In this episode of Frequency, Jenni and Chuck dig into another week of stories shaping workplace culture, leadership and internal comms. They kick off with the latest research on “culture rot,” where only 14% of employees feel aligned to their company values - and they discuss what that says about credibility, trust and how organisations communicate who they really are.
They also get into some new data showing gossip continues to outpace HR during layoffs, raising tough questions about transparency, timing and the human impact of change. Jenni shares insights from the Gallagher Digital Experience Summit, including the rising issue of digital stress, the reality of AI maturity, and why productivity isn’t as measurable as leaders think.
The conversation wraps with a look at America’s shifting relationship with work — and what it means when more people see their role as “just a job.”
Articles mentioned in this episode:
“Culture rot” hits UK workplaces — most people feel misaligned
Gossip beats HR in layoff announcements
Americans’ Long Love/Hate Relationship With Work
🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.
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42:17
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42:17
Recognition, Rituals & the Reality of Hybrid Work
In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field discuss the importance of in-person gatherings, the concept of long-haul leadership, and the challenges of hybrid work environments.
The conversation covers two favorite topics - hybrid work and leadership, discussing the fact that rules about days in office will never outperform rituals that help teams do the right work in the right way. The surprising truth about the engagement of managers is uncovered and the link that has to recognition in the workplace.
The pair debate the dangers of narrowing and specialising in your comms career and they tackle the important topic of productivity and exhaustion - and why listening is the answer.
Articles and links related to this episode
From Exhaustion to Empowerment: The Meaningful Productivity Report (Forty1)
Hybrid Work Is Not the Problem — Poor Leadership Is (MIT Sloan Management Review)
Employees Say Only 59% of Leaders Are Actively Engaged (Nectar)
Public relations • communications strategy • career growth (Michelle Frith on LinkedIn)
Books mentioned in this episode:
Long Haul Leader by Chris Ducker: https://longhaulleader.com/book/
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/my-new-book-slow-productivity/
Cues by Vanesss Van Edwards: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/cues/
Busy by Tony Crabbe: https://tonycrabbe.com/books/
Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Talieb - https://a.co/d/8wSDUKO
🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.
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31:42
Purpose, Profit & Proper Internal Comms
In this episode, Chuck Gose and Jenni Field dig into the latest report into the value of internal communication. It’s a report authored by Jenni with Dr Kevin Ruck and published by the Internal Comms Research Hub. They go on to debate the role of HR inside organizations and tackle the big question of the purpose of workplaces in general.
Middle managers are back on the agenda and this time discussing what we can learn from the history of the 1990’s reengineering approach. The episode wraps up with a discussion about a new report into female entrepreneurship and the systemic issues impacting women in the workplace.
Articles and reports in this episode:
The value of internal comms
How HR took over British business and got in the way of actual work
Bonfire of the middle managers
Female Entrepreneurship
Missing Women Report
🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.
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44:18
Meetings, Microshifting & Managing Boundaries
In this episode of Frequency, hosts Chuck Gose and Jenni Field delve into the complexities of workplace dynamics, focusing on the challenges of meetings, the benefits of in-person connections, and the emerging concept of ‘microshifting’ in work patterns.
They explore the integration of AI in the workplace, sharing the differences in how they both use AI every day in their work. They also discuss the impact of AI on comms specifically, after reports show 80% of a communicator's role can be replaced with the technology.
The episode wraps up with a discussion about the importance of setting boundaries with the phrase 'I don't', rather than ‘I can’t’, to foster a healthier work-life balance.
Articles mentioned in this episode:
Microshifting ends the 9-5
How people actually use ChatGPT at work
BCG’s take on GenAI productivity and cost in communications
The two words you need to help you push back at work
Find our more about Jenni’s Leaders Reboot
🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.
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38:50
ROI, Recognition & Reaching Frontline Workers
In this episode of Frequency, hosts Jenni Field and Chuck Gose reflect on their recent experiences in Nashville for the #Unite25 conference and discuss various topics related to internal communications, including the challenges of proving ROI, the shift from engagement to effectiveness, and the importance of communication for frontline workers.
They delve into some recent research reports from Dewpoint Communications and Workvivo by Zoom and they explore the implications of being recognized as a 'best place to work' and the employee expectations that come with it. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective internal communication strategies that align with organizational goals and the importance of understanding employee experiences.
Links to articles mentioned in this episode:
Internal Comms ROI Report | Workvivo Survey of 5,000+ Leaders
The Big Shift - A Pivot from "Engaged" to "Effective" - Strategic
Connecting the Frontline: Current Trends, Challenges, and Strategic Opportunities in Workforce Communication - a report from Dewpoint communications
Do we really want to work in one of the top places to work?
🎶 Theme music for Frequency is “Blessed Be the Weary," produced by Poet Ali. You can find the track on Spotify, Apple Music, and wherever you stream music. We're grateful to Poet for setting the tone with his powerful, reflective sound.
Frequency is where internal comms, HR, leadership and employee experience come together with lively conversation, expert insights, and plenty of friendly debate. Hosted by industry firestarters Chuck Gose and Jenni Field, this podcast tackles the big workplace challenges—from reaching frontline employees to shaping a strong company culture—all with a mix of sharp opinions, candid stories, and discussion.Chuck and Jenni bring their unique perspectives and personalities to every episode, ensuring you get more than just the usually-tedious industry insights. Whether it’s sparking new ideas or challenging the status quo, Frequency is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.Tune in for a weekly dose of everything you need to know about leadership, workplace culture and employee engagement.a3cffaee93e954f93bbedfafc22bc42959cf432b
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