This Wednesday – “Generational Communications: Engaging Millennials, Boomers and Everyone in Between.”
For the first time in business history, four distinct generations are working side-by-side in the workplace: Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials. Each has their own unique set of values, beliefs and workplace attitudes. Each bring strengths and skills that contribute to the diversity of our modern day workforce. And each make the job of employee engagement and communication a challenging proposition.
For some communication professionals, the huge generation gap that exists between the youngest Millennials to the Veteran retiree may seem like a frustration worth ignoring. Others, however, are tapping into the diversity of their organizations, mastering the art of audience segmentation and rewriting the communications rulebook to effectively engage employees of every generation.
In this session, led by Keith Burton and Matt West of Insidedge, you’ll hear insightful data from a recent research study about the characteristics, motivations and communication preferences of each of the four generations. You’ll learn a number of practical tips and techniques for:
- Identifying and analyzing your own workforce, their needs and expectations
- Making the same message resonate with diverse audiences
- Using the right mix of communication channels to reach every generation
- Effectively using new social media technologies
- Coaching executives and managers on communicating effectively with employees of any age
- Using storytelling as an effective cross-generational communications tool
Keith Burton, President, Insideedge
“Only businesses and organizations that cope effectively with the communications needs of their employees will prosper and grow.”
For almost two decades, Keith Burton has been one of the leading industry practitioners in employee communications and change management. As President of Insidedge, Keith leads a global group of counselors within The Interpublic Group who are focused exclusively on improving organizational performance by building employee trust, improving internal communications and affecting overall change at many of the world’s leading corporations.
During his 30-year professional career, Keith has served clients including Tyson Foods, NASA, Boston Scientific, American Airlines, Visa International, FedEx, IBM Corp., Georgia-Pacific Corp., Miller Brewing Co. and Tyco Healthcare. Keith is nationally recognized as an expert in employee communications, crisis communications, re-engineering, change management, labor relations, corporate restructuring and litigation support.
Early in his career, he was an award-winning business journalist covering the activities of major corporations in the southwestern United States for Capital Cities Communications, Inc. He also served as a Dallas correspondent to Time and was associate editor of Texas Business magazine.
Keith was an Algur H. Meadows Fellow at Southern Methodist University, where he earned a master of fine arts degree in mass communication and a bachelor of fine arts in journalism. He also served as an adjunct faculty member at SMU, teaching courses in news reporting and public relations. Keith continues his involvement with his alma mater by serving as an advisor to the Meadows School of the Arts Corporate Communications and Public Affairs (CCPA).
Keith has been recognized as Inside PR magazine’s Employee Communications All-Star and has won countless awards recognizing his work on behalf of clients and the communications industry. Most recently, Keith was recognized as the 2007 Professional of the Year by the Chicago chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He was also selected and served as chairman of PRSA’s International Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2006.
He serves on the boards of The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at the University of Alabama and the Institute for Public Relations. Keith is also an executive-in-residence in the IMC program at the Medill School, Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL.
Contact Keith at kburton@insidedge.net or by calling (312) 729-4455.
Matt West, Vice President, Insidedge is an employee communications specialist with one foot in the world of organizational behavior and the other rooted in strategic communications. Throughout his career in both corporate and agency environments, he has consulted with organizations such as Kraft Foods, The Dow Chemical Company, Capital One, 3Com, TransUnion and Abbott Laboratories on internal communications, organization development, training and facilitation, public speaking, change management and public relations. Matt holds a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Brigham Young University.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Maggiano’s Oakbrook
240 Oakbrook Center
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630.368.0300