March Newsletter – It’s Membership Month!
What a Great Start to a New Year!
We’re only two months into the current IABC DC board’s tenure, but I am amazed at the successes we have been able to achieve to date – which keeps me optimistic for our chapter’s future.
Simpplr Event: On February 24, the DC Metro and Richmond chapters organized our first event of the year, hosted by Simpplr. Two of our own members, Rebecca Callahan and Eve Angerosa, participated on a panel discussion on internal communications. Simplrr provides modern intranet software that simplifies employee communication. Thanks especially to our volunteer, Liz Mace, who recently moved to the area and is stepping up to manage this year’s events. Thank you, Liz!
March 24: Check out our events calendar for our next featured event, where “A Crisis Will Happen (Again)” author Melissa Agnes, founder and CEO of the Crisis Institute, will discuss her latest book.
In-person Events: Some of you have been asking about these. Rest assured, we hope to have an in-person event as restrictions lift and the weather becomes warmer. Here is a survey link that was sent out to with various event-focused questions – please fill it out by March 8 if you haven’t yet. Your feedback is appreciated!
Membership Incentives: Membership is our chapter’s strength. Our VP of Membership Mark Wright kicked things off with this campaign: current members can get a $25 gift card for referring someone who joins. Got any colleagues who would benefit from joining IABC? Your organization can get a discounted group membership for five or more people.
Ways to Get Involved: Volunteers are IABC DC’s lifeblood. We currently have openings in Social Media, Sponsorships, and on various committees. Volunteering is a great way to network, promote the art of communications, and exchange ideas with other likeminded professionals. Please reach out to us via our website to express your interest. We’re always seeking talent!
Job Search Resource: The communications job market is hot right now. We’re still designing our job posting page – stay tuned. We were recently contacted by Chaloner, an executive search with local opportunities; please check them out. Let us know if you’d like this feature added to the IABC DC website.
As always, thank you for being a member of IABC and being a part of the communications profession.
While we are not a political organization, we are an organization of individuals dedicated to global road safety. We want to acknowledge that our colleagues and friends, especially in Europe, are experiencing heavy, and maybe overwhelming, emotions right now.
Our thoughts are with you.
Have a wonderful March and stay safe,
Giuseppe Laviano
IABC DC Chapter President
DEI Initiatives Are Futile Without Accountability
We are seeing many companies committing to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their procedures and culture. This is an important first step, but there is a palpable “where to now?” in how to implement this commitment – especially around accountability. Dr. Evelyn R. Carter makes the case for using a framework for measuring and evaluating your DEI efforts through three steps:
- Educate — Before telling people what to do, you have to tell them why.
- Listen — Invite feedback, really listen to it, and iterate.
- Recognize — Celebrate your wins. But nudge those who need it.
Welcome, New and Returning Members!
March is Member Month!
Sure, Member Month lets you save 20% off your membership when you join or renew in March. But that’s not the biggest reason to become or stay an IABC member.
In these often hectic and demanding times, IABC is an oasis for you. It’s a source of refreshment, new perspective, and connection with people who really understand your day-to-day struggles.
IABC means access to an international network of fellow communication pros, providing you with tools and knowledge. And IABC helps you stay aware of trends all around the world, so you can serve and lead with authority in your organization.
IABC is working hard at the international, regional and chapter level to meet the needs of all members while also attracting new generations of communication professionals. You can be part of this exciting journey. And it starts by joining or renewing. Become an IABC member today.
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The DC Metro chapter extends a warm welcome to our newest members:
- Stephani Chall
- Lisa Chensvold
- Sarah Clark
- Corey Jones
- Julie Malveaux
- Natalie Montanez
- Gregg Siegel
And…welcome back to these recently renewed members:
- Erin Agelakopoulos
- Jarrett Bens
- Sandrine Deparis
- Lori Farmer
- Denise Hobik
- Mark Hoeflich
- Lauren Mazanec
- Jennie McConagha
- Lisa Patten
- Brenda Siler
- Robyn Spero
- Marcie Steerman
- Daria Steigman
- Deanna Troust
- Karen Vahouny
The Fab 5: Sparking Colleague Engagement in a Hybrid Work Setting
Each month, we share a top five list of ideas to help you advance your career, have fun, or learn something new. This month we’re looking at generating connections among your team in a hybrid work setting. As global communicators, we are often turned to by leadership for innovative engagement strategies that will attract and retain top talent. As organizations now compete globally, employees have more choice about who they want to work for, where and when they want to work and more. The power dynamic has shifted towards employees setting requirements as opposed to the company mandating how things will go. Change management consultant and IABC DC member Tracy Imm offers five ways that global communications professionals can recommend and implement to spark colleague engagement in a hybrid work setting:
- Take Action on Engagement Survey Recommendations: All too often organizations survey the workforce and fail to take action on the recommendations made by colleagues. By not taking action, trust erodes over time. Reporting back that “we heard you” and we did something with your recommendations goes a long way in building a culture that values each and every person. If there are sound business reasons for not being able to implement a particular suggestion, then explain the “why” behind the decision to not move forward. This goes a long way towards acknowledging the idea and treating colleagues as professionals.
- Add Mental Health Benefits to Total Rewards Package: A silver lining from the global pandemic has been removing stigma around mental health issues and seeking resources to deal with mental health concerns. If your organization does not already have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), then consider adding this very valuable benefit to your Total Rewards package. Several organizations have increased the number of free visits that an employee can receive under their current EAP arrangement. Consider bringing in outside healthcare professionals to lead “Lunch and Learn” webinars on topics like self-care, meditation and mindfulness and other wellness issues. Sending the signal to employees that you care about their whole being engenders loyalty to the organization.
- Champion Flexible Work Schedules and Policies: Another benefit from the global pandemic has been the shift from 100% in person working to 100% remote and hybrid set ups. Organizations now have access to talent all around the globe to fill open roles and businesses that are not championing flexible work schedules are seeing higher attrition as talented employees find employment that works for their desired lifestyle. Women in the workplace have found themselves sandwiched between childcare and eldercare responsibilities balanced against work duties. Organizations that accommodate flexible work schedules and eldercare/childcare benefits are finding themselves highly desirable places to work.
- Implement a Marketing Campaign that Highlights Corporate Social Responsibility Activities: Millennials and Gen-Z are looking to work for organizations that take corporate social responsibility seriously. Recruitment branding that highlights the work employees are doing in the community can be a tactic that tells the candidate “we are committed to the communities where we live and work.
- Host Fun Online Team Building Meetings: Zoom fatigue is real. That said, you can create and host online team building meetings that add an element of fun to the hybrid workplace. In some cases, employees are onboarded remotely and will never meet in person with their teammates. Informal get togethers can create community and engender trust, teaming and more. If your organization uses assessments like StrengthsFinders or DISC, then have everyone share their results and talk about what they want fellow workers to know about their strengths and preferences.
Contact Information:
Tracy Imm, ABC, APR
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyimm/