Entries tagged as ‘employee information event’
In communication we talk about two-way communication, sender and receiver, interactive and dialogue, viral and e-communication, as well as integrated communication plans and concepts. With webcasts, I am sending out very specific information, portioned into digestible news blocks or categories on average to a very broad audience. Therefore my role was to brief and coach the CEO and Executive Team members as to their performance in front of the camera as well as the messages we wanted them to bring across to employees, clients, shareholders etc. I made sure any scripts and presentation print-outs were available, the microphones working, the speakers desk set up and any and Q&As prepared. Often times during an employee information event, I’d sit in the front row close to the speaker’s desk, just in case something went wrong. From there I also had eye contact with the cameraman recording the webcast who could give me hand signs should any technical issues arise.
Reading the non-verbal communication signs
Be aware of who you are broadcasting to. Depending on your receivers, you need to prepare your content accordingly. As this is an honest and sometimes non-forgiving format, where people pick up on non-verbal signs as much as what is actually said, interpretations may vary depending on cultures, religions, gender and hierarchical level. 
Keep your communication bits relevant, significant and to the point. It all depends on how it is delivered. You have surely heard that a million times, but take note, with webcast this holds true even more.
Connecting with the audience
I see so much wasted content, that I wonder what really sticks with the people. One of the best examples I experienced was the introductory speech of a new CEO, early in the morning on a cold winter day in February where employees at first seemed half asleep sitting in the auditorium where they suddenly got captivated by the company’s new leader through her clarity and direction, charisma and personal engagement. Wow, that was an experience. We webcast it to all our local offices around the globe and received instant feedback on our new CEO from the far corners of the world.
Categories: corporate communication · internal communication · investor relations · marketing communication · shareholder communication
Tagged: auditorium, broadcasting, camera, cameraman, CEO, clients, communication, employee information event, employees, Executive Team, interactive, microphones, presentation, script, shareholders, speech, webcast
Let me make one thing clear: There is tremendous value in introducing streaming products to your organization, if you believe it or not. Why? Because you are communicating directly, practically face-to-face and in a transparent and uncensored manner with your audiences. Getting feedback is easy and people will tell you quite honestly what they think of content you just published. In addition, hundreds of companies in Switzerland alone have produced webcasts over the past 10 years.
Bridging the gap between IT and communication
When I first started using webcasts, that was for employee information events in internal communication, I was a little bit skeptical because I did not fully understand what broadcasting on the Internet was all about or how it really worked, and that I as a communication professional would be able to reap such benefits from it in my work during many years. Prior, I had experienced the old-fashioned business TV in all its glory, but couldn’t quite imagine that webcasting would be so easy – and less costly!
After a couple of tests together with one of our IT guys and the people from Solutionpark, I slowly got the hang of it and figured that this would work for a geographically highly spread out audience on multiple continents on the one hand and even more importantly, that our CEO would go for it and actively participate as well as other members of the Executive Team. I must say that they had already been doing live investor calls with presentation webcasts (slides only) and were used to the set-up, though without a camera or live audience in front of them. It turned out to be a success with employees eager to see and hear the CEO’s presentations on quarterly results, strategy, significant personnel announcements etc. Since then I have produced many webcasts for various occasions and communication situations and have become a firm believer in the benefits of streaming technology.
Speaking out
NZZ Online
I have been talking primarily from a communication perspective but want to point out the value for CEOs, Executive Team and/or Board members as well. Through this communication channel a CEO gains significant visibility throughout the organization, even without traveling around and thus saving time and travel costs. Plus, a leader’s credibility can be strengthened on a broad scale and key messages reinforced across entities and organizational structures. Independent of time zone, hierarchy, function, corporate culture or location, everyone with access to the web can see and hear a company’s messages.
What do you think? Send me your thoughts and comments.
Categories: corporate communication · internal communication · investor relations · marketing communication
Tagged: audience, broadcasting, business TV, camera, CEO, channel, communication, company message, employee information event, Executive Team, internal communication, Internet, investor calls, live audience, presentation webcast, Solutionpark, streaming, technology, webcast
