Okay so it is half way through the week and I’m just getting to my blog. It is Christmas after all and I think I am still recovering from last week. My week did not go exactly as planned – but it did go to other peoples plan. My colleague had put a ‘speaking engagement at the airport’ in my diary. This was in fact a complete ‘set up’ – the team was playing a trick on me – they…
Tag Archives: Employee Engagement
Coming up this week 14 November 2011
One of the highlights and most challenging things I did last week was the final round of judging on the RedBalloon 10th birthday photo competition. The winners have been announced but I was in awe at many of the entries. I would have liked to spend the whole week just looking at the entries over and over – but alas I had a few other obligations. On Tuesday I was part of the Dream Employer Webinar (thanks for those people…
Qantas Unions will determine this week
As I sit to write my regular ‘Coming up this week’ blog it is not as simple as looking in my calendar and preparing myself for what lies ahead. Last week was a complete whirlwind – three speaking engagements, two entrepreneurial workshops and one EY entrepreneur of the year judging… which were in addition to my usual meetings and appointments. I thrive on being this busy… however, I probably could not maintain last weeks frenetic speed for more than a…
Enough is enough; retailers won’t agree
I was fascinated to learn that there is a Buy Nothing New Month in Australia. I love this idea… though of course retailers will not… (I’m sure the liquor retailers don’t like Dry July either.) I was in the US last summer on holiday with my family and I was completely overwhelmed by the consumerism. (And quite frankly everything began to look the same). I heard that 10% of all women’s clothes sold in Australia are never worn. It is…
Culture Check
We are fast approaching RedBalloon’s tenth birthday, with that it mind I wanted to check in with the team ‘What does it mean to you to be a part of the RedBalloon story?’ The answers were delightful and insightful… but this particular answer from one of the newer RedBallooners is very worth reproducing in whole. If you were to ask the similar question in your organisation, you too could get a great insight into the ‘mood’ – think of it…
A simple story in recognition.
Over the past 10 years RedBalloon has had many members of the team leave the business often to run their own show, travel, take on study or leave to work elsewhere. RedBalloon has been part of their personal journey, part of their learning, development and education – we have impacted and supported them. And in return they have appreciated being part of RedBalloon. On a personal level we are often sad to say good-bye given that we experience so much…
Secret Sauce on Engagement
I had a great time debating with my colleague Megan (Employee Experience Manager – an HR professional) about what engagement means at RedBalloon – she has developed and documented all the things we do – and Matt in our corporate team is getting ready to share that with the world. Here are some points from a webinar that my colleague Emma sent me on the same topic I have added the RedBalloon view of the world in italics: Engagement is…
Coming up this week 6 June 2011
I met some wonderful people last week – In the Hunter Valley on Monday, mid week I was at The Entrance on the central coast and then I finished the week in Mount Gambier, South Australia. I had such fun at each event. Having Friday evening with 150 energetic business people in Mount Gambier was a great night…I met so many authentic, community minded people – it was inspiring. I spoke off the cuff about the ingredients to a successful…
A ‘luxury’ brand experience.
I am fascinated by how organizations personify the brand experience. It is often so hard to get it right. One thing is promised in advertising but the in store experience is completely different. Company owned stores, however should ‘in theory’ have a far better ability to ensure that the brand is executed consistently at every touch point. This week I was at the AICD course and one of the female participants said she was desperate to get a new handbag…
What is your employee engagement capability?
One of the questions I am often asked is ‘How do you do it?’ – or ‘what is your magic bullet on employee engagement?’ I have blogged regularily on what has worked for RedBalloon, but as one attendees after last nights ‘TheHIVE’ event declared ‘all businesses are not like RedBalloon, selling fabulous experiences. How do I know if the business I work in is capable of engagement?’ – Great question. I was so glad I had a quick answer for…
Imagine running a business based on fun - that's what I decided to try when I left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon...
