Give me any chance to get behind a pencil and do some sketching and I’m there. What better excuse than to visualise the future of the industry you work in?
Illustrations became the ‘IT’ thing a few years back for big events and major forums, like Davos for example, but I don’t think it’ll be a fad passing us by quickly. Being able to express ideas and plans visually is so useful in helping people understand complex things in a very simple way. Whether it be a digital illustration, whiteboard mapping or an actual sketch, translating business to art can take the communication of something to the next level and allow for a deeper understanding (especially for those extremely visual learners!). Not to mention the conversations you can spark when people discuss an illustration, usually far more engaging than those that you’d have over a 200-page document.
So, you can see I’m a fan. Hence why I did my latest sketch-a-doodle of what I believe will be most important to Internal Communications next year, in 2020.
It’s unpolished and authentic – funnily enough like I believe the majority of communications will need to be… :)
Internal Communications in 2020
Supporting change will be more important than ever
Bringing people on the journey.
Helping leaders step up.
Creating space for conversations.
Being real about the reasons.
Strategy and storytelling go hand in hand
Ditch the mammoth documents.
Use visuals and a narrative.
People are interesting - tell their stories.
Connect the dots from day-to-day to big-picture goals.
Defining and measuring culture a continual challenge
Employee engagement still key.
Inspiring leadership.
Values and behaviours.
Involvement vs. internal marketing.
Content Needs to be/will be largely…
Authentic.
Short-form.
Timely.
Video (and perhaps Virtual Reality too).
Leaders will be expected to be kick-ass communicators
Transparency so important.
Need to inspire increasing.
Ability to LISTEN.
Cutting the corporate speak.
Engaging people in change.
Promoting inclusiveness.
