employee grapevine© by george s. mcquade iii
DESCRIPTION
Employee Grapevine is an international, PRSA, IABC and NAHRO award-winning employee communications strategy. It is a one-of-a-kind innovation created by George S. McQuade III. Orginally conceived while SoCalGas Co. went through downsizing. Gas Supply Div. Counted 18,400 callers in four weeks, no budget and no advertising. Just good old fashion word of mouth. It connects employees with senior management overnight strategically simplifying corporate missions and goals with credibility and overnight sensational results. (Long before Social Media, too)TRANSCRIPT
1MAYO Communications copyright 199504/13/23
Employee GrapeVine
PRSA – IABC – PCLA Award-Winning Interactive Strategy for shaping employee behavior with effective communications
by MAYO Communications
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GrapeVine Objectives
Improve communications relationship
Increase flow of timely information
Build credibility and participation
Quell the rumor mill
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Steps for a GrapeVine
Technical Needs Assessment
Benchmark costs internally vs. externally
Designate a special Grapevine phone line
Expand from 19 to 100 message capacity
Phone track system
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Employee Grapevine
Company format
Talk from the employees perspective – not yours. Keep messages simple.
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Employee GrapeVine How to grow a bumper crop
Get early commitments from supervisors
Respond to frontline supervisor concerns
Set expectations with supervisors
Build phone mail internal list
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Growing a GrapeVine
Plant and cultivate before you harvest
Understanding company issuesSelect knowledgeable/credible line
managersVerbal messages faster with
feelingsTiming is everything
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GrapeVine Target Customer
Primary Customer – EmployeesTheir work stations or meeting placesSecondary Customer – Senior Mgt.Management feedbackUsage habits – how often do they call
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GrapeVine Key Features Comparative system Analysis
User Friendly – No instruction – call 24/7 Everyone has access to a phoneConvenient – GrapeVine is heard on a speaker phoneCell Phone in the fieldUpdated when issue or story changes
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Grapevine Promotion
Getting employees to call Match the voices contest
Offer money, prizes or time off Use well-known supervisors Other promotion methods Employee paycheck envelopes Posters and 1X2 inch stickers Employee Newsletters cross-promote
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GrapeVine Benefits Company Market Analysis
Opportunities to share information One-stop communication center
Policy changes quickly disseminated
Keeps employees on top of new info.
A great way to praise good employees
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Emergency GrapeVine
T he Grapevine bec omes a 24 hr. hotlineduring an
emergenc y or c ompany c ris is s ituation
Los AngelesSupervisors
M anagersClerks
Internal lineFeedback
Senior m anagersSupervisors
Orange CountySupervisors
M anagersclerks
NordstromCorporate
Headquartersannouncement
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Employee GrapeVine Awards 1995 - 2002
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
Public Communicators of Los Angeles (PCLA)
National Assn.Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
International Communicator Awards