WordsFresh

“EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT.” Some of us hear that voice in our heads every day. During the holidays it gets even louder. Our WordsFresh president remembers hosting Thanksgiving dinner and planning to serve two picture-perfect turkeys for her extended family. One turkey did come out of the range flawless: golden brown and juicy. The other? Pale and cold. Turns out, the portable electric oven it was placed in had shut off when the breaker was tripped hours earlier. In the end, everybody huddled together and took just a speck of (the cooked) turkey, so there was enough to go around. The moral of this story? Perfection isn’t the goal – connection is. And that cold turkey? It made for a great story, retold at family gatherings for years to come. #wordsfresh #storytelling #thanksgiving

RUNNING INTERNAL COMMS CAMPAIGNS IS LIKE HOSTING THANKSGIVING DINNER. ?????? You’re stuck with a firm deadline, and your audience has big opinions. (Seriously, who knew cranberry sauce could spark such debate?) So, this year, let your well-honed comms skills guide your holiday dinner planning: 1.???Don’t stuff in too much – When you try to do everything for everyone, something’s bound to hit the floor (probably the potatoes). 2.???Know your audience – Forget the fancy tiramisu. They’re here for classic pumpkin pie. Just give them what they actually need. 3.???Accept feedback graciously – Your kid has never liked beige food. Don’t let their side-eye about the stuffing ruffle your feathers. Also, authenticity always wins. So even if the turkey’s a little dry, it’s the connection that matters. #wordsfresh #communications #thanksgiving

We love employee surveys! (Yeah, we’re weird. So what?) But when we recommend surveys, one big question comes up: should you share the results with employees? We’ve seen it all. Some companies embrace transparency. They can’t wait to loop employees in, creating easy-to-read charts and graphs around the results. Others? Not so much. They’ll barely share with leaders of the comms team. But employees expect to know the outcome. And if they hear nothing, they’ll likely assume there’s something negative to hide. Even if full transparency isn’t possible, leaders should cover a few of the highs and the “could-be-betters.” Boost trust by sharing some results at town halls, through emails or on video. Let them know their feedback will lead to action. Make it clear that employee voices matter. #wordsfresh #internalcomms #surveys

Puns belong at the Halloween costume party…not in your email subject line. Because “Tricks and Treats for Q4” isn’t giving coworkers, stakeholders or (especially) your boss a clue what your email is about. Here’s how to write a killer subject line: 1.?????Be clear. Say what’s inside. If you want the recipient to take action, say so up front. 2.?????Be brief. Try to get your point across in five words. 3.?????Write the subject line last. Once you’ve composed your email, you’ll know exactly what your subject line should communicate. Next email, save the mystery for the scary movies. (And speaking of punny costumes, if you me wearing a sheet and carrying a notepad this Halloween…I’m going as a “Ghost Writer.”) #wordsfresh #communications #halloween

"What if I knock this over?” “What if I sit on your keyboard?” Curious cats are royalty when it comes to the “What if?” questions. That same kind of curiosity can help you stretch a little, too. Break out of the (cardboard) box, as it were. In honor of National Cat Day, next time you’re stuck in a tight spot, think like a feline and ask “What if…?” You’ll likely land on your feet. #wordsfresh #communications #cats

Like crows, our team is always on the lookout for the next shiny thing! So we spent an afternoon creating crow-themed candles – complete with sparkly crystals – to celebrate our recent project wins. When you pour your heart into your work, pouring a candle is a great way to relax! #wordsfresh #creative #celebrate

IT'S THE NIGHTMARE SEASON. Yes, Annual Enrollment has returned! ?? ?? This can be a scary time for employees – and for those of you handling the communications! Trying to make sense of health insurance jargon can be torturous. After the dust (and cobwebs) settle, this is the perfect time to start planning your comms for next year. A quick employee survey post-enrollment can reveal what worked, what didn’t…and how to make next year’s communications a lot less tricky. #wordsfresh #annualenrollment #benefits #communications

You’ve got a strong opinion. But what if the company you work for doesn’t want to hear yours? You could just keep it to yourself. Or give your opinions anyway. We’re pretty sure you’ll choose the latter (we would). If so, try this simple outline to structure your suggestions: 1. Challenge: What’s the issue? 2. Recommendation: What’s your proposed solution? 3. Support: Why is this the smart approach? 4. Alternatives: What are the other (lesser) options? 5. Plan: What's your plan (and the cost)? 6. Results: What are the expected outcomes and risks? 7. Summary: How can you wrap it up with a bow? Using a structured approach like this will make it easier for your audience to understand - and embrace - your ideas. #wordsfresh #communication #leadership

Employees told you what they think. Now what? You sent out an employee survey, collected responses and now you’re ready to take action. Before you dive into the results and long before you share with leadership, there’s one crucial step you shouldn’t overlook: saying thank you. When employees take the time to share their honest opinions, it’s important to close the loop with gratitude. Thank employees for giving their thoughts on helping the company improve. If you can, let them know when they might expect to learn the survey results. But a simple “thank you” lets the team know their voices matter. It sets the tone for what comes next. #wordsfresh #communications #leadership?

Our founder presented her "Write Brain" workshop to P&G last week. In less than a day, she offered fresh approaches on everything from giving better feedback to using comms strategy to advance your career. Oh, and being the boss of AI.