Where do we go from here?

As this newsletter goes out, I’m headed out with my son, driving him to his second year of university. September always brings this sense of a new beginning, of possibility and new ways forward. These last hours of summer are a natural time to reflect: “Where do we go from here?”

So much has happened just this year alone, on top of all we’ve already been adapting to. The work world has changed in irreversible ways, and there are many unknowns.

But I believe this moment in time is full of opportunity.  

That is probably the most exciting element of work, especially at the leadership level: We get to imagine what is possible, and then dedicate ourselves to building it. We determine how we create a world where humanity, connection, and meaning are at the forefront of our jobs.

Beyond the nuances of strategies, markets, and client expectations, the challenges of sustaining culture or implementing hybrid perfectly, there are a few constants to moving teams forward, together: powerful stories, shared purpose, and inspiring communications.

“Where do we go from here?”

My answer: “Back to the basics – with all that we’ve learned.”

We do not have to choose between performing our best or taking care of our people. We must do both. Communication is essential for bridging the gap between the desire for higher performance – and our people’s longing for greater meaning in their work.

In our latest issue of roger, our publication where we dig into the details of change, employee communications, and engagement, we ask this question:

Where do we go from here?

The articles in this edition examine many of the topics leaders are focused on addressing today. These include:

• In What Have We Gained from the Hybrid Workplace, we examine the new opportunities available from a hybrid approach to communication.

• My interview, Your Brand Is Your Promise, with author, brand strategist, and educator David Kincaid, explores the power of brand purpose in inspiring the workforce.

• The role of communications in fostering resilience and innovation: Instill Psychological Safety Through Employee Communications.

• Gender in Communications shares our interview with DEI leader Dani Gomez-Ortega looking at how communication can help organizations move beyond gender binaries.

• Brands Are for Employees, Too considers the role of brand in defining a throughline of experience from employees to customers.

• And how employees come to feel what is possible rather than what is paralyzing in Leading Change with Inspiring Communication.

Made for leaders, communicators, and everyone in between, this issue of roger explores the opportunities to forge new paths forward during a time of great uncertainty. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

If you’ve thought about this question like I have, you can download roger for free, or request a print copy here.

About Livewire

We believe communication is essential for the human spirit.

The change communication partner to Fortune 1000 companies, Livewire informs, engages, and inspires employees with our unique integration of strategy, creative, and activation.

Chicago | Toronto

Visit livewireinc.com to learn more about us.