengineering approach. The episode wraps up with a discussion about a new report into female entrepreneurship and the systemic issues impacting women in the workplace.

Articles and reports in this episode:

• The value of internal comms
• How HR took over British business and got in the way of actual work
• Bonfire of the middle managers
• Female Entrepreneurship
• Missing Women Report

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field delve into the complexities of workplace dynamics, focusing on the challenges of meetings, the benefits of in-person connections, and the emerging concept of ‘microshifting’ in work patterns.

They explore the integration of AI in the workplace, sharing the differences in how they both use AI every day in their work. They also discuss the impact of AI on comms specifically, after reports show 80% of a communicator's role can be replaced with the technology.

The episode wraps up with a discussion about the importance of setting boundaries with the phrase 'I don't', rather than ‘I can’t’, to foster a healthier work-life balance.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

• Microshifting ends the 9-5
• How people actually use ChatGPT at work
• BCG’s take on GenAI productivity and cost in communications
• The two words you need to help you push back at work
• Find our more about Jenni’s Leaders Reboot

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode of Frequency, hosts Jenni Field and Chuck Gose reflect on their recent experiences in Nashville for the #Unite25 conference and discuss various topics related to internal communications, including the challenges of proving ROI, the shift from engagement to effectiveness, and the importance of communication for frontline workers.

They delve into some recent research reports from Dewpoint Communications and Workvivo by Zoom and they explore the implications of being recognized as a 'best place to work' and the employee expectations that come with it. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective internal communication strategies that align with organizational goals and the importance of understanding employee experiences.

Links to articles mentioned in this episode:

• Internal Comms ROI Report | Workvivo Survey of 5,000+ Leaders
• The Big Shift - A Pivot from "Engaged" to "Effective" - Strategic
• Connecting the Frontline: Current Trends, Challenges, and Strategic Opportunities in Workforce Communication - a report from Dewpoint communications
• Do we really want to work in one of the top places to work?

🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.

In this episode, Jenni and Chuck explore the controversial trend of 'quiet promotions,' the challenges of maintaining morale after layoffs, and the evolving expectations around hybrid work.

It turns out people are being asked to do more without the salary increase, but the pair question whether this is new.

The conversation also highlights insights from a senior internal communications roundtable Jenni hosted in London, emphasizing the need for deeper discussions at industry events and the vital role of senior leaders in turning up to industry events to help the more junior folks learn and grow.

Links to articles mentioned in this episode:

Employers are dishing out quiet promotions: fancy new job roles without the title or pay—and experts say it ‘practically guarantees burnout’

How to Keep Teams on Track After Layoffs

UK job ads are quietly tightening hybrid expectations

What do senior comms leaders want from industry events? Email to find out more: info@redefiningcomms.com

In this episode, Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss the evolving role of the chief communications officer and the extra demands being placed on them. They explore the declining interest in management roles among employees, the challenges faced by Gen Z in securing entry-level positions, and the importance of emotional regulation in response to workplace pressures.

They both reflect on their own careers, how they moved up the corporate ladder and the reality of jobs changing as technology evolves.

Links to articles mentioned in this episode:

Chief communications officers are absorbing more corporate functions, report says

Fewer workers want to be managers

Gen Z’s employability problem

The over-reaction pandemic and what to do about it

Join Chuck and Jenni at their speaking events in October:

Unite25 in Nashville on October 7 and 8: Unite 25 | The #1 Employee Experience Conference

Who owns employee experience? Chuck debates with Hebba Yousef online, hosted by Workvivo on October 9 : Who owns Employee Experience: Internal Comms or HR?

Jenni’s online Quarterly Workplace Huddle, on October 14 https://redefiningcomms.com/huddle/

Jenni’s in person Leaders Reboot in London on October 21 https://redefiningcomms.com/leaders-reboot

Does humour (or humor) play a role in your internal comms?

Are we at a crossroads in internal communication?

Is employee engagement really the top of the list for leaders?

In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss the importance of humour in communications and whether it’s about being fun or funny.

Five months on from the initial discussion about the merging of CHRO and CIO roles they discuss some recent opinions about what would make that blend a success. The discussion touches on the future of internal comms after a recent advance reading of a new book out in December and they get stuck in to some insights from a leadership report from the Institute of Leadership.

Articles mentioned in this episode

• Should Your Company Merge Its CHRO and CTO Roles?
• Should we be funny in internal comms?
• Book: People-First Internal Communication pre-read takeaways
• Webinar: Recalibrate & Rise: Future-Ready Skills for IC Pros Tickets, Tue, Oct 14
• Leading into the Future - the inaugural research report from The Institute of Leadership

In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field explore various themes related to workplace culture, employee engagement, and the evolving dynamics of work post-pandemic.

They discuss the impact of mascots on business, introduce the concept of Otroverts - the new personality type according to psychiatrists - and analyze the implications of return-to-office policies.

The conversation also delves into Gallup's five key levers of employee engagement, the effects of personality shifts in the workforce since the pandemic, and the growing trend of the four-day work week. Additionally, they address the phenomenon of fawning behavior in the workplace and its consequences on employee well-being.

Links to articles mentioned in this episode:

• Adam Grant Tweet on RTO
• Gallup’s 5 key drivers of employee engagement
• Will changes to our personality ruin workplace culture?
• The Dutch four-day work week
• What is fawning and how can it hurt your career?