WE ARE CHANGING SOCIAL.
We’ve had to quickly adapt to a new world and adopt new ways of working as hybrid working has become the norm. And, as usual, Microsoft has been working at breakneck speed to add even more new features and innovation
Before the pandemic, the term ‘hybrid working’ was rarely used. Remote working maybe, flexible working, yes. However, 18-months into the Covid-19 pandemic, hybrid working has been hailed as the ‘new norm’ and will undoubtedly become the work environment of the
In this article, we’re reviewing the two leaders in the collaboration software market – Microsoft Teams vs Slack, to uncover which one really is the best tool for the job. In 2020, the team collaboration software market reached
At a time when constant change has become the ‘new normal’, digital champions programmes add power and impact to change projects, helping people to embed and adopt new technology and new systems. In this week’s article, we talk
To wrap up our insight into Microsoft Teams apps series (Click here to see part 1 and part 2), this article shines the spotlight our favourite apps for helping teams stay focused. With so much going on in the
SharePoint has come a long way over the years since it was launched by Microsoft as a simple server management tool in 2001. Twenty years later, and with every iteration, it continues to evolve. Now a sophisticated file sharing
In the past year, we’ve changed almost every business practice we’ve been used to. So for communications professionals tasked with the job of planning large employee virtual events this year, we wanted to give you some support to make it
In our last blog, we touched on automation and the benefits of ditching paper-based processes in favour of a more efficient, smarter way of working. In this blog, we’ll delve further into: What is automation? The benefits of automation
The face of the ‘traditional’ workplace has changed dramatically over the past 16 months as businesses try to grasp what the workplace of the future will look like. But the pandemic hasn’t been the only catalyst for organisations to
Automating paper-based processes and moving to a more digitally-focused business isn’t something from the future, it’s happening right now and is a trend that’s gaining momentum. There was a time when the term “automation” conjured up images of manufacturing plants full of robots.
The world produces 300 million tons of paper every year. That’s an astonishing figure considering the advancements in technology specifically designed to help achieve a paperless business. The paperless movement has been rumbling on for quite some time
Many of us are using Teams, but is your organisation using it to its fullest potential? We’ve pulled together 10 Microsoft Teams best practices to help you run and manage a high-performing Teams environment… 1. The ultimate Teams
It should come as no surprise (Microsoft has sent a fair few reminders) that Skype for Business Online is officially on its way out. As of 31 July 2021, Skype for Business Online will be putting its feet up and gracefully
Becoming a Digital Champion is a rewarding experience. As well as helping colleagues who might struggle with change, you’re also learning new skills. However, not appreciating the time and commitment it takes to become a Digital Champion can be a
Ever come back from a holiday to hundreds of emails and had to trawl through them one by one, jumping from one conversation to another? Or been sent a convoluted email trail and expected to be ‘up to date’? Or
You may be familiar with terms like change fatigue or Zoom fatigue, but have you heard of champions’ fatigue? It’s one of the reasons why change programmes fail. In this blog we explain the phenomenon and offer tips and tricks
Teams steps up to provide interactive webinars We all know the power of a face-to-face event. The tangibility of key speakers imparting their wisdom. But with face-to-face events currently on hold, Teams has stepped up to provide interactive webinars that
Welcome to the third instalment of our Digital Champions blog series! In our last blog, we talked about creating a winning environment for our digital champions so they can really have a positive impact on your change programme.
Digital Champion Programmes are an essential tool in the overall change programme. They harness the drive and desire of people who want to help shape the future of their organisation and support their colleagues through the change. A study
Knock out digital champs – how to find the top people who’ll really pack a punch on your digital champion programme. According to the Harvard Business Review and a study by Degreed, 55% of people prefer to learn
We’ve quickly had to adapt to a new world and adopt new ways of working. And as always, Microsoft has been working at breakneck speed, introducing even more new features to the chat and Collaboration functionalities in Teams Chat, to
The benefits of taking a break are well-documented, so why do we continue to join virtual meetings one after the other, leaving our brains literally fried? It’s time to give your brain a break. This year’s Mental Health Awareness
Employee burnout is a term you’ve probably heard a lot more in recent times. Stress and feeling overwhelmed can become part of professional life. When this relentless work pressure becomes debilitating, it’s known as burnout. In this blog, we’ll
Buying into Microsoft 365 is one thing, getting people to understand it and use it is another. Microsoft is continually looking for new and exciting ways to keep ahead of the digital game and make regular announcements of new
April is Stress Awareness month and a great opportunity for us to look at how tech can help us manage wellbeing and stress from O365 in the workplace. As companies start to lift their heads from the initial
Microsoft has been looking at new and exciting ways to keep employees connected and engaged. In this blog, we focus on some of the features that Microsoft recently announced, designed to foster a culture of employee wellbeing in the workplace.
Digital Onboarding; the process of integrating a new employee into the company so they’re fully prepared with the necessary knowledge, tools, skills and connections to succeed in their new role. It’s immersing them in the company culture so they want
Not so much ‘beam me up Scotty’ as ‘beam me in’ as Microsoft launch their new Mesh technology which looks set to reinvent the way we interact online. Announced at the recent annual Ignite conference, Microsoft Mesh uses 3D
Connection So much of our work is relationship-based so how do we stay connected from a distance, and maintain relationships with our colleagues, managers and stakeholders? In part one we discussed people management and how Microsoft apps could help support
Yet another rammed Microsoft Ignite show. There are so many innovations on the horizon concerning Microsoft 365 that will revolutionise how we interact in the workplace and the social space. We have taken the time to look through everything Ignite
Along with the pandemic of 2020 came digital adoption like we’ve never seen. For so many people, working and learning moved from the office and into their home. This flexible working has continued into 2021 and looks set to
Microsoft recently unveiled a brand-new platform designed for employee engagement, learning, wellbeing and knowledge discovery to help employee’s transform the way they work remotely. In this article I will outline my top 7 Microsoft Viva features and what to expect from them. Viva Topics Content and skills are arranged automatically
There’s no debating that over the past twelve months our employees would have been completely isolated and adrift if it wasn’t for the use of Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs). The surge in remote working cultures has definitely been on the rise in
Showing our appreciation and recognising people for their efforts is simple yet powerful. However, it is often underrated and underused. And in a remote world with a lack of face-to-face interaction, the need to celebrate success is even more crucial.
Last week was a big week for Microsoft aficionados the world-over with the launch of Viva, including for us here at Changing Social. But this announcement felt different. Hear from Changing Social MD Steve Crompton as he explains more about
Change is a constant factor in large organisations but employees are often wary of it and what it means for them. In the current landscape – characterised by ongoing unpredictability in professional and personal lives – employees have a lower
Over the coming weeks, we’re going to be blogging about some of the apps available in Microsoft Teams to support you to manage your people, stay connected and maintain focus. In part one, we will be looking at apps to
In recent months, the shift to remote and hybrid work has led organisations of all sizes, and across every industry, to rethink how their people and teams communicate and collaborate. During the COVID crisis, many organisations transformed quickly and
This is the second part of our blog series on managing and working in virtual teams. As lockdown comes to an end in the UK, the government advice remains that for those who can work remotely should. There is
Like it or loathe it, it looks like virtual working is here to stay. In the UK we find ourselves in our second national lockdown with many people being asked to work from home again. As winter advances, it’s
There’s so much you can do in Teams; the problem is knowing where to start! To save you time pouring over information, we’ve highlighted five great features we think you’ll want to know about. 1) Use Live Events
If you’re considering a move to Office 365, or you’ve already moved but have yet to adopt the full suite of services into your organisation, then read on. When purchasing an Office 365 subscription, you get a whole bunch
We’re constantly learning about new ways to make our content more accessible and inclusive using Microsoft 365. And you can be sure when we find a new accessibility trick, we’ll share it with you through our social channels. Here’s
With remote working fast becoming the new normal, how do you ensure that you stay as productive on teams as you are in the office? That’s where Microsoft Teams is a game-changer. It’s designed to keep colleagues productively connected
Gregg Bainbridge, our excellent Education & Accessibility Lead, has written up some of his thoughts on Microsoft’s Ignite 2020 sessions, that you should know about… Microsoft Ignite 2020 sessions It’s been another interesting set of Ignite sessions from Microsoft. Seeing how the different products
For me, nothing kills the post-holiday buzz more than an inbox full of emails. That sinking feeling I get when I open Outlook to 1000s of emails gets me every time. So how do you deal with inbox fatigue? This blog will tell you just
As part of our series of how to use Microsoft Teams, this blog will look at how you can use the Teams app when you’re out and about, and away from the office. Teams is designed to be accessed
As we’re now unable to meet up in groups of more than six people, it makes physical party hosting and attending rather impossible these days. A virtual party is the way to go. How can you host a virtual party? Having
As part of our Getting Started on Microsoft Teams blog series, this blog looks at some of the apps and tools that you can use in Teams. There are literally hundreds of tools and apps within Teams that add extra functionality and whizz bang
Working 9-5, what a way to make a living… Are you working the typical business hours like Dolly? Or are you open all hours and rocking around the clock? Whatever your situation, there’s a good chance that knowing how to use Shifts in
Expecting a big crowd? Teams Live Events could be the answer… As part of our Getting Started on Microsoft Teams series, this blog is an introduction to Live Events, we’ll tell you what are Teams Live Events, when you should use Live Events
As part of our Getting Started on Microsoft Teams blog series, this blog is all about making calls in Teams. As your communications hub, Microsoft Teams can be used to send and receive voice and video calls. And as Skype for
The difference between a conversation or chat in Microsoft Teams As part of our Getting Started on Microsoft Teams blog series, this blog looks at the difference between a conversation and chat in Microsoft Teams, and when we should use them. Communicating with colleagues is a
If you’ve been on maternity/paternity leave, on furlough or out of work for the past year, the chances are you’ve missed the Teams revolution in the workplace and how it’s become a complete communications hub! This blog will help
Whether you’ve been using Microsoft Teams for a while or you’re brand new to it, the chances are you will be using the ‘out of the box’ version. You may not have customised the settings to your liking or made any changes…Here
As part of our Getting Started on Microsoft Teams blog series, this blog is all about teams collaborate and channels. You’ll know by now that Teams is your communications hub. With features that allow you to voice and video call, private message and chat with your colleagues, it’s a
Is your content accessible? Do you know how to make your presentation digitally inclusive? We caught up with our resident accessibility expert, Gregg Bainbridge to talk all things Microsoft Digital Inclusion and learn how our Microsoft Digital Champions programme can
I was talking to a client the other day about some upcoming Microsoft training sessions we were planning with her business. “Teams? We’re all over that. We’ve been using Teams to keep in touch since the Coronavirus outbreak, so we’re
This remote working business was pretty exciting week one. I set up my home office, bought loads of houseplants and started to get settled into this new way of working. Fast forward 196 weeks, and it’s fair to say the novelty has somewhat worn off. The
If you’re struggling to see what you’re doing in Windows 10, or just want to make the mouse and keyboard easier to use, take look at the Ease of Access options in Windows 10 and how this might make life
Imagine being given an amazing new job opportunity, accepting that offer, handing in your notice and a week later the Prime Minister appears on TV to say, “You must stay at home”. Well that’s what happened to me and I’m guessing quite
As a large percentage of the population are working from home and adapting their working lives around recent rulings to stop the spread of Covid-19 here are the Changing Social Team’s top tips on staying mentally and physically healthy during
If the Oxford English dictionary wants some new entries for its 2020 edition, we’re sure Teams, #isolife and a certain virus that shall not be named, would make the grade. But while the term furlough is not new to the OED, its use and
An Executive Sponsor should follow these 10 key activities to be effective during a change program The position of an Executive Sponsor continues to grow in importance, but the need to choose the right person to fulfil that role is
Getting your workforce to adopt new technology is not easy. Though senior management might see the big-picture benefits and be enthusiastic to, rolling out across all spans and layers is another challenge entirely. The role of Change Champions is crucial
Leading the way in the renewable energy sector is Siemens Gamesa, a global giant in the manufacturing, installation and operation of wind turbines, both on and offshore. With a presence in more than 90 countries and over 20,000 employees, Siemens
We are almost halfway through Microsoft Inspire 2019! Today featured speaker Rebecca Alexander will be hosting her session on “Finding fulfilment: Live a life worth celebrating”, so we thought this would be a great time to release our article about
Introduction Office 365 has the potential to transform how frontline workers operate within the workplace. The cloud-based subscription service ‘that brings together the best tools for the way people work today’ (Office 365, 2019) offers a diverse range of tools
In this report, I have outlined the Yammer benefits as well as how it could be used to solve common issues in modern day corporations. The world of business is now more competitive than ever, and organisations are being
Wednesday April 17th 2019, we hosted our first event showcasing our Adoption Game! Our MD, Steve Crompton, dreamt up the idea of using a game to help others understand adoption and change management principles. It’s not easy to simply describe
Today I had a call with a Customer Success Manager from Microsoft, and friend of mine, Chris Slemp. Chris usually has his video on and before my calls I usually spend a good 5 minutes thinking of some excuse as
As more and more of us are working from home, the need for accessible documents is increasingly important. Whether you are sharing and co authoring documents with colleagues, writing reports or producing brochures and one pagers for sales purposes, your
Do you want to have some fun in your Teams meetings during these tough stay at home times. You can download and install the Snap Chat Camera filter and easily add it as a camera device in Teams. You can
For months, and possibly years, corporate communications professionals the world over have been trying to convince their leaders of the benefits of Yammer. Claims of improved staff engagement and promises of real-time, two-way communication have always been offered and backed up by case studies and hard
In the example below I am looking to have all of the files in my Changing Social Oil Rig Team synced back to my File Explorer to enable easy access to them. Step 1, Click on the Changing Social
Having worked in the offshore oil and gas industry for a number of years, I witnessed first-hand the importance of great teamwork and how this can impact on offshore oil rig communications. On one of my last assignments offshore,
Microsoft Inspire is now over for another year and after a manic week in Las Vegas we can finally sit back and reflect on the whole experience. So, let’s get right into the nitty gritty and look at the top
Employees who feel they work in meaningful jobs and are managed well not only feel happier but are more secure and drive productivity and innovation. This symbiotic relationship between business and worker lies within the heart of employee engagement. This
