There has been a lot of excitement here at Sparrow Connected these last couple of months. We welcomed our first Advisory Board member, Mike Klein, held our first #WeLeadComms + Sparrow Connected webinar, published an e-book and much more!
The excitement continues with today’s announcement. I’m pleased to announce that Priya Bates has joined our Advisory Board as a Strategic Advisor. Our Advisory Board is a group of experts and thought-leaders that act as a sounding board for us, helping us gain new insights and advice, solve business problems and explore new opportunities.
We’re truly honored to have Priya, a well-known, accomplished, influential and fellow Canadian internal communication professional, aligned with us on our journey to elevate the internal communication profession.
Get To Know Priya Bates
Priya Bates is an award-winning professional communicator with a passion for driving robust performance from the inside out. As President and owner of Inner Strength Communication, Priya builds strategic internal communication, engagement, branding, and transformational change plans that help connect the dots between business strategy and employee delivery.
In her 20+ year career, Priya has led communication for organizations including Loblaw Companies Limited, HP Canada and Compaq Canada.
Priya is an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) and became one of the first Certified Strategic Communication Management Professionals (SCMP) in the world. In 2010, she received the Master Communicator (MC) designation, the highest honor bestowed upon a communication professional from IABC Canada. In 2016, she became an IABC Fellow, a lifetime achievement from the International Association of Business Communicators and the highest global honor bestowed on a professional communicator from the association.
Beyond her very impressive biography, I thought one of the best ways to get to know Priya was to share a snippet from an insightful conversation I had with her recently.
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Chris: So, Priya, Why Have You Chosen To Join The Sparrow Connected Advisory Board?
Priya: As Internal Communication Professionals, we often talk about having a seat at the decision-making table where the future gets decided for our organizations and our discipline.
I chose to join the Sparrow Connected Advisory Board so that I can help shape the future of internal communication tools. I look forward to combining the knowledge and thinking I have gained over the years to help drive development of tools and technology that will help organizations enable, engage, and empower employees to manage change and deliver results.
Chris: You Mentioned Helping Drive The Development Of Tools And Technology. Can You Elaborate On Why That Is Important?
Employee digital communication tools are still at the early adopter stage for many organizations and most of these tools have been created by leaders who come from an Information Technology (IT) background. They have done a fantastic job based on user and end-user input but there is an enormous potential for growth.
Now, imagine the possibilities when communication professionals can actually advise these companies before the tools get built and as they’re enhanced. This will take communication tools to another level – a level that will move the internal communications professional closer to the decision-making table. I want to help drive this with the team at Sparrow Connected.
Chris: We’re Completely Aligned In Our Vision To See Internal Communications At The Decision-Making Table In The Future. What Do You Believe Is Holding Internal Communications Back From Getting There Today?
Priya: Today, organizations don’t think twice about investing in digital enhancements for Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, IT, Warehouse Management, Sales, Training and Development.
In fact, I have worked on a number of these digital transformation projects for my clients, yet Internal communication professionals struggle with making the case for tools that will enhance employee communications. They’re constantly being told that the Microsoft Suite by itself is all they need. Most communication professionals know that is not true.
We can have the best strategies and operational systems in the world, but we still face a big problem – communication. If employees are not aware of programs, don’t understand why, do not know what they need to do differently and simply don’t believe in the cause, there are important pieces of the puzzle missing. My objective is to help us drive this conversation globally and develop the best strategies and operational systems in the world.
Chris: At Sparrow Connected, We Believe In Shifting The Focus Of Internal Communications From Employee Engagement To Measuring Business Impact. What Are Your Thoughts On This?
Priya: I’ve always believed Internal Communication is an integral enabler of business success, but only if Internal Communication is approached strategically versus tactically and only if Internal Communication believes it can use communication solutions and expertise to solve significant business problems. I also believe the time for acceleration is now after we have seen attention shift to employees due to Covid-19 and the evolution of hybrid work.
I think this will only increase as organizations pay attention to recruitment and retention in an increasingly challenging employment market.
Chris: Thank you For Taking The Time to share your insights today, Priya. It’s a pleasure to have you on the Sparrow Connected team!
Priya: Thanks Chris. I’m really excited to work with Sparrow Connected to lead the conversation, influence development decisions and elevate the importance of strategic internal communication.
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I encourage you to follow Sparrow Connected, Priya Bates, and Inner Strength Communication on LinkedIn to join the movement to make internal communications a strategic C-level function.
Welcome To Sparrow Connected Team, Priya.
