October 2006 - Posts

• Halloween In London

  I am answering the door at Halloween in the capital of the United Kingdom. I really don't like Halloween. I used to turn off all the lights and hide in the basement when I lived in Canada. Of course most English people don't like it either. They find Read More... Posted 31 October 2006 20:07 by David Ferrabee | 3 Comments Filed under: Culture

• Internal Communications Guides

  I used to be quite wildly opposed to the concept of an IC guide or manual. It sounds like something the tax department would do. And, besides, how can you commit all the intricacies of this lovely business to a few sheets of paper? And... and people don't Read More... Posted 30 October 2006 09:58 by David Ferrabee | (Comments Off) Filed under: Engagement, involvement, morale, motivation, Consulting, Internal communications

• The PR Week Awards

  I am lucky enough to be the guest of Chapple , a search firm I've known for a while. However, I do approach these gigantic orgies of self-belief with a certain amount of trepidation. There are just so many awards and so bloody many people. 1,600 by one Read More... Posted 25 October 2006 08:36 by David Ferrabee | 12 Comments

• Know your audience

  It's an old maxim but a good one. I've had a couple of interesting experiences with people not knowing their audiences this week. The most recent was just now. It's late on a Friday night and my colleagues and I have just finished a cultural tour of a Read More... Posted 24 October 2006 08:21 by David Ferrabee | 1 Comments

• Neighbourhood Intranets

  I've been having my brain scrubbed at a Melcrum Summit today. I'm shattered. And frustrated for the conversations I didn't have. But I was also pleased to see people like Euan Semple , Neville Hobson , Ross Chestney and Debbie Weil . They talked about Read More... Posted 18 October 2006 21:44 by David Ferrabee | 4 Comments

• Social Media and employees

  We have talked about employee blogs n the past. We have talked about the need to empower people . And we have talked about the need to have conversations hroughout the organisation. But we haven't directly addressed social media in the round. Social media, Read More... Posted 16 October 2006 11:19 by David Ferrabee | 3 Comments

• With all your power...

  If you could blow up the world with the flick of a switch Would you do it? If you could make everybody poor just so that you could be rich Would you do it? If you could watch everybody work while you just lay on your back Would you do it? If you could Read More... Posted 13 October 2006 08:57 by David Ferrabee | 4 Comments Filed under: Culture, Engagement, involvement, morale, motivation, People management, Internal communications

• BRIC work

  Today my friend who I call Tojo came to visit. He's an important guy in the Indian office of one of the big international management consultancies. I don't know India. I have never been. I would love to, but haven't had a chance. But when Tojo and I were Read More... Posted 12 October 2006 09:07 by David Ferrabee | 1 Comments Filed under: Culture, Engagement, involvement, morale, motivation, Internal communications

• International business culture (2)

  Two nights ago I faced that fearful dilemma: Is it worse to keep my shoes on as we sit on the floor for a Saudi Ramadan midnight meal... or show people my bare, and freakishly ugly feet? You've had that problem too? Maybe you can advise. I just wish I'd Read More... Posted 05 October 2006 11:24 by David Ferrabee | (Comments Off) Filed under: Culture, Middle East

• Avoiding madness at work...

  Madness is a word for too much aggression, or too much frustration, or both. Sanity, as a consequence, is either a matter of luck -- one happens to be born with just the right amount of aggression; or it is the capacity to bear frustration. Going Sane Read More... Posted 02 October 2006 17:44 by David Ferrabee | (Comments Off) Filed under: Culture, Engagement, involvement, morale, motivation, People management, Internal communications