25 August 2008
New leaves Texas Instruments for boutique consultancy
Employee communications manager becomes senior consultant at dg&a.
Elizabeth New (pictured) has joined dg&a consultancy as a senior consultant (branded senior thoughtpartner™ at the firm). At dg&a, she is working with David Grossman, one of the Hub's editorial board members.
New arrives at the consultancy fresh from spending four years at software solutions provider Texas Instruments (TI), where she was an employee communications manager for several business units. Prior to that, she was senior professional development consultant in TI's training and organizational effectiveness group.
"Leaders as communicators" initiative
While in the corporate communications function at TI, New kicked off the "Leaders as Communicators" initiative. "This was a tools, training and coaching program to enable managers to be more effective communicators – as they're the critical link between senior leaders and employees on the front lines," she told the Hub this week.
I believe in collaboration – working as a team always brings the best possible result.
During her time in TI's learning and development group, New led the design of "Choose to Lead", a global onboarding program for new managers and supervisors. She also worked on several high-potential leadership programs.
Additionally, in TI's Wireless business unit, New was instrumental in a more focused strategy rollout for the newly reorganized business unit. "We made sure to get the senior vice president and several of his deputies in front of employees in multiple locations around the globe within the first month of the new fiscal year."
Shifting to a consulting role
In New's position at dg&a she works directly with clients on their internal communications, strategic messaging and leadership communications.
New says her experience on the corporate side has given her an inside view of the communications challenges and issues companies are facing these days. "I've also had the privilege of working with a variety of leaders, employee groups and communications professionals. These experiences will enable me to quickly understand client needs," she says.
Enhancing manager communications is one of the most important things companies can do.
"My mantra is to listen well and to bring all my professional and life experiences to bear on the communication challenge at hand. I also believe in collaboration – working as a team always brings the best possible result."
Forthcoming challenges
What does New expect to be the challenges in internal communications going into 2009?
"Manager communications continues to be a challenge inside corporations today," she says.
Enhancing manager communications is one of the most important things companies can do to accelerate employee engagement and create a winning culture, New believes.
"Managers and supervisors are a critical link between leaders at the top and employees on the front lines. Equipping them with a simple and relevant message platform is key – then we help provide structure and coaching to enable managers to communicate those messages in their own style," New says.
Have your say
Recently taken on a consulting role? Or perhaps your company has brought in a consulting firm to look at your internal communications practices – do you agree with the changes they suggest? How do you put across your alternative view?
Do you think introducing external partners is always beneficial? And do you share New's opinion that "enhancing manager communications is one of the most important things companies can do to accelerate employee engagement" or do you think there are more critical issues companies should be concentrating on?
Share your experiences, questions and opinions with us below.
Recommended resources:
Make your career plan a priority
McIntosh leaves the Windy City for global role at PepsiCo
Messagemaps CD-Rom: A guide to creating clear, credible and impactful messages
Got a news story? Contact the newsdesk