Communicators worldwide covet a seat at the leadership table (wherever that mythical table may be). But if executives don’t even want you to brief them on issues that matter to them, that seat will never materialize. In this FIR podcast short, Neville and Shel discuss how to give an effective executive briefing — and get one step closer to that seat.
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The post FIR #258: How to Brief an Executive appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

For the past several years, momentum has been building as more and more organizations — recognizing public expectations that they take steps to address social and environmental issues in the wake of declining trust in other institutions — articulate strong positions on issues ranging from climate change to transgender rights. Then came the leak of the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion decision, indicating the Court will overturn 50 years of precedent with Roe v. Wade. The response from the corporate world has been tepid. In this monthly long-form episode, Neville and Shel look at the few organizations that have spoken out and how some are taking internal measures rather than public-facing positions, while most remain silent.

As if that’s not enough heavy discussion, we also spend time looking at the culpability of social media that provide access to live-streamed footage of hatred-motivated mass shootings, from Christchurch to Buffalo.

Also in this episode:

• A Facebook executive has released an 8,000-word analysis of the metaverse, arguing that Meta can’t own it, and nor can anyone else
• The hybrid work model that many companies have adopted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic means an end to many employees being forced to participate in mandatory “fun” activities. Is that a good thing?
• New research finds that employees are experiencing notification fatigue, and it’s worse than Zoom fatigue or email fatigue
• There’s a correlation between a CEO’s reputation and that of the brands in their companies
• Dan York’s report focuses on TikTok, including a spate of new features and a look at some of the video-sharing app’s plans

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The post FIR #257: Purpose Vs. Polarization appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The COVID-19 pandemic created a host of new communication pressures on company leaders, so they, in turn, leaned on their communicators, who evidently came through for them in a big way. The result: increased influence in the C-suite, according to a Gartner survey. Neville and Shel have questions.
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The post FIR #256: Comms Influence in the C-Suite appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Micro-learning is the formal label for the upbeat, music-backed TikTok videos that demonstrate how to accomplish tasks on Excel, Microsoft’s ubiquitous spreadsheet tool. The videos are racking up billions of views and the influencers behind the videos are making fistfuls of cash. Microsoft played no part in getting the video trend started; the company is just taking advantage of what the influencers are producing. Lessons abound for companies and communicators.
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The post FIR #255: How TikTok Makes Spreadsheets Cool appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Google used a short video to tease a feature for its Augmented Reality (AR) glasses that could be AR’s killer app. They don’t look bad, either.
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The post FIR #254: AR You Ready? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Search “blockchain” and you’re sure to find plenty of commentaries that proclaim the core Web3 technology doomed. It can never work, they say, and they outline a broad range of reasons. Yet blockchain is already managing processes in the background — some of which you may already be using in your own home. Neville and Shel explore some of the ways blockchain-based technologies are becoming everyday tools and what this means for communicators.
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The post FIR #253: Blockchain In Your House appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Matthew Rechs confesses that he was not a great manager at first but he learned some fundamental rules that will benefit anyone who hopes to be more than an old-school boss. For internal communicators, Rechs’ “promises” — first published as a series of tweets — can serve as the foundation for a targeted effort to elevate effective management in your organization.
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The post FIR #252: Managers, Not Bosses appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

POAPs are getting to be a big deal, with Warner Music inking a deal with the organization behind them. Never heard of POAP? It’s the Proof of Attendance Protocol, used to mint a special kind of NFT that serves as proof you were there, whether it’s a concert, a conference, or some other kind of event or activity. Their use by businesses is inevitable. Even internally, companies can award POAPs to employees who attend the town hall, for example, some of which could wind up being highly coveted. In this episode, Neville and Shel break down POAPs and their potential for organizations, especially those looking to engage Gen Z-aged individuals.
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The post FIR #251: Proof of Attendance appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Nissan and Toyota are entering the metaverse, one with a focus on employees and the other targeting consumers. They join some other auto manufacturers that have already established a metaverse presence. Fidelity Investments is also setting up shop, as is Vanity Fair. And these are a drop in the bucket among the businesses staking metaverse claims.
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The post FIR #250: Go for a Drive in the Metaverse appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

For those who are weary of the staged, curated images people share on social networks like Instagram (as if their lives were truly that enviable), BeReal wants to be the antidote. It is finding favor with the college-aged crowd but there could be untapped opportunities for businesses to participate, too.
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The post FIR #249: Getting Authentic with BeReal appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.