Welcome

I’m looking forward to a day of reminding each other what we know, new learning and lively conversation. I’m keen for this to be interactive, participative and an open dialogue. Network yourselves, say hi to new people and get each other’s business cards. Let’s start some useful conversations so we can all go back to work saying this was worthwhile. If one of you doesn’t have a job offer by the end of the day, I shall be disappointed. So, why is Headstream here?

We are a social brand consultancy and we help organisations transform to be more social from the inside out. In other words, we work with management and leadership groups to introduce social platforms, technologies and principles into their organisations in a safe and sustainable way that creates value across their organisation. We believe that those responsible for employee engagement, people like you, have the most important role to play in encouraging and embedding social principles into your organisation. But Chris you say, why are you talking about social media so early in the morning? Two reasons.

The first is that I have a colleague with me who will be live blogging and tweeting this event. Maeve, (give us a wave), shall be busily making a record of what today’s speakers are saying in real-time and sharing this across the social web. We will be tweeting your questions, so for those who haven’t been tweeted before, please sit back, relax and enjoy the experience. The second reason is that in preparing for today, in looking in advance at some of the excellent presentations you’re going to see and hear, I was reminded of a simple truth.

The personal qualities continually demonstrated by the most engaging people in your organisation are the same qualities that sit at the heart of social media. Engaging leaders and engaging managers act with purpose, they clearly communicate their intent, they behave with integrity, they openly recognize and reward contribution, they acknowledge when things haven’t gone well and they lead through earned personal authority. These same qualities are the bedrock of social media. The ability to be compelling, true, honest and transparent is central to social.

The blistering pace of adoption of social media across the world is unprecedented and unlike any other channel before it, and it’s not going away. Social is within your organisation now. With such strong synergy between social and employee engagement, I often wonder why more social programmes aren’t sponsored and led by those responsible for engaging people. Social is all about people. As we listen, share and learn more today about employee engagement I would ask you to consider what you use to deliver successful engagement programmes and could, should, social be part of your toolkit? If the answer is maybe, I’m sat up here all day…