Whose responsibility is it anyway?

A particular topic which has really galvanised readers of our Brand Inside Report was the question of who has responsibility for employee engagement inside an organisation.  One reader observed that the answer lies with the CMO in that if we can "unleash the power of the brand inside then mountains can be moved."


Another agreed that best practice must be led by the Board with "HR and Marketing working much more collegiately, dispensing with the conflicting agendas and silo approach to ensure employee engagement is a shared responsibility."



So a challenge to all brand marketers out there - are you prepared to make the necessary changes in skills, priorities and budgets to unlock the immense power your brand has to engage not only with your external audience but your internal one too?


If you're not - why not? The topic is increasingly coming to the top of the CEO/boardroom agenda and they will be looking to you as the guardian of their brand to answer for your stewardship.  With rising demands for better value returns all the time, diverting just a small part of your brand investment this way makes good, good sense. 


Let us know what you think and if you're an HRD or marketeer tell us what help you need to drive this change in your business and really create a brand-hearted culture inside. 


Of course if what's holding you back is knowing how to go about it, then the team at Woodreed would be delighted to lend you a helping hand.

Employee engagement existed even in the Napoleonic Wars or "I love my general"

I'm reading this fascinating book called "Young Bloods" by Simon Scarrow, which simultaneously traces the lives of Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington from their births in their native countries to where they meet in battle. There are some great anecdotal differences in their career paths, with Napoleon having been born into a poor Corsican family, and Wellington being born into a privileged family in Dublin.

However, it is Wellington's man management style which is really impressive. Although his military actions are praised for their tactical brilliance, he would always make the point of being visible on the front line to his men, to encourage and support them, to set an example and to show he was in as much danger as them. No shirking of responsibilities, no hiding in a well-guarded tent miles away from the action.

Although a strict disciplinarian, he "cared" for his men, and was known to be tough but fair. Put this against those awful WW1 military generals, who literally pumped "canon fodder" onto the battlegrounds, and you can see why the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, became one of our most prominent and well respected generals in our history. Not only respected by the army and Britain's population, but significantly by the men that fought under him.

Let this be a lesson to our modern day managers, who often shirk their responsibilities, don't lead by example and really don't know or care for their employees.

No wonder Wellington got the best out of his men.

Is he Quackers?

Happy Friday Everyone - Just in case you're dreading the commute home tonight.......

When you next travel on our roads, get held up on our busy motorways or maybe whilst you're travelling along a country lane and the farmer is moving his herds of sheep or cows, please spare a thought for farmers who herd ducks. Yes, you've read correctly ducks.

Although this farmer was thoughtful and avoided the rush hour, as he needed to make his journey from his farm to a nearby pond in search of food for his ducks, a few commuters were held up. The farmer was armed only with a very long stick and only had a few helpers. I'm pleased to say that the ducks made it safely to the pond and apparently he didn't have any casualties.

Saying you were "caught in duck traffic" would make a change from "sorry I'm late, the traffic is horrendous".

Picture courtesy of Metro

The Brand Inside Report 2012 - out now!

Brand is what provides the consistency between what the customer is promised and expects and what employees are living and delivering.

Earlier this year Woodreed launched a national survey which asked "When it comes to the brand inside organisations in 2012, has the UK ticked all the boxes?"  

It’s clear from our survey that organisations do have values and that amongst the senior teams there is an understanding of what these are. There are many positives to be taken and clearly some organisations are firing on all cylinders when it comes to bringing their brands to life inside. 

However the survey identified a disconnect in terms of organisations failing to successfully embed the values amongst employees in a sustainable way to help create the right kinds of values-based cultures - the kinds of cultures that keep employee engagement high, customers happy and loyal and bottom line revenues growing.

A huge thanks to all those who completed our survey. Your answers helped provide a fascinating insight into the extent to which brands are living inside UK organisations.

The full report has now been published and highlights include:

• The disconnect between senior level knowledge of values and embedding a true values-based culture
• Where training and development falls down
• The key role of the line manager
• Recognition and reward -  the great missed opportunity
• What to do with social media

Click here to download The Brand Inside Report 2012 

Proud to be British

Last week Royalty came to town, we decked the office with our Union Jacks, lots of school children lined the streets waving their flags and there was a real buzz in the air.
With the Jubilee and the Olympics in close succession, shops full of British goodies, streets full of bunting, and the current Euro 2012 matches in full swing, there is a sense of pride in being British. I've loved the way communities have come together to celebrate, have gotten behind their sports players and have generally had a lot of fun - even with this typically British weather! We're looking forward to the Olympic torch coming to town in a couple of weeks too. What I have really been inspired by is the sheer number of cushions, cupcake toppers, posters, umbrellas, shoes, plates.... just about anything you could imagine being adorned with the Union Jack. I just wonder how many are 'flying' the wrong way!

Capturing Inspiration

When I’m seeking inspiration there are a few places I like to visit. Whitstable is one of them. Vintage and retro shops are plentiful and a wonderful art and crafts shop can be found on the seafront. I will always find something in Whitstable that will capture my imagination and prompt me to pick up a sketch-pad or some knitting needles!

But surprisingly last Sunday in Whitstable it turned out that I was the subject that caught someone’s imagination. Whilst studying some paintings in a local art shop, the owner, an artist was sketching me. I was completely unaware of this sketch until he approached my husband and asked if he would like it. He didn’t want any money for it, a true artist in my mind.

Although it was just a sketch it captured me well, I was completely overwhelmed by it. It also inspired me to carry a sketch-pad wherever I go so I can sketch or make notes of those random things that stop you in your tracks.