1. Defining the role of Communication in
Employee Engagement
All copyrights observed
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

2. About Us
• Niche corporate communication consultancy.
• Specialise in internal and employee communication
• Provide strategic customised organisational and
workforce communication interventions.
• Draw on corporate, multi-national and public sector
experience.
• A sound understanding of communication challenges
encountered within today’s organisations.
• Understand the factors that motivate people to achieve Our
employee engagement. Company
• Benchmark latest international research and trends.
• Leverage best practice methodologies and proven
Publicity and PR
techniques.
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

3. Our Service Offering
• Corporate communication strategy
• Organisational communication research, benchmarking,
analysis and reporting.
• Communication and stakeholder engagement policy
• Internal and workforce communication facilitation and
training.
• Development of internal communication systems and
channels.
• Activation campaigns and employee brand development
• Communication monitoring and measurement
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

4. Role of Communication in Employee Engagement
• A critical enabler to connect employees to the
organisation and business on all levels.
• Inspire purpose, passion and potential within workforce.
• Instill understanding, meaning and purpose for values
and brand.
• Achieve alignment with business goals and strategies.
• Build trust and foster positive cooperative and
collaborative relationships.
• Improve overall organisational effectiveness.
• Create a high-energy working environment. Connect
• Boost morale, increase productivity and performance.
• Realise attitudinal ‘shift’ to achieve higher level of buy-
in, commitment and demonstration of discretionary effort.
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

5. Global Trends for Communication in Employee
Engagement
Use of social media and social media tools is on the rise:
Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, My Space, Yammer, Flickr
microblogs, RSS, Wikis, polls, podcasting, meet ups
• Online chat forums and discussion boards
• Employee listening and dialogue
• Online face to face virtual communication via SKYPE and
video casts
• Leadership and management participation
• Employee branding
• Message management
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

6. New Communication Methods to Engage
Employees and Foster Productivity
Source: IABC Research Foundation and Buck Consultants Employee Engagement Survey
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

7. Key Communication Methods to Support
Employee Engagement
• Appreciative enquiry
• Storytelling
• Message Maps
• Journey Visioning
• Action Teams
• Critical Conversations
• Conversational Leadership
• Symbology
• Social Media
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

8. Role Players of Communication in Employee
Engagement
• Executive leaders – advocate and demonstrate (“show
the way”)
• Senior managers – catalyse the business proposition
• Line managers – make it real and relevant
• Human Capital Development – drive
• HR specialists – implement and manage
• Communication – facilitate and support
• Mentors and coaches - empower
• All employees – endorse and deliver
Communication cannot be hierarchical, but integrated into
organisational environment and existing structures
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

9. Imperatives for Employee Communication in
Engagement
• Enquire and elicit input and feedback from employees
• Inform, invite contribution from staff to make a
difference
• To reach employees on three levels:
cognitive (think), emotive (feel), behavioural (act)
• Win hearts and minds… and hands of organisation
• Alignment to business objectives
• Achieve long term benefit versus short-term gain
• Positive impact on organisational culture
• Ripple effect to impact external stakeholder interactions
• Improve brand position, competitiveness, sales.
• Realise business benefit in ROI – 3 x bottom line.
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

10. Critical Success Factors for Strategies and
Implementation
• Planning, approach and application
• Budget and investment approval
• Alignment with values, ethics and culture
• Identification of challenges and determination of
appropriate solutions
• Clarity of intent, consistency of message/s,
• Contextually relevant
• Commitment from leaders and managers at all levels
• Endorsement by HR and communication
• Buy-in from employees
• Constant monitoring and regular measurement
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010

11. Thank you!
(t) + 27 (0) 11 880 8137
(f) + 27 (0) 11 880 8138
(m) + 27 (0) 84 880 8138
(e) info@columbine.co.za
www.columbine.co.za
We work with leading companies to enhance communication between people in
organisations to enable employee engagement that motivates staff, increases
productivity, and drives performance to deliver better results and achieve
business sustainability.
HCI AFRICA NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUMMIT_17 AUGUST 2010