Thumbs-up Emojis Won't Build Relationships

LinkedIn post (Nov 24, 2024)

𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁: nobody ever got a promotion or closed a big deal because of a perfectly timed 👍. Emojis don’t build relationships. Yet in today’s fast-paced, tech-saturated world, we’ve let quick reactions and one-word replies become the default. Here’s the thing: relationships drive results, and relationships are built on genuine, human connections. The personal touch isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore—it’s your competitive edge.  

When was the last time an emoji made someone feel truly valued? Compare that to a quick "Great insight during the meeting today" or someone remembering to ask about your big weekend plans. Those small gestures don’t just cut through the noise—they stick. They say, "You matter," and in a business world packed with deadlines and distractions, that’s unforgettable.  

Sure, putting in the effort to personalize your communication takes time, but here’s the irony: the simpler, human interactions are often the most impactful. It’s about showing you care in the moments that matter.  

Here are 5 ways to bring the personal touch back into your professional life:  

1️⃣ 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀  

   Listen for small but meaningful things people mention—a milestone, a favorite hobby, or a goal they’re working on. Follow up with a quick "How’s the marathon training coming?" or share an article tied to their interests.  

2️⃣ 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲

   Not every message needs a reason. Drop someone a quick note: "Your presentation really landed with the team—great job" or "I thought of you when I saw this article." These little surprises can transform a professional relationship.  

3️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 

   A well-timed joke or personal reference can go a long way. If a client mentioned their love of cats, send them a funny (and appropriate) meme when the moment calls for it. Humor breaks down barriers and builds rapport.  

4️⃣ 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆

   Recognize contributions in meetings or emails, but also send a private note like, "Your work on this project was exceptional—it made all the difference." A mix of public and private appreciation is powerful.  

5️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀  

   Ditch the standard "Hope you’re well" and opt for something tailored: "How’s your big move going?" or "Did your team enjoy the game this weekend?" Specificity shows you’re paying attention and invested.  

𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Today, pick three people—a colleague, a client, or even a mentor—and try one of these approaches. Send a thoughtful message, acknowledge their recent efforts, or follow up on something they’ve shared with you. Start small, but start now. In a world of quick reactions and endless distractions, being intentional is how you stand out—and how you lead with impact.

#Innovation  #PersonalBranding  #Motivation  #HumanResources  #Futurism

When AI Treats Employees Like Machines

 

LinkedIn post 

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀?

AI has revolutionized how companies communicate and collaborate, but when the same technology is used to monitor employees, the results can be far from beneficial.  

Imagine this: your every keystroke, message, or break tracked by AI, with algorithms deciding if you’re “productive enough.” It’s a slippery slope that can lead to distrust, burnout, and even legal challenges.  

Here’s why businesses, especially those prioritizing strong internal communications, need to tread carefully when using AI to monitor employees. 

1️⃣ 𝗘𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁

AI surveillance can feel invasive, leading employees to question their organization’s motives. Trust is a two-way street, and constant monitoring sends the message that employees aren’t trusted to manage their own time or responsibilities. Once trust is broken, it’s hard to rebuild.  

2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻  

Employees have a right to privacy, and crossing that line can create significant legal and ethical dilemmas. Overstepping boundaries can result in lawsuits, reputational damage, and a toxic work culture. Transparency about how data is collected and used is critical.  

3️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻  

Reducing employees to data points ignores the human side of work. Performance can’t always be quantified—creativity, collaboration, and morale often fall outside measurable metrics. Over-reliance on AI risks devaluing these essential qualities.  

4️⃣ 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻  

AI is only as unbiased as the data it’s trained on. Monitoring tools can misinterpret behaviors or disproportionately impact certain groups of employees. These errors can lead to unfair assessments and discrimination claims.  

5️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵  

When employees feel constantly watched, stress levels rise. A culture of surveillance can lead to overwork, anxiety, and disengagement—the opposite of what businesses aim to achieve.  

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𝗔 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

AI can still play a positive role in employee engagement and communication, but its use should empower, not police. Instead of focusing on surveillance, companies can use AI to support employees—helping them find resources, learn new skills, and streamline their workflows.  

The key is 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. AI should be a tool for progress, not a weapon of control.  

Let’s build workplaces where technology elevates humanity rather than diminishing it.  

What are your thoughts on businesses using AI for monitoring? Let’s discuss below!  

#AIEthics #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #InternalComms #Innovation

AI and Internal Communications: Buckle Up for the Changes to Come

AI and Internal Communications: Buckle Up for the Changes to Come

LinkedIn post published on November 14, 2024

Be honest—how often have you opened a company email and thought, “This doesn’t apply to me”? AI could change all that.

Imagine every company update felt like it was written just for you. That’s the magic AI-powered personalization promises for internal communications, to turn “meh” messaging into memorable and meaningful moments that leave employees smiling.

Of course there are serious concerns over using AI to target employees, but that's not what this post is about, I'll leave that for next time.

Here are five ways companies could use AI to better communicate with employees.

1️⃣ Customized Content, Zero Noise

AI will learn how employees engage with platforms like intranets and email, delivering the content that actually matters to them. This also helps with identifying how your content will resonate with employees. No more blanket announcements everyone scrolls past—each update will increasingly be tailored to their role, interests, and work.

2️⃣ Engagement That Sticks

Personalized messages aren’t just convenient; they get people engaged, leading to better morale. With deep insights driving communications that feel relevant to what people do every day, they’re way more likely to tune in. Forget monthly newsletters—in the future your AI will learn and prioritize useful content tailored to employees based on their own needs, stated or otherwise by themselves and others.

3️⃣ Right Message, Right Time (No Guessing)

A finely tuned AI will help us not only know what to say, but where and when to reach each employee—without endless “which channel?” debates. Mobile notifications will hit frontline workers between tasks; detailed reports arrive in office teams’ inboxes during meetings. It will be like having a coms expert with a crystal ball.

4️⃣ Search Made Simple—No More Endless Scrolling

With AI-enhanced search, you should be able to quickly find employees, get quick results, and let them move on with their day. No more calling around to find who knows what to do. Imagine saving everyone from the abyss of outdated files and irrelevant docs. As data is added to the system it will increasingly get better.

5️⃣ Real-Time Feedback (Minus the Waiting)

AI doesn’t just deliver content; it tracks what’s working, giving you real-time insights to adjust on the go. So, instead of wondering if that announcement hit the mark, you’ll know instantly—and can adapt to keep engagement high. I'm not saying you will be giving up running all surveys, but with AI models running 24/7 there will be ample fertile ground for you to know employees at any particular point in time.

AI personalization can potentially help take coms from “just another email” to genuinely engaging, helping employees feel more connected and informed. Next time I'll post about the dangers of companies using AI to target employees. Stay tuned!

#InternalComms #AIPersonalization #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #creativity #innovation #technology #artificialintelligence #management

Internal Communications: the Unsung Hero

 

LinkedIn post published on November 9, 2024

The unsung hero of many organizations? Internal communications! This post explains why it matters and offers some tips for healthy internal coms.

We all know it’s essential to keep customers informed, but what about the people working every day to make sure there are customers? Enter internal communications—the glue that holds high-functioning teams together. Without clear comms, employees are basically driving in thick fog with no headlights. And let’s be real: nobody wants to be the team left squinting at the road, unsure of what’s ahead.

Internal communications is just as essential as external communications. It’s the backbone of any business that wants to operate efficiently and create a healthy culture. Without a strong internal strategy, even the best external plans feel like building a house without a foundation.

A key example of how low morale and alienation can hurt a company comes from Sears. Once a retail giant, Sears' slow decline was partly due to poor internal communication. As the company struggled with restructuring, employees felt alienated and disconnected from leadership. A lack of clear, ongoing communication left workers unsure about their roles, contributing to low morale, reduced productivity, and mass exits. A stronger internal coms strategy could have bridged the gap between leadership and employees, fostering trust and alignment. There are many similar examples.

So, how can companies build a strong internal communications program? Here are five suggestions:

1️⃣ Consistency is Key: Regular updates from leadership help keep everyone aligned. Employees shouldn’t have to guess about the company’s direction.

2️⃣ Two-Way Communication: Let employees share feedback and ask questions. One-way comms create silos and frustration.

3️⃣ Personalize the Message: Tailor communication to different teams and departments. Make sure everyone understands how the company’s goals relate to their work.

4️⃣ Make it Accessible: Use multiple channels (email, intranet, meetings) to ensure all employees have access to key messages.

5️⃣ Support Change with Clear Messaging: During times of change, anticipate concerns, provide reassurance, and offer clarity about what changes mean for employees.

Internal coms isn’t just about updates—it’s about building trust and transparency. When people understand the destination, they’re more likely to put the pedal to the metal. Clear communication, empathy, and maybe even humor keep everyone ready for the road ahead, especially in times of crisis and change.

After working with top names like TD Bank, J. Walter Thompson (Ford US account), and Black & McDonald, I’m back in the Chicago area and ready to bring my experience to companies seeking clarity and cohesion. Message me if you’d like to discuss how we can get your employees to be happier, more on board with your goals, and performing at their very best.

#InternalCommunications #ChangeManagement #Leadership #CorporateCulture #Hiring