Conversations in a year like no other

Hosting The Internal Comms Podcast in 2020 has been educational and emotional in equal measure.

The year started like any other. I had great fun interviewing Chuck Gose for an epsiode entitled The Cheerleader for IC. Chuck gave one of my favourite responses to the quickfire question borrowed from The Tim Ferriss Show: What message would you put on a billboard for millions to see? “Give a sh*t,” came Chuck’s response.

In February, we analysed the Gatehouse State of the Sector Report with Kevin McDougall and Andy Macleod. This annual survey of internal communication professionals worldwide sets out the current state of our channels, practices and budgets.

I put my first CEO in the hotseat. Marc Barone is chief executive for continental Europe at AECOM. This Fortune 500 company is one of the world’s largest professional engineering design firms. It was great to hear the thoughts of a business leader who so clearly understands the strategic value of great communication.

This prompted me to invite another leader, Adriènne Kelbie, on the show. Adriènne is CEO at the Office for Nuclear Regulation. In Your Biggest, Best, Boldest Self, Adriènne demonstrated her deep understanding of the power of diversity, communication and engagement.

Priya Bates explored the importance of inner strength in Courage, Confidence and Communication. With her warm, engaging personality and long experience, Priya made a delightful guest.

On the same day in early March, I had the honour of interviewing two giants of internal communication – Rachel Miller and Bill Quirke. I didn’t know it at the time, but How to Thrive in IC and The Godfather of IC were to be my last face-to-face interviews for many months to come.

By mid-March the potential devastation of Covid-19 began to emerge. Communication teams were in crisis mode. I invited two crisis comms experts, Sarah Pinch and Tamara Littleton, who shared their advice and reflections.

While IC teams grappled with keeping their workforces informed, galvanised and connected, I interviewed Shel Holtz for Stepping Up in a Crisis. Shel is one of the most experienced, respected and listened to voices in our field and I sincerely hope this will be one of many interviews with him.

Amanda Coleman has worked with police and civic leaders as they tackled some of the UK’s biggest incidents and sustained reputational attacks of recent years. In Crisis Communication at the Coalface, Amanda shared her take on the current situation.

By June I was becoming more ambitious with remote recording. We had our first international roundtable discussion three fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators in three different countries – Jennifer Wah, Brad Whitworth and Neil Griffiths. Together, we discussed the potential long-term impact of Covid-19 on the comms profession.

With the easing of the UK lockdown in the summer, I was able to record my last face-to-face interview of 2020 with Jenni Field. In Leadership in Unprecedented Times, Jenni talked about being President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations during a year like no other. After many weeks of relative isolation, we were giddy with excitement at the thought of a conversation in real life.

When I ask my guests who inspires their thinking, one name keeps cropping up: Roger D’Aprix. Roger is the author of 10 books on the subject of communication, leadership and culture. He spoke to me from New York in an episode we entitled IC’s Founding Father.

Tasneem Chopra proved a fabulous guest in Cross-cultural Comms. As a consultant and champion for social justice, Tasneem explained how she helps organisations identify their cultural problems, and crucially, address them.

The warmth, wit and wisdom of Steve Crescenzo resulted in one of my favourite episodes of all time: How to do less, but do it better. With insight and humour, Steve generously imparted plenty of no nonsense, actionable advice.

Throughout 2020, IC teams were seeking new ways to connect with a more dispersed audience. So, I invited Frank Wolf, co-founder of the IC platform Staffbase, to explain how to navigate today's digital landscape.

My most nerve-racking interview came with The Art of Negotiation – a conversation with legendary hostage negotiator, Chris Voss. As lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, Chris spent 24 years persuading terrorists, bank robbers and kidnappers to change their behaviour. I shouldn’t have been anxious; Chris explained his approach to negotiation with great integrity and finesse.

Amid the turmoil of 2020, many IC pros were thrown into the spotlight. I was invited to speak at an online event about imposter syndrome and was surprised by how this phenomenon seemed to be affecting so many of us. To guide us through Imposter Syndrome, I turned to an expert: Dr Valerie Young in The Secret Thoughts of Successful People.

Research shows measurement is particularly challenging for many IC professionals. So, I asked a measurement and data expert, Benjamin Ellis, to guide us through the topic. In Evidence-based IC we learned about Benjamin’s measurement “pet peeves” in a conversation I found highly informative. 

I normally avoid stories too close to home for fear the show will be considered too promotional of AB, the comms agency I run. However, I could no longer ignore an IC story under our noses. In Building the First IC Agency, I asked AB’s founder and namesake Anthony (Tony) Buckley, now 86, and his son Tim, who continued his legacy, to explain what it was like to establish the first IC back in 1964.

There was one group of comms professionals I wanted to speak with before we said farewell to 2020 – those working in our National Health Service (NHS). And so, in At the Heart of the Crisis, three passionate communications pros – Amanda Nash, Ross Wigham and Adam Brimelow – explained how they had supported, informed, inspired and listened to NHS employees throughout a year like no other. A fitting end to the year.

The Internal Comms Podcast started as a side project. I thought we’d record two or three episodes. Perhaps my mother and sister would listen, maybe a few colleagues with a little coercion! I never imagined we’d already have 54,000 downloads in more than 50 countries or that so many esteemed people would agree to be interviewed.

I’m looking forward to season five – some amazing guests are already lined-up. But there are slots still to fill. If you know someone with a great comms story to tell, please comment below.

I’d like to thank my podcast team, especially John Phillips, for their ingenuity and hard work producing fortnightly shows when the pressure was high and many other deadlines loomed. And finally, a heartfelt thank you to our listeners – it has been a pleasure and privilege to spend this year with you.

If you would like a free consultation with Katie to discuss your career and organizational goals for 2021, please email [email protected] to arrange a virtual coffee.