On Wednesday 27th September 2017, scarlettabbott - Britain's leading internal communications specialist agency - invited its network to our London office to discuss an increasingly important topic: diversity & inclusion. The event centred around rich conversations on hot topics on the theme of diversity and inclusion. These slides were presented to open the event and set the scene for the ensuing discussion. Future Functions is a series of events aiming to explore what's on the horizon for the internal communications and employee engagement industry. For more information, please email russell.norton@scarlettabbott.co.uk Pls note - the slido links will be live until 31st October 2017.

5. Pursue
your
passion

6. Russ Norton
IC Managing Consultant, London
@scarlettabbott @commsruss
5+ years IC experience
in-house and agency
20+ years experience
as a gay man

7. Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important

8. Why is
internal communication
important?

9. How do you articulate
the importance of
internal communications?
slido.com: sa2709

10. Lisa
We help employees to
understand more about the
company they work for, so
that they enjoy working
there, work hard and stay
loyal to the business.
Andy
Helping large organisations connect with
their workforce - keeping them informed
and focused on the right things.
Alastair
I'm basically an internal journalist for the business.
I tell people what they need to know about where the
organisation is going and how they can help get there.
Hopefully, I give them a way to have their say, too.
Rayna
The end goal is two fold: help employees
understand where the business is going
and inspire them to take the action needed
to drive the business forward.
Lu
We help colleagues to better
understand what their
business is about, what the
organisation is trying to
achieve, and how, as
individuals, they can
contribute and be part of the
success, meaning they will
hopefully enjoy their job more.
Russ
I’d say we make
sure the right
people have the
right information at
the right time, in
order to help them
do their jobs better.

11. The world is
changing very fast.
Big will not beat
small anymore.
It will be the fast
beating the slow. Rupert Murdoch
21st Century Fox

12. 1) Collaborating
and innovating
2) Getting closer
to customers

13. Gartner, 2017
89%
customer experience
of companies expect
to compete mostly
on the basis of

14. Great internal
communications
leads to:
Gartner, 2017
Laura Goodwin, University of Oxford, 2014
+40%
customer
satisfaction
+44%
employee
retention
+56%
customer
loyalty
+ 36%
overall performance
+50%
safety
+50%
productivity
+33%
profitability

15. 1) Collaborating and innovating
2) Getting closer to customers
Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important

16. Why is
diversity & inclusion
important?

17. How do you articulate
the importance of
diversity & inclusion?
slido.com: sa2709

18. Personality
Internal
dimensions
Age
Physical ability
Race / Ethnicity
Sexual orientation
Gender
Geographic
location
Marital status
Parental status
Work
experience
Education
Religion
Appearance
Income
External
dimensions
Organisational
dimensions
Management
status
Division
Work location
Level of
seniority
Department
Work field
Length of
service
Job
function

19. Cognitive diversity
The blending of unique perspectives
within a team.
The acceptance and celebration of
unique ideas, experiences,
and ways of thinking.
The ability to draw on what makes us different
to find solutions, overcome challenges and achieve business goals.

20. Deloitte, 2012
People that
feel included
are more likely
to outperform
at work

21. Inclusive cultures
are 83%
more innovative
Deloitte, 2012

22. 1) Collaborating and innovating
2) Getting closer to customers
Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important

23. So what’s the
opportunity?

24. 1) Collaborating and innovating
2) Getting closer to customers
Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important

25. What is
authenticity?
It’s about being aware of yourself in context
of your situation and the people around you
It’s about making intelligent,
consistent choices based on values
It’s being about true to yourself and
aware of your impact on others

26. What is
inauthenticity?
It undermines your values
It has a negative impact on your relationships
It’s exhausting
It can affect a lot of people

27. A recent study found that
61% of employees
reported that they
‘cover up’ some personal characteristic
in order to assimilate into their organisation
AssociationAdvocacyAffiliationAppearance
How they
look
How they
behave
Who they speak
up for
Who they spend
time with

28. 1) Collaborating and innovating
2) Getting closer to customers
Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important

29. Role models inspire
Role models can show that their difference is OK…
so others’ difference might be OK too
People who work in internal communications are
some of the most visible and influential
role models in any organisation

30. We are all role models,
but what kind of role models
do we choose to be?

31. Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important

32. Our influence:
• We can offer education and raise awareness that
builds a more informed and understanding team
• We can give a platform to positive role models that
influences a more accepting and inclusive culture
• We can do the right thing
because it’s the right thing to do
• We can bring about
tangible commercial benefit

33. 1) Collaborating and innovating
2) Getting closer to customers
Internal
Communications
is important
Diversity &
Inclusion
is important
More happy and engaged employees
Visibility
and
influence of
authentic
role
models
= tangible, commercial success

34. The big opportunity is to
foster a culture in which people
can be their authentic selves and
unlock the full commercial potential
of any organisation

35. Let’s talk…

36. a) How can I talk about diversity in
an authentic way when my organisation
isn’t particularly diverse?
b) How do I get more people involved as
allies of diversity & inclusion?
c) How do I persuade the business that
diversity & inclusion deserves more airtime?
Let’s talk…

37. Reflections
and actions

38. 1. The thing I will do from now on
as a result of tonight’s
conversation is…
slido.com: sa2709

39. 2.The change I aim to make
at my organisation as a result
of tonight’s conversation is…
slido.com: sa2709

40. 3.The a-ha moment I had
as part of tonight’s
conversation was…
slido.com: sa2709