Lucy Jenkins

A soft launch is an excuse to just not have a rollout plan. I've been working on change programmes and internal comms initiatives for the best part of 20 years, and I have never - never - seen a soft launch actually work. So why do we do it, time and time again? 😱 Fear that no one will adapt to the change? 📋 An unwillingness to plan properly? 🤔 Business and cognitive overload? ❓️Or simply not knowing where to start? A soft launch sounds like the best of both worlds: you get your thing out there, but you can still tweak and adjust as needed. But that's not a soft launch. That's agile. Whatever the good intention, soft launches end up with, at best, half the business (at least) having no clue about the new thing/process/way of working, or, at worst, having to go back to the drawing board and come up with a proper plan. So I say again: a soft launch is used as an excuse for not having a rollout plan. Tell me I'm wrong. 😉 #ChangeManagement #ChangeComms #SoftLaunch

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Will digital exclusion ever really disappear? It's great to see our work with LINK and Adrian Roberts launch today, casting a fresh look at digital exclusion. Despite ongoing efforts to combat digital exclusion, our research shows that it continues to be felt across all age groups - either as a result of affordability or through our increasing reliance on digital skills in all aspects of our life and work. Today's young workforce are acutely aware that having the right digital skills today will not necessarily equip them for the workplace of tomorrow. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/et7w8WF6

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"Communicators have a responsibility to make sure the right leaders are showing up in the right places talking about the topics that are most authentic to them." Well said Sarita Shah. Messages can be just words; to engage an audience you need to be passionate, authentic and be seen to believe in what you're saying. #leadershipcomms #executiveprofiling #communications #election2024

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Corporate jargon wackamole ... is a daily challenge! Our job in internal comms is to make content accessible and help colleagues in all roles, with different experience and backgrounds understand what is going on. Not add another layer of complexity. Excessive use of jargon is just a barrier to understanding - and it's been coming up a lot in conversations these last few weeks. It can be exhausting but we have to be the challenging voice in the room. Working to get to the heart of the message. If we can't make sense of it how can we communicate it and how will audiences understand it? What makes it harder is that when we are in a project or team where acronyms or jargon are widely used in conversation we naturally adopt the language of those around us and we can quickly find ourselves using the same jargon without realising it. My top tip if this sounds familiar is to get someone to check and challenge your work. Or test it with a trusted colleague in another part of the business who knows nothing about the topic. It's really not easy - when everyone is a communicator and words and language can be really personal and are used unconsciously. I'm guilty of corporate speak and have to challenge myself all the time but we have to remind ourselves that as communicators this is where we add huge value. Our job is to simplify and make content accessible to create understanding. Top tips to think about: ➡️ Brevity - get to the point! ➡️ Audience - if you don't understand your audience won't either. ➡️ Understanding - get a challenge buddy to sense check understanding. See what I did there? Follow these three steps to make removing corporate jargon part of your BAU! What corporate jargon crackers have you been fighting against this week?👇👇👇👇 #internalcomms #writing #corporatespeak #jargon

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In the second article in EOS at Federated Hermes Limited's Q3 Public Engagement Report, Joanne (Jo) B. and George Watson explain how we engage with companies on water #stewardship, to address scarcity and quality issues. #ESG #nature #humanrights #biodiversity https://bit.ly/3AsXTQy

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“You thought all comms agencies did was take journalists out to brunch?!” ✏️ I wrote an advice piece recently for Red Lorry Yellow Lorry about how we can help high-growth stage tech companies achieve their goals… 🔎 If you’re looking to see how an integrated comms agency might be able to help your growth plans, read the full piece below and get in touch! https://lnkd.in/eJE4vRad

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If you’re asked about getting into a career in PR and communications, I recommend two podcast episodes from PRWeek UK. On mentoring programmes and in more informal conversations with friends and family, it’s come up a few times recently, particularly for those thinking about what to do beyond school or university. I’ve directed students and school leavers to have a listen – the panellists give some perspectives that are more useful and credible than I can share, and I’ve heard a good deal of positive feedback. So, if you find yourself in that situation, perhaps during the holidays, or if you’re interested to understand more about the PR and comms world for yourself, check these out: https://lnkd.in/ePwmr-Uy https://lnkd.in/e8YG5udV And I suggest tapping into the PR Week ‘Beyond The Noise’ podcast series more broadly for further insights into the challenges and opportunities that agencies and businesses are handling every day. #NotAnAd

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I appreciate this may be a daunting subject matter, in particular for pharma companies, but definitely worth exploring as we take a fresh and bold approach to healthcare comms. Our research shows humour helps to take away fear and bring positivity and hope to patients. For healthcare professional, it can help facilitate more positive conversation and engagement. The webinar will explore when humour is appropriate – and when it’s not! - to make your communications campaigns stand-out. If you are in-house leading marketing/PR/brand campaigns, it will be an hour well spent, and definitely not boring! #healthcommunications #storytelling #campaigns

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With all this climate doomism, is it time for a change of narrative? This London Climate Action Week, I make the case for optimism and action in climate comms. Have a read below! #LCAW #climatecommunications #ESG #Sustainability #ClimateAction https://lnkd.in/efEsm-kd

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The latest 'One Step Forward, Two Steps Black' survey from UK Black Comms Network (supported by Opinium and PRWeek UK) is a stark reminder of the continued need for creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces. Overlooked for promotions and awards, experiencing microaggressions and racism, while feeling like they have to tone down their personalities to 'fit in'. No wonder two thirds of Black PR pros consider leaving the industry. As Kamiqua Lake (nèe Pearce) says "For an industry that prides itself on being able to engage, influence and understand people - we have no excuses for not doing better on inclusion." 🎯 I encourage you to: - Read the report. Then read it again and think about how your company can be different - Speak and listen to your Black employees - Ask yourself what you could do better As a process lover, I'd also suggest you: - Check your promotion and retention data. Who is leaving, when and why? Who is being promoted and why (not)? - Review and set clear promotion criteria. Agencies in particular are historically bad at promoting the loudest or popular voices or those that fit a certain image. Make it super clear what someone needs to achieve to get to the next level - What policies do/should you have in place and are they being acted upon? No point having something on paper if people don't know it exists or feel like they can refer to it - Look at how you can provide mentoring and sponsorship for your Black talent. If it isn't available in-house, look externally - Review your training and development offer. Yes, the EDI related training, but also ensure that people are being given the tools and skills they need to excel in their job. You can check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/esYp6XcK

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What's been happening in the world of #retail, #leisure and #travel this week? 🎶 Streaming killed the CD star: After four decades, the in-car CD player is officially no more, as the last manufacturer offering one (Subaru) has switched to streaming services. Some might say the move was long overdue: while the total spent on music in the UK increased to £2.2 billion in 2023, the number of CDs sold continued to decline. 🍜 Posh noodles: Sales of packet noodles have soared in recent months, according to Ocado Retail. It’s thought social media users posting how to prepare the products with additional ingredients “to make them fancy” is behind the sudden rise in popularity. While ramen noodles are hogging most of the limelight, classic Pot Noodles sales are also up 10% year on year. 🛌 The rise of the DINKs: That’s Dual-Income-No-Kids to you and me. In its latest global travel trends report, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has coined eight new terms for emerging travel behaviours. From the ‘Great Sleep Split’ – couples who book different rooms or beds to get a better night sleep – to going on an ‘Ex-cursion’ after a breakup, there’s one thing we can all agree on: sometimes you need a holiday just to recover from your holiday. Click below to find out all the things we've been discussing in this week's The Goods UK: https://lnkd.in/gc-zGARB

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Thanks to John Johnston for the POLITICO Europe London Influence story on the training gap between white PR Professionals and those from BME backgrounds. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations State of the Profession survey showed that white practitioners are: - more likely to have received training in the previous 12 months (81% vs. 74%) - are more likely to have agreed training needs with managers - and are less likely to have had requests for training turned down (36% vs. 47%).   This represents statistically significant gap in the training experiences and opportunities of UK BME PR professionals compared to their white colleagues. Not only is training vital for an individual’s progression, and internal profile, as it can shape how an employer views their ability and seniority, lack of access can impact overall achievements as well as retention - a key point brought up by Matthew Otubu. And based on previous research and people's lived experience, it’s also a red flag for other missed work opportunities and unspoken barriers to fairness and inclusion. Sadly the training gap is not surprising but it is unacceptable and, in an age of skills shortages, inexcusable. #PR #Comms #DiversityandInclusion #Training https://lnkd.in/eCZypZM8

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Would you fight over a heavily discounted a casserole pot? It seems many people in Andover did last weekend as Le Creuset launched its largest "in-person event". 😮 In this week's The Goods UK, Amy G., Becca Hardy, Hannah Butler, Liam Gerrard, Riah Somaia and I have also been chatting: * Deal or no deal: Why retailers have FOMO for Black Friday discounts, weeks out from the actual shopping event 🛍 * Keeping the wanderlust alive: How travel companies are keeping up with the wants and desires of the rising global middle class🦈 * My Tai or My AI: How brands are using turning to inventive, often tech-driven ways to boost booze sales🐥 Click on the link below to find out more:

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We hosted Rolant Glyn, Katie Palisoul and Beth Diaz from POLITICO this morning at Burson London to hear about their latest research into the media consumption habits of political decision makers and influencers. Lots of food for thought, but three big ideas to ponder more: 1. The industry obsession with "Brand safety" (particularly in advertising) must not become be a knee jerk flight from difficult conversations, as Rolant said - "Serious people read serious news". Engaging intelligently in these spaces is vital to reaching senior decision making audiences but... 2. Understanding the reputation media titles have with our audiences is increasingly important. The impact of a story - it's believability and trustworthiness - is driven by perceptions of the publication more than the journalist or some aspects of the story itself 3. Media coverage is especially good at reaching policy makers at key decision making moments. Audiences have very different mindsets when they are flicking through social, listening to podcasts or scanning newsletters. Understanding these mindsets is vital

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One of the hottest topics in comms at the moment..is your organisation ready? Learn from the experts on how to prepare in this upcoming webinar. #cybercrisis

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Marketers, this is your chance. Brands have an invaluable opportunity to use their size and influence to support the LGBTQ+ community and to drive the equality agenda. Join our webinar to learn about how to make your brand an ally with impact. 🌈 Jiri Nozicka Josh Smith-Johnston Mark Fisher Leigh Kelly Andrews

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🚩🚩 Can we stop normalising internal communication teams of one? I talk to so many internal communicators who are operating solo, even in huge organisations of 10,000+ employees. And the expectations on them are CRAZY. In some organisations, a one-person internal comms team is magically expected to do all of this: ➡️ Create a strategy ➡️ Execute the strategy ➡️ Create all the content ➡️ Partner with HR and IT ➡️ Manage all the channels ➡️ Plan and manage events ➡️ Listen regularly to employees ➡️ Measure and evaluate progress ➡️ Advise leaders on communication ➡️ Make videos and infographics and gifs 🚩 “And other duties as required” ... and usually with no budget or support. This is the real, lived experience of many internal communication professionals. I hear about it every single week. No, one person shouldn’t be expected to do all of this. But here we are. The result is an overworked, overwhelmed communication professional who delivers sub-par, diluted work with little value to the business. No one wins. ♻️ Repost this if you want to share this important message to your network.

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3 essential attributes found in a thriving Internal Comms team This week our Comms team will deliver its biggest internal event of the year. With over 1,000 colleagues attending, it's a mammoth project for which the outcome needs to be strategic, inspiring, educational, and fun. It requires total commitment. I’ve had massive FOMO as I've not been involved so much this year, but it’s been fascinating to observe from the wings at how our crack communications team have worked alongside our creative agency and senior stakeholders to develop it. Three key things jumped out (and they can all be applied to everyday internal comms activity as well as events). 1. Collaboration: Diverse perspectives create a comprehensive narrative. The team has involved key stakeholders from across the organisation in every step of the creative journey. Not only has this helped them nail the key messages, but the senior leaders wholeheartedly believe every word of what they'll present to colleagues. 2. Creativity: Working together with our creative agency to bounce around fresh ideas means they’ve transformed some of the routine information into compelling content. This makes repetitive info interesting and will keep colleagues (who feel they’ve heard it all before) paying attention. 3. Flexibility: Progress over perfection. External factors will always impact your communication or event, but the team has built flex into the project plan and formed a strong collaborative bond with senior stakeholders. When challenges have hit, they’ve navigated through them swiftly and positively while maintaining the trust and confidence of their stakeholders. And because they've aligned these attributes, they won't just inform colleagues next week, they'll inspire, engage, and drive organisational success. I can't wait to see the labours of their work. Good luck Conrad Evans, Natalie Baxendale, Simon Apps, Stuart Carter, Alex Whittingham, Lauren Mazzi, Louis Clayton, Matt Hubbard, Megan Staveley, Collette Mellor, Chris Smith, Alastair McCall and Team The fresh Group! What other qualities do you think are crucial for internal comms excellence? #InternalComms #TeamworkMatters #believe #positivity #employeeengagement

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