There has never been a more interesting or demanding time for global organizations. Whether it’s the merging and integration of great companies, a major change program, a corporate re-branding effort or a crisis requiring the advocacy of employees as brand ambassadors – the global stage on which corporations operate is characterized by evolving challenges and expectations.
"What does good look like?" How do we meet the growing demand for helping our leaders make sure everyone gets the business objectives while driving awareness, understanding, alignment and action? If we’ve ever had it, how do we keep our seat at the table? How do we address the growing generational differences driving engagement among employees? With the dizzying array of tools and channels now available, how do we cut through the clutter to discover what really matters to employees? And how do we track and measure internal communication to show we’re making a real difference? These are among the questions we must answer as we move from being transactional in our work to being more transformational as counselors and leaders.
In leading Insidedge for the Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) and Brunswick Group’s Global Employee Engagement Practice, I've counseled many of the world’s most iconic brands in their ascent to transformational leadership. I've established Grayson Emmett Partners as a strategic employee engagement consultancy to leverage more than two decades of deep experience in our field.
One of my favorite excursions in Japan is the Hakone Open-Air Museum in the Kanagawa Prefecture, which houses over 300 pieces of the artist Pablo Picasso's work. While touring the exhibit, I came upon a display showing the great Spaniard at work with the quote, "Lo que uno hace es lo que cuenta. No es lo que uno tenía la intención de hacer.” Translated, it reads, “What one does is what counts. Not what one had the intention of doing.” We can never become complacent and should strive to do things, as Picasso said; to contribute, mentor and teach others, and to partner with interesting people on equally interesting assignments.
I hope you'll enjoy our Grayson Emmett Partners site, use the resources, ideas, insights and examples we'll share, and let us know how we can help you.