The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 39 - Evidence-based IC
Recent research shows measurement is particularly challenging for many internal comms professionals. Katie’s guest on this episode of The Internal Comms Podcast is Benjamin Ellis – a data cruncher – who is on a mission to change that.
A self-confessed tech geek, Benjamin realised that the problem with technology is often the end user, or in IC terms – people – prompting him to study psychology.
Having worked at the cutting edge of technology and communication for more than three decades, his expertise lies in networks, Big Data, Machine Learning, data governance, privacy and security – among other things.
He is now the CEO of SocialOptic and works to create positive organisational change with a variety of businesses and is currently helping the NHS and UK Government during the pandemic.
The conversation deep dives into measurement, how to do it successfully and its increasing importance in our fast-changing world. It also explores common misconceptions, survey fatigue and why the right question is more important than the right answer.
Throughout this engaging chat with Katie, Benjamin provides fresh insights and inspired thinking, guaranteed to help motivate you to measure more.
If you have any thoughts or comments on this episode, please share them using the hashtag #TheICPodcast and make sure you’re following us on Twitter @abthinks
Jump to
Bringing together data and people [6:56]
The potential of big data [11:09]
The truth is often hidden in averages [12:56]
What is measurement? [14:29]
Failure is not the opposite of success [18:49]
Benchmarking – measuring change [33:14]
Data needs context [36:02]
Survey fatigue – don’t waste people’s time [37:34]
How to get good at measurement [48:53]
Success and impact measurement [49:18]
Check your motivation [53:35]
Impact means repeatable results [55:29]
Employee insight as an asset [57:32]
Don’t stick people in boxes [1:01:51]
Start small [1:05:52]
The importance of feedback [1:08:03]
Quickfire questions [1:15:10]
Links from this episode
Connect with Benjamin on Twitter and LinkedIn
Visit his websites benjaminellis.org and socialoptic.com
Recent episodes
Episode 55 – Mission Impossible
December 1, 2021
Episode 55 – Mission Impossible with Sally Susman – Season 6, ep07 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 54 – Brain care: Mastering your mind
November 17, 2021
Episode 54 – Brain care: Mastering your mind with Phil Dobson – Season 6, ep06 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 53 – Suicide Prevention: Reflecting on an award-winning campaign
November 3, 2021
Episode 53 – Suicide Prevention: Reflecting on an award-winning campaign with Karen Coleman and Naomi Sutcliffe – Season 6, ep05 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 52 – How do you create comms with purpose?
October 20, 2021
Episode 52 – How do you create comms with purpose? with Maliha Aqeel – Season 6, ep04 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 51 – Why are we here? How purpose and values drive healthy cultures
October 6, 2021
Episode 51 – Why are we here? How purpose and values drive healthy cultures with Jane Mitchell – Season 6, ep03 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 50 – A guru’s guide to internal podcasts
September 22, 2021
Episode 50 – A guru’s guide to internal podcasts with Brian Landau – Season 6, ep02 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 49 – Engagement: how it started, how it's going
September 8, 2021
Episode 49 – Engagement: how it started, how it's going with Professor William Khan – Season 6, ep01 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Industry experts – highlights from Season 5
September 1, 2021
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 5 of The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 48 – Changing minds: using behavioural science in IC
May 12, 2021
Episode 48 – Changing minds: using behavioural science in IC with Will Leach – Season 5, ep07 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 47 – Conversation with a comms rebel
April 28, 2021
Episode 47 – Conversation with a comms rebel with Advita Patel – Season 5, ep06 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 46 – Influential Internal Communication
April 14, 2021
Episode 46 – Influential Internal Communication with Jenni Field – Season 5, ep05 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 45 – Sharing the magic
March 31, 2021
Episode 45 – Sharing the magic with Mark Webb – Season 5, ep04 – The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 44 – How to prove your presence
March 17, 2021
Episode 44 – How to prove your presence with Prarthna Thakore – Season 5, ep03 – The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 43 – Kate Jones on the state of our sector
March 3, 2021
Episode 43 – Kate Jones on the state of our sector – Season 5, ep02 – The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 42 – Once Upon A Time In IC
February 17, 2021
Episode 42 – Once Upon A Time In IC with Gabrielle Dolan – Season 5, ep01 – The Internal Comms Podcast.
Looking back, looking forward: highlights from Season 4
February 10, 2021
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 4 of The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 41 - At the heart of the crisis: NHS comms during Covid-19
December 23, 2020
Episode 41 - At the heart of the crisis: NHS comms during Covid-19 with Amanda Nash, Adam Brimelow and Ross Wigham - Season 4, ep08 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 40 - Founding fathers – building the first IC agency
December 17, 2020
Episode 40 - Founding fathers – building the first IC agency with Tony and Tim Buckley - Season 4, ep07 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Coming soon in season 4
December 9, 2020
Coming soon in season 4 of The Internal Comms Podcast
Episode 39 - Evidence-based IC
November 25, 2020
Episode 39 - Evidence-based IC with Benjamin Ellis - Season 4, ep06 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 38 - The secret thoughts of successful people
November 11, 2020
Episode 38 - The secret thoughts of successful people with Dr Valerie Young - Season 4, ep05 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 37 - The art of negotiation
October 28, 2020
Episode 37 - The art of negotiation with Chris Voss - Season 4, ep04 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 36 - Navigating the digital landscape
October 14, 2020
Episode 36 - Navigating the digital landscape with Frank Wolf - Season 4, ep03 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 35 - How to do less, but do it better
September 30, 2020
Episode 35 - How to do less, but do it better with Steve Crescenzo - Season 4, ep02 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 34 – Cross-cultural comms
September 16, 2020
Episode 34 – Cross-cultural comms with Tasneem Chopra - Season 4, ep01 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Choice cuts: highlights from Season 3 of The IC Podcast
September 2, 2020
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 3 of The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 33 – IC’s founding father
July 8, 2020
Episode 33 – IC’s founding father with Roger D'Aprix - Season 3, ep13 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 32 – Leadership in unprecedented times
June 24, 2020
Episode 32 – Leadership in unprecedented times with Jenni Field - Season 3, ep12 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 31 - What's next? IABC roundtable on the impact of Coronavirus
June 10, 2020
Episode 31 - What's next? IABC roundtable on the impact of Coronavirus with Brad Whitworth, Jennifer Wah and Neil Griffiths - Season 3, ep11 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 30 - Your biggest, best, boldest self
May 27, 2020
Episode 30 - Your biggest, best, boldest self with Adriènne Kelbie - Season 3, ep10 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 29 – Crisis communication at the coalface
May 13, 2020
Episode 29 – Crisis communication at the coalface with Amanda Coleman - Season 3, ep09 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 28 - The Godfather of IC
April 29, 2020
Episode 28 - The Godfather of IC with Bill Quirke - Season 3, ep08 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 27 - Stepping up in a Crisis
April 14, 2020
Episode 27 - Stepping up in a Crisis with Shel Holtz - Season 3, ep07 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 26 - How to thrive in IC (Part II)
April 1, 2020
Episode 26 - How to thrive in IC (Part II), with Rachel Miller - Season 3, ep06 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 25 – Crisis Communications: Covid-19 Special
March 25, 2020
Episode 25 - Crisis Communications: Covid-19 Special - Season 3, ep05 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 24 - A view from the top
March 18, 2020
Episode 24 - A view from the top, with Marc Barone - Season 3, ep04 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 23 – Courage, confidence and communication
March 4, 2020
Episode 23 - Courage, confidence and communication with Priya Bates - Season 3, ep03 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 22 - State of the Sector
February 19, 2020
Episode 22 - State of the Sector, Kevin McDougall and Andy Macleod - Season 3, ep02 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 21 - The cheerleader for IC
February 5, 2020
Episode 21 - The cheerleader for IC, Chuck Gose - Season 3, ep01 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
The highlight reel – nuggets of wisdom from Season 1 and 2 of The IC Podcast
January 29, 2020
In this special compilation of The Internal Comms Podcast, Katie pulls together her favourite clips from both seasons – recapping conversations that have really resonated as well as those that have provided those all-important lightbulb moments.
Episode 20 - Advocacy in action
December 18, 2019
Episode 20 - Advocacy in action, Keith Lewis - Season 2, ep08 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 19 - The appliance of neuroscience
December 4, 2019
Episode 19 - The appliance of neuroscience, Hilary Scarlett - Season 2, ep07 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 18 - Editing organisations
November 20, 2019
Episode 18 - Editing organisations, Mike Klein - Season 2, ep06 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 17 - Black Belt Thinking
November 6, 2019
Episode 17 - Black Belt Thinking, Sue Dewhurst and Liam FitzPatrick - Season 2, ep05 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 16 - A Passage to India
October 23, 2019
Episode 16 - A Passage to India, Mark Hannant - Season 2, ep04 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 15 - The Power of Two
October 8, 2019
Episode 15 - The Power Of Two, Claire Hyde and Louise Wadman - Season 2, ep03 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 14 - How to start a movement
September 24, 2019
Episode 14 - How to start a movement, Nita Clarke - Season 2, ep02 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 13 - A check-up with the IC doctor
September 11, 2019
Episode 13 - A check-up with the IC doctor, Kevin Ruck - Season 2, ep01 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Season 02 Trailer
September 6, 2019
Season two of The Internal Comms Podcast is almost here!
Episode 12 – Listen and learn: insights from 30 years in IC
July 24, 2019
Listen and learn: insights from 30 years in IC with Jason Etter - ep12 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 11 - Putting the soul back into Patisserie Valerie
June 25, 2019
Putting the soul back into Patisserie Valerie with Paolo Peretti - ep11 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 10 - Internal comms at the sharp end - recorded at IoIC live
May 21, 2019
Internal comms at the sharp end - recorded at IoIC live with Martin Fitzpatrick and Matt Batten - ep10 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 09 - How to win colleagues and influence people
May 7, 2019
How to win colleagues and influence people with Harry Hugo - ep9 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 08 - The Joy of Work
April 23, 2019
The Joy of Work with Bruce Daisley - ep8 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 07 - What social purpose (really) means
April 9, 2019
What social purpose (really) means with Mark Davies - ep7 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 06 – The craft of communication
March 27, 2019
The craft of communication with Henry Normal - ep6 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 05 – Learning comms lessons from PR
March 13, 2019
Learning comms lessons from PR, featuring Stephen Waddington - ep5 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 04 – What it means to be the voice of IC
February 27, 2019
What it means to be the voice of IC, featuring Jennifer Sproul - ep4 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 03 – What the State of the Sector report means for IC
February 13, 2019
What the State of the Sector report means for IC, featuring Jenni Field - ep3 - The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 02 – What it takes to be an IC leader
January 30, 2019
What it takes to be an IC leader, featuring Russell Grossman – ep2 – The Internal Comms Podcast.
Episode 01 - How to thrive in IC
January 16, 2019
How to thrive in IC, featuring Rachel Miller – ep1 – The Internal Comms Podcast.
