Welcome to Lucid Connections and our first newsletter!
 Stuart Blake, Lucid Connections' MD explains the link between communication and realising the CR promise |
 Ros McTaggart, Lucid Connections' live events specialist |
 Simon Norris, Lucid Connections' digital media specialist explains the importance of accessibility |
 Peter Davis, Lucid Connections' CR strategist, explains the importance of listening to stakeholders |
To those of you who were at our launch party at the Royal Society on Tuesday 25 October, a big thank-you! To all who came and those who weren't able to make it, this is a quick resumé of the feedback we received.
At Lucid Connections we believe that enduring stakeholder trust should be at the core of any Corporate Responsibility programme. Our unique mix of talents means that we can take an integrated approach to strategy, communication and measurement. We place a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement. Our mission is to help organisations make Corporate Responsibility live and breathe. Our presentation showed how we go about achieving this.
If you would like to find out how we can help you we'd be delighted to meet. Just email Stuart Blake (stuart@lucidconnections.co.uk)
Meanwhile, at the launch we asked you some questions. Your answers were illuminating:
What is the biggest challenge or opportunity you face in the communication of Corporate Responsibility?
"Effective communication with our employees - the need to get their support, understanding and buy-in before we communicate externally."
"Convincing stakeholders and then consumers that the CR programme is genuine (if it is!)"
"Getting people interested in adopting a CR strategy."
"Explaining what CR is."
"Executive commitment within the organisation & buy-in to common objectives."
"Being credible & being interesting at the same time."
What interested you most in our presentation?
"Accessible websites"
"The simple logic."
"Stakeholder segmentation."
"Keeping the process simple."
"Accessibility of websites and intranets. Clear communication of CR to stakeholders is an increasing issue."
"Identifying the most appropriate stakeholders - we spend a lot of time on stakeholder engagement - wouldn't it be time better spent if we were working more on those who matter most."
"Very much liked the 'earned reputation' idea."
If there was anything you disagreed with (in our presentation) please tell us why.
"I prefer to discuss Sustainable Development. It has more relevance and resonance within our business"
(Editor: sorry - that was the only vaguely controversial comment - honest!)
Was there was anything we didn't discuss that you would like to know more about?
"Full extent of international and language capability"
(Editor: The short answer if that our team all have some international experience but Peter Davis, our CR strategist, has a great deal of it. In fact he has spent most of his last 15 years working on international projects. Peter has held posts with international organisations such as the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum and the Atlantic Association of Young Political Leaders (part of NATO.) He has advised on political and social issues in regions such as Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa as well as countries such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Qatar, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. Peter lectures on international business strategy. He speaks French, some German and some Russian. There is a longer answer but you would need to talk to Peter to get it!)
Any other comments?
"Your presentation touched on our and most companies' challenges in communicating CSR to various stakeholders."
"Short and sharp presentations are the future!"
"When does the aggressive marketing start?" (Editor: this is it... well, maybe not that aggressive!)
"If you do similar events consider one presenter for less time and more separate space for people to have specific conversations"
(Editor: fair comment, although our aim was to present our strategic communication process as a cohesive whole and show how our team members contribute to Lucid Connections' unique offer)
"Thanks for a stimulating evening."
"Nice wine" (Editor: OK, I know who you are!)
 Stuart Blake with Alex Manchester, Deputy Editor of Melcrum's The Source for CR |
 Peter Davis talking with Geoffrey Bush of Diageo |
 Peter Davis with launch party guests |
 Stuart Blake and Simon Norris with Kim Worts from COI |