Gagen Blog

Over the last several months, words like “unprecedented” and “extraordinary” have appeared a lot. For good reason. COVID-19 truly is the ahistorical event those adjectives aim to describe. Yet, while the COVID-19 pandemic is singular and unique, in many ways, it is just further evidence of the accelerating disruption we’ve been forecasting for years. Before…

During this global crisis, companies around the world are facing unprecedented challenges every day. Health threats. Travel bans. Safety concerns. Financial instability. Disruption to operations. Misinformation. Stay-at-home orders. Remote work. New technology. Workforce re-entry. Just to name a few. As leaders and communicators, it’s our responsibility to use strategic communication to support the business, promote…

Below are five steps that could be taken to engage manufacturing employees during a global pandemic. Design a tailored engagement plan Put a special focus on the experience of manufacturing employees and site leader engagement with the goal of keeping employees safe and operations going for customers, patients and communities during this difficult time. Consider…

As companies begin to think about the “new normal” and what it means for the world of work, Corporate Communication is playing a greater role in driving employee engagement and connecting with employees in innovative ways to help them stay confident and focused while managing the transition. The best ideas address the changing employee experience,…

As many have become remote workers seemingly overnight, and with some degree of social distancing guidelines likely to remain in place, engaging employees virtually is something businesses can no longer damn with the lazy, halcyon wish of, “Oh, we’re already doing that.” It’s time to own it. Now. Necessity is driving platform adoption. The number…

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we are confronted with nearly every possible public health crisis situation imaginable—from unexpected school closings to shelter in place orders, confirmed cases to fatalities, protecting the essential workers, psychological safety and more. It is new territory for most of us in corporation communications. While communicators live with our…

As the world continues to cope and learn from COVID-19, we are quickly coming to grips with a new normal for how we connect – and are connected – with others. The backbone of an effective organizational communication system is a well-executed, feedback-rich, and outcomes-driven communication strategy. And people managers are the essential nervous system…

 In times of crisis, one thing is certain – people will seek information. They’ll search online. They’ll read the news. They’ll ask their friends and family. They’ll check their social networks. They’ll even rely on their employers for guidance. And in times of significant crisis, like the one we’re living in right now –…

As governments and organizations scramble to find the best response to the novel COVID-19 (coronavirus), many of us are being asked to help curb the rate of infection by social distancing and working from home. For some, it’s a welcomed trial. For many others, it’s another obstacle in a generally bizarre time. Before COVID-19, I…

It’s often during the times of greatest uncertainty – when fear and anxiety run rampant – that bonds between employees and their employers are either fractured or solidified. As the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus strains healthcare systems, induces chaos in financial markets, plummets consumer confidence, and raises fears of travel, sharing public spaces…