From the Comms Cupboard: Recent Episodes
Shaun Weston
A well-meaning podcast for communications professionals and their friends. Facts and fun from a dark, soundproof cupboard.
From the Comms Cupboard draws to a close after 40 episodes. John + Shaun discuss why they started the podcast in the first place. It's been a strange year, with multiple lockdowns affecting how we work, where we work and what we work on. Some people started a podcast about communication. What have we learned about ourselves during the Coronavirus, and what will happen to the fish if no one eats it? Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
A new report looks at trends in employee engagement and internal communications. John + Shaun discuss some of the bullet points and statistics. There are some positives and downsides to the findings, with "going digital" a key area under the microscope. Are we still obsessed with meetings? Is the IT department still deciding what tools we use? And how come no one's making a chocolate bar called Conduit? (Probably because it sounds wrong.) Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Managers are often thrust into positions they're unsuited for. Whose job is it to help them handle communication better: the comms department, HR or the boss? John + Shaun navigate the different scenarios where one department may be better than another in making life easier for a typical manager. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Performance appraisals will look different this year because of Covid-19. But how so? And are communications clear enough about what they might look like? John + Shaun discuss comms clarity around objectives taking into account a stressful year for some and a good year for others. What motivates us? Are ratings fair? And how do John + Shaun rate the past year as podcast hosts? Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Humans seem to love hierarchy, but red tape and bureaucracy can lead to poor communication and lack of respect for creativity. John + Shaun cite the Handforth Parish Council viral video as an example of poor communication, and of status, titles and officious behaviour. It's good for a giggle, but corporate culture is something we may need to check if we want individual creativity to flourish. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Professional comms teams aren't the only ones with the ability to communicate well. John and Shaun talk about what makes an effective business. It turns out communication is something we can all improve, especially if we're members of different teams and departments, or we're ducks and moorhens. (Take a listen to see what we mean.) Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Do we rely too much on leaders to guide us through a crisis, or can we all use the power of communication? John and Shaun discuss the particulars while out for a walk. Many of us have the common sense to make our own decisions, but we blame managers for what transpires. What can good communication do to help others get through crises? Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
On Time to Talk Day, John and Shaun discuss mental health at work, supporting the campaign 'the power of small'. Statistics show 2020 was a tough year for employee well-being, so what will the after effects look like? What role does leadership play in how flexible our workplaces become, and what becomes of the puppy at the job interview? (All will be revealed.) Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
The pandemic brought with it short-term plans to counter its effects. But what about the long-term? John and Shaun have a short discussion about it. How important is it to think long-term when it comes to business decisions, and what responsibilities do we have as communications professionals to help people see beyond the present situation? Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
A good brainstorming session is great, but do all the best ideas make it to the surface? John + Shaun discuss the possibilities. Whether you're working remotely or gathering in an office, there's more to a productive brainstorm than you think. This episode covers distractions, dominant personalities and prodigious toddlers. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Change programmes rely on good, transparent communication. John and Shaun focus on the steps that mitigate the impact of organisational change. They discuss the importance of company values, honesty, avoiding business-speak, Milky Bars and holding on to valuable people. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
What do we do with the insight we gather, and what role do comms professionals play in ensuring good insight is shared? John and Shaun discuss the ins and outs. What can we learn about ourselves from company surveys, and what can we do better by learning from other companies? It's good to learn from others! Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Kick off the new year with a few tips about tools. John and Shaun come up with a couple of ideas, and about how comms can help spread the word. Notion is suggested as a way to build a company wiki, as well as tools such as Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, Slack and the power of iPads. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
John and Shaun recorded a brief message to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! Love from the Comms Cupboard! See you in 2021! x
When bullying reveals its ugly face in the workplace, what do we do? John and Shaun discuss stats, signs and potential comms solutions. Bullying and banter often go hand in hand – it's about our behaviour. But there are many types of bullying, and different ways to interpret what it actually looks like. Business leaders need to prevent good people leaving within a year, so how do they enforce company values? The comms team comes to the rescue! Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
As we get older, is it easy to stay fresh and hungry? John and Shaun believe it’s important to be adaptable more than ever. And with relatively unforeseen events such as a pandemic, a well as the relentless pace of technological change, there’s never been a better time to stay on top of your game. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
How do we look after our colleagues' well-being without insulting them or affecting our own happiness? John and Shaun float a few theories of their own. This show may include the words fat, grumble and humdinger. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Working at home doesn't have to be tedious. John and Shaun discuss ways to battle remote fatigue that you might eventually take back to the office. You never know, you may communicate better! There are definitely lessons to take from at-home work life, but recognising what they are could be difficult. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Does it matter if your boss isn't actually the person writing those inspiring messages to the troops? John and Shaun suggest it's about a good leader-comms relationship. It's easy to accuse your CEO of not really knowing what's going on, but perhaps it's a case of someone else having better communications skills to make up for it. Of course, like everything, it's never that simple. Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
It's really important for businesses to back things up properly, but many employees still aren't doing it right. John and Shaun discuss why companies don't have a good plan B, or if they do, why many employees still don't get it. Is it about how we communicate the importance of backing up, and making things non-technical for technophobes? Perhaps, and it may also be something to do with working remotely on rubbish company laptops! Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
Should we talk openly about our salary to help transparency in the workplace, or would we be opening a can of worms? John and Shaun discuss the pros and cons. It gets complicated when you think about income disparity, knowing your worth, and salary banding. It's even harder if you don't know what down-balling means, if it means anything at all! Produced by Shaun Weston Media. Music by CyrilNikitin, Music Standard Licence.
From their dimly lit isolation cabin, John and Shaun consider the difficulties of asking for more money or resources. Are all communications departments under-resourced? If they are, convincing the leadership team that extra help is needed can be a tough task, especially if it’s difficult to demonstrate value. We may hear about dogs, Game of Thrones and the ignominy of being called a “support function”. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
Does experience trump being a jack of all trades? From their lily scented closet, John and Shaun talk about finding a new comms job. While the value of the internal communications professional may have more gravitas these days, it seems the young videographer may have a better chance to land the comms role than you do. Do businesses actually know what they want, or is it all smoke and mirrors? Whichever way you look at it, the highly skilled pros out there, in a variety of professions, may find they’re being passed over in favour of those who can do a little bit of everything. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun say it doesn’t matter whether you’re a large or small business, the basic principles of communication are universal. It’s hard to put a number on how many employees indicate a tipping point for hiring a comms professional. If you’re a leader, how do you know when you need to step back and hire someone? Perhaps that’s a step too far for some, especially if they come from the school of Steve Jobs. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun chat about what employee engagement means while falling off their comms cupboard chairs. What does employee engagement mean, how do we create engagement among hundreds of staff, and is staff a nice word? Plus, is a business responsible for people’s happiness? Kerry Weaver from ER may have all the answers. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun discuss the practicalities around delivering bad news, while sat in their pitch black cupboard. It’s an episode about being prepared, having empathy, avoiding the grapevine, being honest and being available. And George Clooney may pop up somewhere, which is always a good thing. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
Stuck in the black fixings of their humid cupboard, John and Shaun talk about the various skills of a communications professional. Some skills are learned while some are innate. What makes us good communicators, and why is John obsessed with planning? (Probably because it’s a good thing.) Shaun also has a pop at lazy/unrealistic writers of job descriptions. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
A pat on the back can mean the world to somebody. From the sticky gloom of their cupboard, John and Shaun discuss being kind in the workplace. Simple acknowledgment of a job well done can go a long way towards improving communication in the workplace. And how many Take That songs did Shaun mention? Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun ruminate on the flexibility required for global communications while stuck in a hot cupboard. What works in one country may not work in another, so the discussion covers local leadership, centralised content, automated messages, sharing success and collaborating properly. You may also hear about the smell of barbecued food. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
Social distancing may be easy to talk about, but what about the practicalities of returning to the office? John and Shaun discuss the ins and outs in their dark isolation. Does the office model have to change now that people may have become accustomed to new ways of working? Are others excited by the prospect of getting back to the commute and life behind a desk? Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
The fiddly business of automation is the hot topic from the comms cupboard this week, scrutinised by John and Shaun. What potential pitfalls exist around automation and automated messages, and what happens when scheduled content becomes irrelevant or inappropriate? It would be nice to think someone has taken ownership of it. From a communications perspective, shared ownership of the technical side of automation could be the best solution. But does this mean comms pros have to become techies too?! Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun discuss the finer details of anonymity and the feedback process of communications, from the inky corners of their comms cupboard. Does anonymous feedback create more honest responses and questions, or does it create a safe place for aggressive people to air their grievances? It all sounds rather British. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun fixate on decisions made by committee from the blackness of their cupboard confines. Messages can become diluted when too many people are involved. It’s a chat about trust, empowerment, ownership, and whether it’s necessary for a CEO to sign everything off. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
Social media divides opinion, so John and Shaun discuss its effectiveness from a business and communications point of view, from the gloom of their soundproof cupboard. Why are many people reluctant to engage with their organisation’s social media channels, and what stops the sales team from generating leads? Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun ruminate from their comms cupboard on the balance leaders have to strike in order to be visible and authentic. What different forms of communication are available for leaders to tap into, and how might they use them to be a more visible leader to their employees? Transparency, free breakfasts and Star Wars may come into it. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun consider the lifespan of email, and whether it should be put out to pasture. And what other tools are out there that could take its place? They discuss WhatsApp’s alleged open rate, short messages, Ernest Hemingway, work mobiles, guilt, being ‘always on’, and the real reason people like to keep email around! Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
Who’s responsible for data protection? John and Shaun discuss handling sensitive information from the blackness of their comms cupboard. Why do companies collect so much data about us? And where do they put it? They cover unsecured Wi-Fi networks, GDPR guidelines, data breach semantics, Arnold Schwarzenegger and leaky kettles. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
When does collaboration work and not work? John and Shaun discuss collaboration tools, stubborn people and knowledge sharing within the shady confines of their comms cupboard. How do we connect better within an organisation and stop blaming the tools? Are leaders solely responsible for encouraging people to connect? This, and more, is under scrutiny (along with the efficacy of folder hierarchies). Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun discuss the various angles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) while in dingy comms cupboard isolation. Is there an opportunity in communications to create better employee engagement by being more transparent about CSR? It’s one of many questions to ponder, and topics include charitable giving, disingenuous PR, employee inclusion, Gordon Gekko and sugared water. Podcast produced by Shaun Weston Media.
John and Shaun tackle the many misconceptions about communications people from the shadowy depths of their comms cupboard. Sticky subjects include owning your own message instead of asking someone to “comms it up”. Then there’s accountability, Chinese whispers, boats, journeys, regional insight, and the power of creativity.
You may have been asked to work from home recently. How do you feel about it? John and Shaun discuss the topic from the shadows of their comms cupboard. Over a few short minutes, John and Shaun manage to talk vaguely about personal integrity, trust, fishing in a global talent pool, office overheads, professional visibility, expectations of comms professionals, learning to work remotely, guilt, commuting, face time, productivity, and Derek from Iowa. And don’t dis Dolly. It’s just not done.