“Our main goal is to engage our employees. We need them to understand our vision and work with us to make it a reality. But with hundreds of team members spread across the country, it's not practical to meet regularly,” Strong says.
“So we've incorporated video into our communications strategy, and it's been a game changer. Video helps keep the momentum high across the team and keeps everyone aligned and banging on the Magnetic drum.”
Kelly adds: “We work together on Magnet's annual winter conference, a high-profile event that drives business and plans for the year ahead, but we needed a strong content strategy that worked in tandem with the live events to keep the momentum going.”
“That's why we created Magnet Mindset – a monthly internal video communication that updates our team on business news and, more importantly, encourages team members to stay connected.”
“With video, nothing gets lost in translation,” Paul adds.
“It ensures the right message gets to the right person, not some whispered business Chinese. It's got the right tone and it's a direct message from a colleague, without the risk of being misunderstood like with email.”
“Video really brings your story to life more than traditional means of communication, which can sometimes feel a bit flat and lack the energy you need.”
Strong also believes using video can bridge gaps between hierarchical levels.
“Having the director, who makes the core business decisions, in regular contact with team members not only gives the team a sense of camaraderie but also encourages them to give feedback.”
“It's our team that deals with customers, and we learn a lot from them, so building a culture of inclusion and two-way communication is essential.”
“Another great thing about introducing video into our communications is that it allows us to involve different people across the company,” he adds.
“This means that not only do teams get to hear from a range of different stakeholders, but also, from a personal development perspective, it gives team members who don’t normally present or speak in large groups the opportunity to participate if they wish.”
“This is great for a lot of people in the industry and you really see their confidence grow.”
So is it all about video? Strong doesn't think so. “We've seen great benefits from using video and we'll continue to add it to all aspects of our communications strategy, but we don't believe anything can ever match the power of face-to-face,” he says.
“Our conferences continue to evolve every year, but replicating them on video just doesn't work. The same goes for training. We've tried video and it works well for some elements, but nothing beats the effectiveness of in-person training for our team.”
“Video helps us build a more transparent, inclusive, and informed team culture. It also keeps our teams engaged on our journey and motivates them to sell more – and that means success for everyone.”
