Work Happy by Silicon Reef

In the world of modern work efficiency is the name of the game, but this can leave employee wellbeing by the wayside. Enter: The ethos of ‘Do More With Less’.

Microsoft’s consolidation of multifaceted tools into a single source is confusing for some, but for those who understand the potential, it’s the key to spending time wisely.

Martin Day returns to the Work Happy podcast to share how Microsoft’s tools are evolving, and how you can use their growing services to do more with less.

This episode covers

• Modern work tools’ focus on becoming a single source service
• The ‘Do More With Less’ concept, and how it avoids overworking teams
• How you can consolidate your existing tools into Microsoft 365’s growing offering
• Viva’s role in the future of Microsoft’s services
• Top tips for organisations looking to focus on doing more with less

A brand’s vision and values are integral to the decisions made day to day, but are they imparted onto a business, or rather uncovered to already lie within their DNA?

Being over 14 years into a journey of helping businesses share the big picture, Craig Smith - Founder of The Big Picture People - joins us on this week’s episode of Work Happy.

He takes us through the importance of defining and aligning values between the business and its people, how to share stories with increased visibility of our business leaders, and much more.

This episode covers

• Defining personal values and organisational values, and tying the two together
• Company values not being imposed on a business, but uncovered within
• Use of storytelling to convey a brand vision
• Curating a culture of collaboration
• The need to flex to meet the needs of your organisation, and vice versa
• Getting the values off the wall and into the business

There’s an ever-growing link between internal communications and change management across the board, which is clear to see from observing Asahi’s two functions working so closely together.

Asahi’s Head of Change Management, Soraya Abdelmageed, works closely with Sally Tidman, Internal Comms and Engagement Specialist, to combine the strengths of both teams.

Sally & Soraya join us on Work Happy this week to share how they’re creating ‘Digital Heroes’, tackling the challenge of access, storytelling as an essential quality, and much more.

This episode covers

• The relatively recent creation, and subsequent success, of Asahi’s change management function
• How storytelling is essential to creating change, particularly stories from senior leaders
• Video as an effective messaging medium
• Overcoming communications challenges like language barriers and reaching factory staff
• Asahi’s Digital Hero network

Microsoft Viva is an incredibly useful suite, but to many it presents a dizzying array of tools without the clearest idea on how to extract the most value from them all.

That’s where Silicon Reef’s very own Martin Day comes in, joining Alex Graves this week on the Work Happy podcast to simplify Viva and why it truly matters to your business.

We’ll hear how to pick the modules that best suit your team, allay fears that it’s the ‘death of the intranet’, and much more!

This episode covers

• What is Viva and why your business should be aware of it
• Which of the Viva modules can deliver most value to your team
• How to measure the adoption of these tools
• Pitfalls to avoid when trying to implement a vast number of Viva’s modules

Welcome back to a brand new series of the Work Happy podcast, kicking off with Sam Bleazard from Fortnum & Mason, inventors of the Scotch egg…

Sam is an Employer Brand Content Producer, and while that Scotch egg fact may seem trivial, it’s part of the all-important brand story and human experience that should underpin any successful business.

Join us for the start of series 3, where we dive into how vulnerability mirrors strength in business leaders, why you should roll out the red carpet for employees, and the merging of internal and external comms.

This episode covers

• The growing trend of merging specialisms, and cross-discipline work between PR and marketing
• Why it’s vital that there’s a human experience underpinning a business’ story
• How to protect your brand when it’s presented on external platforms
• Blurring lines between internal and external communications

Pearson is an educational company with a rich, 177 year history, and the global reach of its over-20k full time employees has impacted an unfathomable number of students. As a company ahead of its time in utilising video, flexi-time and WFH, they’ve quite literally written the book on remote working…

We’re joined by Kim England, VP Global Employee Communications, to share the incredible plethora of ways that Pearson are epitomising the culture of Work Happy, their Remote Working Manifesto, measuring engagement on their well-populated social platform, and much more.

This episode covers

• Keeping connected to a massive, global workforce
• Flexible working & identifying your best working hours
• Pearson’s social network Jive, and how it’s keeping their staff connected
• Evolving Pearson’s long-standing values to reflect modern working
• Supporting employee wellbeing through events, tailored content, and music

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

For a business the size of GSK operating around the globe, the comms challenges around language are more than just tone of voice - translating their messaging throughout the multinational pharmaceutical giant is a vital step for Communications Director Cheryl Field.

With around 20k employees in the Pharma Supply Chain section of the business alone, finding the right channels and tools is key to spreading the essential messages to every corner of the company.

Cheryl joins Alex this week on Work Happy to discuss the 3-pronged approach to measuring engagement, the growing prominence of video content, and how to reach the thousands of employees who aren’t desk-based.

This episode covers

• Managing comms in a 20k-strong organisation
• Delivering messages to staff without company devices
• The prominence of video as a messaging tool
• Overcoming language barriers in a multi-lingual, multinational business
• Balancing a single point of contact vs appearing where your audience is

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

It’s often been said that two heads are better than one - so consider the collaboration between Penny Richards & Helen Hartley in their joint role as Head of Internal Communications at NHS Digital as an exhibition of the key role that effective communication plays in any organisation. 

Naturally for NHS Digital, wellbeing is a priority for those working on the frontlines, in the back end, and everywhere in between. In this episode of Work Happy, we discover how Penny & Helen are measuring engagement, and using persona analysis to ensure their comms strategies combat an industry-wide focus on talent retention.

This episode covers

• NHS Digital’s unique challenges with attracting and retaining talent
• Measuring engagement and persona analysis
• Internal comms’ involvement in shaping work and wellbeing within a hybrid model
• Maintaining boundaries between work and personal time, particularly considering Penny & Helen’s job-share setup
• What it means to Work Happy at NHS Digital

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Internal news has been brought into the 21st century - gone are the generic weekly news emails, left to gather dust unread in employees’ inboxes. SharePoint, News Boost and Viva Connections present an appealing arsenal of tools for internal communicators to bring teams together.

In this bonus episode of the Work Happy podcast, we’re taking a dive into Viva Connections, SharePoint’s helpful tools for boosting particularly pertinent new stories, and using data analytics to personalise & revolutionise the traditional email format.

This episode covers

• How Viva Connections is creating a digital gateway for engaging with your users
• Using News Boost to prioritise key information amongst lots of news
• Structuring your intranet to take full advantage of Microsoft’s tools
• Combining the traditional email with personalised data to communicate important information more effectively
• A sneak peek of future developments in Microsoft’s ecosystem

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Engagement is more than numbers and metrics; the freedom to provide feedback, and the sentiment behind that feedback, is immensely important to employee engagement. It’s vital at the best of times, but with the so-called ‘Great Resignation’ on the horizon, the role of internal comms has never been more essential…

Sharing how an open approach to intranet comments and sentiment analysis is helping keep the Department for Transport’s team in touch with their values. Tom Miles, their Digital Channels Lead, joins us on episode 2 of the new series of Work Happy to delve into using data to better understand their teams, the imminent uptake of hybrid events, and keeping internal communications’ seat at the table.

This episode covers

• How Tom’s computer science background helps him fully utilise internal comms tools
• Using blogs and video to facilitate better engagement 
• Sentiment analysis, and how to best use qualitative data
• Encouraging live events and meetings through Teams as a part of a hybrid future
• Internal Communications’ seat at the table, and how we can stay there
• Minimising the impact of a post-pandemic increase in changing job roles

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Work Happy is BACK for Series 2, with more visionary communicators from some of the largest brands across a variety of sectors sharing how their internal communications & Microsoft Technologies help shape culture and encourage their teams to Work Happy.

Kicking off our return is AXA Global Healthcare’s Head of Internal Communications, Joe Malone. With past experience in journalism before working on internal comms with AXA Health, Joe is well equipped to compose clear and compelling messaging - a vital skill regardless of your channel mix.

In the first episode of the new series, we discuss the ‘Smart Working’ approach that AXA has committed to providing, the vital role of data and feedback when refining your channels, and how we as internal communicators can shape culture and inspire creativity in new and novel ways.

This episode covers:

• Internal communicators’ varied skill sets, and how journalism has helped in Joe’s role
• How you can foster culture through digital channels
• Leveraging data and information to provide a the best channel mix
• The hybrid workplace under AXA’s ‘Smart Working’ initiative

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Over the course of a fascinating first season of the “Work Happy” podcast we’ve come to learn so much from some of the biggest national & international brands about how the internal communications landscape has shifted in recent times. 

Approaching the season finale, it seems only appropriate to review a selection of the most poignant points from the first 9 episodes, from IKEA’s bible and focus on togetherness, to BT’s incredible radio show and personal approach to flexible working.

If you find some of these insights fascinating and want to learn more, then why not listen back through the series, and subscribe to be the first to know about the next, highly anticipated season as soon as it drops!

This episode covers

• How Yammer has been used to share inspiring stories among global teams
• The personal approaches taken towards picking appropriate channels
• Maintaining culture and togetherness
• Different businesses’ implementation of flexible working
• What it means to Work Happy

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

With a left brain and right brain, each to focus on more analytical information or on emotions, the way to truly capture someone’s attention is to combine vital info with engaging storytelling.

Having distilled down the secret sauce that separates information from true communication, Dana Poole is now leading comms change on a global scale with Shell. 

Dana joins Alex Graves as the final guest of this first series of Work Happy to discuss the rewarding nature of helping people with the tools and platforms rather than just implementing them, and how self-care, empathetic leadership and seamless communication technology coalesce to build a happier workplace.

This episode covers

• The crucial combination of data and storytelling in communications
• How Dana has seen a sharp uptake in Teams over Skype
• Emphasising a focus on helping people use new tech rather than just introducing it
• Shell’s approach to supporting employees
• Maintaining a collaborative culture over virtual platforms
• A recent desire for soft skills over technical skills in employment candidates

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Communication is a vital part of any business, but within the nation’s largest telecommunications provider it presents a whole host of challenges and opportunities. 

Our guest this week, BT’s Lauren Tiller, is a Communications and Engagement Manager in IT, and has been helping to lead a transformation in the tools used, liaising with comms teams and ‘Digital Champions’ to help implement them most effectively. 

Joining us on this week’s episode of the Work Happy podcast, she delves into the positive impact that video has brought to BT’s internal communications and training, how their Digital Champions have helped them to identify the ideal tech solutions through early access trials, and how BT stay ahead of the game in offering mental health and wellbeing support to staff.

This episode covers

• Encouraging a gradual shift from traditional platforms towards new comms solutions
• The rise of video, an information delivery format here to stay
• BT’s tech champions leading the team’s uptake of new platforms
• How BT tracks and uses data to engage more with their team as they change processes
• BT’s approach to home and flexible working, and how it may evolve in the future

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

In times of great change like we’ve faced for the better part of 15 months now, transforming the foundations of an organisation’s internal comms strategy becomes a greater challenge, with increased importance placed on communicating culture through new and more accessible channels.

With experience shaping change at Aviva, RAC, Pal International and Dignity to name a few successful endeavours, Kate Goodman has really demonstrated an ability to nurture the titular element of her business, The Good Comms Company. 

Kate joins us on this week’s Work Happy to discuss her current transformation schemes, the unique considerations that come with varying employee demographics, and how differing attitudes to the future workplace can impact the morale of your workforce.

This episode covers

• Implementing internal comms in businesses without any prior channels
• Tailoring your approach to comms based on employee demographics
• How Kate is using real stories from Covid to offer advice in an upcoming book
• The role of trust and flexible working in a future workplace

Links and references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Communications strategy in a world-renowned educational institution is a tall order, and for UCL’s Head of Employee Experience Kate Faxen, keeping the best interests of its staff at heart is essential as we come back to the workplace.

Giving Alex a look at how the “Belong” programme and data from regular staff feedback is guiding the decisions that UCL are making, Kate joins us for episode 6 of ‘Work Happy’ to break down their evolving mix of channels, how senior staff sponsorship can usher in cultural shifts, and the inspiring values that are regularly reminded to UCL by an unusual source - a centuries-old philosopher’s dead body...!

This episode covers

• How UCL are helping their staff come back to work safely and confidently
• The overlap between communication strategies and cultural change
• Using data to really connect with the issues affecting colleagues
• Tweaking the channels used to maximise reach and engagement

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexgraves/
Links & references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

As challenging as 2020 was for all of us, worldwide travel bans proved to be an incomparable hurdle in the travel industry. Now as the dust settles and the allure of abroad seems stronger than ever before, TUI are taking notes on the lessons from lockdown and implementing them throughout their global team.

TUI’s Dawn Robinson and Samantha Dye join us on ‘Work Happy’ to detail the degree of flexibility that’s expected from a future workplace, consider how they’ve shifted channels to invite more interaction among staff, and what makes a truly engaging virtual experience.

This episode covers

• Shifting content and channels to suit more virtual work
• Allowing people to keep a better life balance, not just work-life balance
• TUI’s ‘Flexible As You Like’ approach to remote work
• Trying new approaches to delivering team-building content
• Connecting colleagues across the globe

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexgraves/
Links & references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

There are few endeavours more noble than saving lives on our coastlines, so looking after your staff and nurturing the family spirit is a key contributor to the success of a lifesaving charity such as the RNLI. 

For an organisation which has historically relied on working in person, the task of strengthening their internal communications required bold, fun initiatives from Internal Communications Manager Jessica Noble, and Internal Comms Officer Hayley Johnston.

Find out how RNLI’s weekly film update, wellbeing campaign, increased use of Yammer, and jovial content has brought the RNLI family together like never before.

This episode covers

• How RNLI’s internal comms directed the business through uncertainty
• Positive reception for the charity’s weekly film update
• RNLI’s 3 most important principles, and their One Crew pledge
• Keeping internal communications fun in the face of adversity
• Connecting people with RNLI’s culture through their new intranet
• Launching a new wellbeing campaign

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexgraves/
Links & references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

Connecting with employees in a business environment can be approached in much the same way you would a customer, where authentic content with the audience at the heart of the conversation is paramount. Such is the approach taken at Virgin Media by their Internal Communications Director, Jess Lonsdale.

On episode 3 of ‘Work Happy’ Jess joins us to talk about the values at Virgin’s businesses that have kept her with the company for nearly 15 years, the evolution of their collaborative work through Office 365, and how the formula for a winning team requires attention to both “me” and “we”.

This episode covers

• Overhauling Virgin Media’s approach to their intranet
• Using MS Teams to vary Virgin’s communications channels
• Importance of authenticity in content
• Putting employees at the heart of comms like they would a customer
• The “me” and “we” of having an effective team
• Incorporating ‘welldoing’ into Jess’ outlook on Work Happy

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexgraves/
Links & references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/

With over half a decade of experience at Co-op, Rebecca Sykes has been taking strides to overhaul their approach to communications among their 70,000 colleagues. While this is no small task, the rewarding nature of celebrating their team’s stories has driven the creation of such campaigns as ‘Safer Stores, Safer Colleagues’, and their contributions to diversity and inclusion.

In this second episode of ‘Work Happy’ Rebecca goes in depth on the introduction and implementation of Office 365 and how it’s already led to tangible benefits, as well as her approach to the difficult task of benchmarking the success of internal communications campaigns.

This episode covers

• Modernising Co-op’s comms protocols with Office 365
• The benefits of spreading messaging across different channels
• Benchmarking and measuring the success of comms campaigns 
• Co-op’s dedicated support for colleagues’ mental health
• What to expect from “the next normal”
• Shifts in the job market and locations of their colleagues

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexgraves/
Links & references at: https://siliconreef.co.uk/work-happy-podcast/