Caroline StockmannSave the Children International

The Communicating Information Officer

Agenda• Save the Children International• changing role of the CIO?• marketing and communications• developing your own communications

strategy• tips and tricks

Responsibilities frameworkto provide global services

home market

fundraisingadvocacy

representation

domestic progs

Save the Children national members Save the Children International

global campaignsadvocacy

media co-ordination

knowledge-sharingimpact

maximisation

marketing

Direction, strategy and performance of national as part of whole, plus influencing global strategy

Direction, strategy and performance of SC overall

Members will be awarded responsibilities for some global services based on members’ ability to provide:• overwhelming expertise• resources needed to run• excellent customer service and comms

accountabilityperformance

risk mgmt

inter-national

progsdelivery

global services

inter-national

progsdesign,support

IT at Save the Children International

• all the usual stuff• focus on difficult geographies• future focus on knowledge management• desire to be best-in-class, not just within the

INGO world• reliance on pro bono and low bono

partnerships to get there

Changing Role of the CIO?In our fast-moving, demanding business world, where there is no shortage of talent and education (and the highest unemployment rate in years…), a CIO needs to have the following skills, actually to survive:•technical•business acumen•leadership skills•‘people’ skills•… and excellent communication skills.Miss that last one, and how can others ‘get’ the rest?

(And is this really that new?....)

Marketing & CommunicationIf you cannot communicate well, and if you cannot market yourself and your ideas, you will not be successful as a CIO.

A question for you:Do you:•communicate well with senior leadership?•communicate well with your team/subordinates? Peers?

Often it is one or the other, but the best CIOs can cover off all bases.

Definition of communication:•the giving or exchanging of information, signals, or messages as by talk, gestures or writing•a passage or way of getting from one place to another•the art of expressing ideas•close, sympathetic relationship…

Definition of ‘communicative’:•talkative…•giving information readily

The Challenge• not all those attracted to the profession are extroverts, i.e.

getting their energy from others• often we are communicating with more than one person –

and they all have different needs/ways of hearing• the subject matter can be found ‘dry’ by others, and it is

tempting to overplay the detail• IT is a service function, and therefore will often be on the

receiving end of criticism/feedback/challenge – and success can be measured in how well these are dealt with

Developing Your Own Communications Strategy• know your strengths and your weaknesses• exploit your strengths, but also work on the weaknesses and

specifically develop a strategy to focus on what you might not ‘naturally’ tend towards (eg ‘introvert’ → more personable, strategically influential; ‘extrovert’ → more content-focussed)

• use all the tools at hand, personal and applicable to your own strategy

• remain ‘authentic’ - this has still to be you, or there will be no trust

Tips & Tricks• know yourself (360 feedback, observer), know your boss, and

know your audience, by:– Belbin– Myers Briggs – visual/kinetic/aural tendencies– functional ‘styles’– gender– left brain/right brain– body (left/right position; gestures, etc)

…… and by listening…….

Tips & Tricks (2)• practice makes perfect• don’t give up – it is a continuing journey• be authentic, but ‘use different muscles’• the customer is always right• play baseball• adjust your pace of ‘reaction’ – up or down• fill your ‘gaps’ with others• with group communication, say things differently

Tips & Tricks (3)• may sound simple, and is – so why don’t we do it?• may just be continuous improvement• plan (treat like a project)!• get yourself in ‘the zone’, as that is where you will perform

best and be open to others…..

(I can’t)Impossibility

Survival Panic

Obligation Boring Dull Never inspiring

Desire Hungry Excited

Willingness “The Zone” “The Super-Natural”

I just

ha

ve

to …

I ought to ………. I should ……...

I really really want ………. I have to have ……

Imp

atie

nce

No

t la

stin

g

Re

se

ntf

ul

CONFORM//REBEL smug

Insp

ired

& In

sp

iring D

rive

n Vis

ion

Pu

sh

Open to possibilitiesPartnership

SynergyTeam workUnattached VISION

CreativityValuesEase

Not trying to control

“I will …..” “I choose …..”Copyright K Bradford Brown

In conclusion:It is important to develop a plan or strategy, and treat this like a project. This will ensure you take it seriously, identify opportunities to ‘practice’, and allow monitoring and follow-up, to be sure to reach your goal.

Steps include:1. Set yourself a plan2. Identify key meetings/occasions of potential influence3. Research different styles, as well as your own4. Get trusted feedback arranged5. Try out different approaches, whilst still being yourself6. Take time to think about your audience, and how they like to receive information 7. Work on your presentation skills. If you take the time to think about how to communicate effectively, you will see results/become more ‘marketable’…..

Thank you!!