Employee Experience Roundup: The Present and Future of Internal Communication + EX Will Drive Business Success in 2019

Our weekly hand-curated Employee Experience roundup features articles and resources, guidance, and inspiration for those who have a role and responsibility in shaping the employee experience. We include a variety of sources and topics ranging from internal communications, employer branding, content, employee communications & campaigns, HR trends, and workplace culture.

In this week’s EX Roundup we’re featuringa new report: The Present and Future of Internal Communication — can practitioners change the game?
Published by Happeo, this is the first in a six-part series of research performed by one of Internal Communications’ most recognizable veterans, Mike Klein. We’re thrilled that Vignette’s Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Mike Lepis, was interviewed for this new report.

“Can IC professionals change the game before the game changes them? The world of Internal Communication is changing – particularly as it heads into massive upheaval in the areas it is meant to support and influence. Why? Because IC still has yet to overcome challenges and obstacles that have plagued it for at least two decades. The need for effective IC has never been greater, yet the profession still hasn’t positioned itself as capable of meeting that need. The clock is ticking.” You can download the first report, here. @happeohq

Are IC Practitioners Ready for the Next Wave of Change? Or Do We Need to Listen to Samuel L. Jackson? — LinkedIn Pulse, By Mike Klein @mklein818
“It is not news that the world of internal communication is changing. But how is it changing? And can IC practitioners help drive that change instead of being driven into the ground by it?

That is the question I am venturing to address in my six-part research project commissioned by Happeo — looking at “The Present and Future of Internal Communication – can practitioners change the game?”

Report: Employee experience will drive business success in 2019 — HR Drive @hrdive, By Valerie Bolden-Barrett
“Brief: A positive employee experience will be a top priority for employers in 2019, as they look to attract, retain and engage talent. In the ExecuSearch Group’s 2019 Hiring Outlook, The Employee Experience: 4 Ways To Attract, Engage, & Retain Employees In Today’s Competitive Market, the group recommended a range of ways to enhance the employee experience, from hiring through retention.”

Company Culture: Why Employee Experience Can’t Exist in a Vacuum — HR Zone @HRZone By Jasmine Gartner @jasminegartner
“As the focus shifts from employee engagement to employee experience, HR practitioners must not forget that the deeply ingrained culture of a company – whether good or bad – will hugely impact how employees feel about their working environment.”

Engagement In A New Era Of Business: An Invitation To Communicate Differently — Forbes @Forbes_Agency, By Tracey Grove
“Regardless of what business you’re in, an organization’s ability to adapt to change can be crucial for success. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution increases the pace of change in almost every industry, I believe that leaders may need a new approach to communication — one that emphasizes a personal connection with employees, customers and partners.

In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive marketplace, leaders are faced with having to motivate and inspire employees in new ways to retain talent, all while flawlessly navigating the continuous stream of email and other digital communications that threaten to take over every minute of the day. Success in this digital economy may take a new level of engagement, reconnecting at a very human level and paying attention to the real conversation behind every interaction.”

The Employee Experience Starts with Flipping Mindsets — HR Trend Institute @HRTrendInst, By Sara Coene
“It’s not about you, it’s about them! In an era of technology, the humanside becomes key. Technology will disrupt the status-quo. We hear it so much that we might believe that the future is only about technology. But it’s mainly about us and how we, and the organisations we are part of, can transform. In an era of technology, the human side becomes key and building the unique quality called ’empathy’ is a prerequisite.”

Great Customer Experiences Start With Your Employees — Forbes HR Council @ForbesHRCouncil, By Paul Phillips
“The customer experience is often at the forefront of a business’s strategy, and for good reason. Even if you believe the customer isn’t always right, they’re clearly essential to success. No customers, no business, right?

The best brands know that a great experience — from product design to customer journey to digital and in-person interactions — is what customers either remember or try to forget. Brands deliver great experiences in part by genuinely paying close attention to every detail along the way. They listen to what their customers crave and provide experiences that surprise and delight.”

Why You Need a Digital Employee Experience Design — The HR Trend Institute @hrtrendinst, By Hans Mangelschots @mangel_h
“Digitisation is everywhere, whether you like it or not. It disrupts the way we live and the way we work (together) – sometimes even subconsciously.

Like in every change process there will be resistance, that might feel like it is delaying what needs to be done. However, when you can convince your toughest opponents, they will become your best allies. In thisarticle,  I will share my views on the potential of the digitisation in the workplace, especially for HR.”

Why internal Communications Needs to be at the Centre of Digital Transformation — Marketing Tech News @MarketTechNews, By Cyrus Gilbert-Rolfe
“It’s no surprise that today’s enterprises face increasing challenges, from brand reputation to employee retention, which can be exacerbated by a lack of synchronised communications or reliance on one tool to reach everyone. You may often wonder how you can better inform, support, and connect to all of your employees using modern communications strategies? However, thanks to software and the proliferation of handheld devices there has never been a better time to digitally transform your internal communications.”