Five themes from the IoIC Festival
Following a packed few days at this year’s IoIC Festival, we’ve pulled together the top five things that we’ve taken away as a team. From the constant issue of data to the power of a good story, these are our highlights from an insightful and enjoyable week:
- Data is king. We know we keep hearing this, but it’s still a top topic. Lots of sessions talked about it, research still supports it and internal communicators must get to grips with harnessing what the data insights tell us to guide our work from change, influencing leadership, campaigns, regular channels and in proving the value of IC.
- The new superpower? It’s proactive listening. During times of constant change and rapid digital adoption, connection and empathy do matter more than ever. According to the about to be published The IC Index, which had a sneak preview at the Festival, employees who rate their IC experience a perfect 10 say their organisations act on feedback, communicate strategy clearly and make leadership visible and accessible.
- Trust drives productivity. Back to that increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, displaying emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership make a difference. With research suggesting that the majority of employees still feel they need to ‘cover’ being who they are at work to fit in, communicators need to help organisations build diverse teams and comms rooted in trust, empathy, and authenticity.
- People love a good story. Even in data-driven environments, human stories spark action, so tell meaningful stories, not just Try to take your people on a journey, with a beginning, middle and end, so they see the context, the destination, and the part they’ll play.
- And finally, to remain future-relevant in your role, define yourself by the value you provide to other people, not by your job title. Be motivated by what you’re seeking to achieve and create, not what you want to avoid.
For more information and case studies on engaging your people with cybersecurity awareness, please email nick.andrews@sequelgroup.co.uk
