Although many employees are starting to return to the office, the workplace is not likely to look like it did before many companies abandoned offices last year. Many companies are bringing back employees on alternate work schedules and some employees may never return to the office. In that type of environment, it is imperative for corporate leaders to engage employees and create a sense of community and belonging in the workplace.
Adapting to the New Normal
Companies must adapt to the new paradigm of when, where and how employees work and when, where and how they consume information. Given the rise of blended offices combining remote and in-person workers, one of the most effective ways for employers to engage and motivate employees to create a high-performance workplace is through podcasting.
There has been dramatic growth in podcasting in the last couple of years. That’s why FieldCast created a secure, high-quality, easy-to-use podcast system for employers to communicate with employees quickly and effectively.
According to a recent McKinsey study, a strong bond between organization inclusion and workplace outcomes both exists and matters. Employees who believe their organizations are inclusive are about 7 times more likely to report that their organizations are healthy. Moreover, among employees who believe their organizations are healthy, 47% are more likely to stay with the organization, 90% are more likely to go out of their way to help a colleague and 51% are more likely to refer a friend to the organization.
Podcasts are Additive, Not Intrusive
They can be accessed anytime and anyplace – not just when the employee is sitting at their desk trying to get work done. One of the complaints we’ve repeatedly heard about the increase in video conferencing is that it interferes with work and productivity. Podcasting allows executives to share their news, vision and insight with employees in their own voice – when, where and how employees want to hear it.
FieldCast commissioned a study from Kantar of 1,500 workers, and we asked them about their interest in podcasts from their employers. More than 83% of the respondents indicated that they would like to receive company updates via podcast and 78% want to hear from company leadership via podcast. Podcasts have the convenience of being accessible when, where and how employees want to listen. Some may choose to listen during normal business hours, while others may select to tune-in on their drive to or from the office. It’s totally flexible, unlike live video conferencing. Yet podcasting provides the personal connection directly with the leadership team.
Flexibility for Employees and Employers
One of the big differences is that the FieldCast system is secure. It cannot be shared with others, so it limits access to the contents. Employees cannot forward the podcast to others. This makes it more secure when sharing company information.
Unlike newsletters, a podcast allows employees to hear the executive’s voice, build that personal connection and engage with the messaging. It is very different to hear the passion in a CEO’s voice when they are talking about new products or serious issues such as social justice, than it is reading it in a newsletter. The same is true when employees hear the pain in an executive’s voice when they address difficult topics such economic downturns and layoffs.
Importantly, the FieldCast podcast system also allows for real-time measurement of the effectiveness of the messaging. Companies can see when people tune in, how long they tune in for, and better understand what messages resonate with employees.
Record at Home
The FieldCast system allows executives to script, record and edit podcasts right from their desks. For those who prefer, we can provide end-to-end production services. All of this can be completed in a reasonable timeframe so that messages can be distributed in a timely manner, allowing companies to address important issues as they occur.
Our website, www.FieldCast.co provides blogs and webinars to help companies understand how to use and develop engaging, effective podcasts.