Allow us to brag a bit by sharing examples of our work in employee engagement and communication strategy, storytelling and program management.

Program Management

Career Development Program

This biotechnology company wanted to increase awareness of career development resources and promote development all year round.

We partnered with the client to:

  • identify a variety of development offerings that would appeal to the employees in the target function
  • build those offerings, including develop content and coach volunteer facilitators
  • create and manage the event registration system for all annual offerings
  • develop a custom communication strategy to launch the new program, and to promote offerings in a variety of existing channels all year round
  • create a visually striking creative campaign of print, web and email pieces, including a website, posters, presentations, email banners and more
  • train the client how to manage the program themselves after the first year

Communication Strategy & Implementation

Core values and behaviors

This technology company merged with another company, and needed to build a new company culture that would move the company forward as one team. In addition to creating a custom strategy to develop internal communication within the company and position the new VP of Human Resources as a primary influencer, we partnered with the HR and Marketing organizations to identify a new set of core values and defining behaviors that would serve as the foundation of their new company culture.

We dug deep for data by conducting a company-wide survey to test value attributes and received responses from about half the workforce (about 800 employees). Through one-on-one interviews with 24 employees to test value statements and behaviors, we introduced the five new values to all employees through global meetings, print collateral and web content. And, we consulted with the company about how to integrate the new values into company branding, processes and programs.

Communication Strategy & Implementation

Performance Management

The performance management process is often linked with other organizational systems such as:

  • Strategic planning
  • Total compensation
  • Individual and team development
  • Succession planning
  • HR technology systems

This technology client upgraded not only the performance management process which required a comprehensive communication and change management plan, but they also upgraded their performance management tool, which required a significant training effort.

We dug into this project by first understanding stakeholders, audiences and how performance management was integrated with other company systems.

Next we:

  • Build a communication and change management strategy
  • Developed extensive web and in-person training materials for employees and managers
  • Created a suite of communication materials and templates, including videos, web content, emails, posters and more
  • Developed a training schedule for all sites and managed the logistics of deliver

Fun note: our primary client contact for this project lost her voice in the middle of the training schedule, so Weland Communications stepped in and delivered the remaining sessions to employees and managers.

Communication Strategy & Implementation

Performance Management

The performance management process is often linked with other organizational systems such as:

  • Strategic planning
  • Total compensation
  • Individual and team development
  • Succession planning
  • HR technology systems

This technology client upgraded not only the performance management process which required a comprehensive communication and change management plan, but they also upgraded their performance management tool, which required a significant training effort.

We dug into this project by first understanding stakeholders, audiences and how performance management was integrated with other company systems.

Next we:

  • Build a communication and change management strategy
  • Developed extensive web and in-person training materials for employees and managers
  • Created a suite of communication materials and templates, including videos, web content, emails, posters and more
  • Developed a training schedule for all sites and managed the logistics of deliver

Fun note: our primary client contact for this project lost her voice in the middle of the training schedule, so Weland Communications stepped in and delivered the remaining sessions to employees and managers.

Communication Strategy

Next Level Digital Security

This biotechnology company welcomes thousands of employees, contractors, consultants, vendors, visitors and construction crews to its campuses every year. Every single person must be provisioned for access into specific facilities, and the Security team is responsible for provisioning that access. In 2018, this client overhauled their physical access system for 15 sites, requiring that some 40,000 badge holders upgrade their current badge for a new one. The project was complex and had the potential to be very disruptive—badges are used every day and people would be really upset if they couldn’t get into work. The experience needed to be as seamless as possible.

We started with a deep dive into stakeholders and impacted audience groups to:

  • Make sure we didn’t leave anyone out. We identified 11 distinct end user audiences in addition to numerous stakeholders who would all need to be included in our efforts.
  • Get a better understanding of what issues and concerns may exist and how we could best handle them. For example, Genentech badges don’t just open doors or entry gates. Badge technology is integrated with other company systems and services, such as printer/copier access, learning systems, IT kiosks, and more.
  • Identify most effective channels to deliver the right message, to the right audience at the right time. Because we learned that sending mass emails wasn’t an option, we had to get creative in how we spread the word. From intranet pages and articles, to digital and print signage, to presentations, demonstrations and leveraging embedded communication staff in each function, we were able to reach all audiences with the information they needed to take action.
  • Put user experience front and center in all aspects of the project, from communications to stakeholder engagement, to designing the badge swap process.

Next, we:

  • created a custom communication and change management strategy
  • created the “story” for the project that could be used by leaders and project managers to socialize it, build advocacy, and support messaging consistency
  • developed an amazing and distinctive visual campaign that would be instantly recognizable

Over the seven months of the campaign, Weland Communications produced more than 50 communication pieces that successfully informed and instructed audiences about:

  • what was happening (access technology upgrade)
  • why (to secure campuses and keep people safe)
  • the benefits of the change (better user experience, scalable)
  • and what they need to do (swap old badges for new ones)

Employee Engagement

Increasing Engagement

A dip in employee engagement scores can be an eye opener for any leadership team. This client partnered with Weland Communications to understand what caused the dip and improve engagement going forward.

We started with an engagement survey and interviews to identify trouble spots.

Next, we built a two-year, custom engagement and communication strategy to:

  • create alignment
  • build confidence in the team and their reputation as experts
  • help clients understand what the team actually does
  • help employees understand how the work they do connects to the company’s mission