What do you get when you put sensational speakers, passionate panellists and curious communicators in a beautifully decorated space together? Inner Rebel 2023.
We were fortunate enough to sponsor Inner Rebel again this year; we connected with old friends and new, heard spellbinding stories, and soaked up new perspectives on leadership, power and collaboration.
Interesting insights and pearls of wisdom were plentiful.
Here are some of our favourite quotes of the day…
“Being myself is what got me that interview” – Sam McAlister
What interview might Sam be talking about? Well, that interview with Prince Andrew – you know the one. Sam shared how she was unapologetically herself while negotiating News Night’s biggest scoop to date. Staying true to who you are can help you gain trust and encourage others to be more open, honest and relaxed, even at Buckingham Palace!
“I wouldn’t decorate my daughter’s bedroom without letting her choose the colour of the walls” – Nisha Katona
Change requires consultancy. When it comes to introducing a new idea, system or process, inviting employees to offer their thoughts and opinions can be really powerful, and this is exactly what Nisha does at each of her Mowgli restaurants. Similarly at Alive, the projects we work on often include stakeholder engagement sessions, creativity workshops and feedback surveys, to help harness the voices and choices of those at the heart of the organisation.
“AI won’t replace you but someone using it will” – Dan Sodergren
This message from Dan was all about adapting, trying new things and determining what works best for you and your team. Burying our heads in the sand about AI won’t help, but investigating how it can help speed up mundane tasks so that we can crack on with the fun, collaborative and creative stuff, well, that sounds like a win win!
“We have to call ourselves learners first and foremost” – Olivia Bussey
When it comes to ED&I, a lot of people worry about getting things wrong. However, by being open to learning, actively seeking out educational materials and truly listening to what our colleagues with lived experience have to say, we will become more confident about the all-important task of bringing ED&I and comms together.
“If you can’t communicate, you can’t lead” – Thomas Erikson
This is why some leaders look to comms pros for support, but they must be willing to give them a seat at the table. Whether you’re addressing a sensitive subject, announcing new employee benefits or discussing industry news, being adaptable and finding out what communication styles and channels are right for you, your team and the context are fundamental to being an effective leader.
“With transparency comes accountability” – Ben Horn
When progressing our ED&I initiatives, we need to hold ourselves accountable by being open and honest in our comms about what changes we’re actually making, what goals we’ve set and how we plan to achieve them. Ben’s wise words made us think about our recent blog post on exactly this topic, check it out: Hey, are you buzzy?
“We are the caretakers of each other’s nervous systems” – Suzanne Alleyne
Suzanne shared her insights on Professor Lisa Feldman Barrett’s idea of body budgeting. She argues that, like a financial budget, our brains keep track of when and where we spend resources (like having a meeting or going for a run). To be effective we need to be aware of where we’re exhausting our energy and equally, how much we’re drawing from other people. Who might benefit from a recharge? How can you protect your energy?
“If you care about making a positive difference, then your story will always matter” – Leona Smith
Leona’s session reminded us of the power of storytelling and how putting real people with real experiences at the heart of any campaign will help it sing. Authentic communications are often curated rather than created from scratch, it’s a collaborative process amongst the people who care most. To help prove it, Leona wowed us with this powerful video from the John Lewis Partnership.
Thank you to Advita and her brilliant team of Rebels for pulling together such a dazzling, diverse and dynamic lineup of speakers and for having us along for the ride.
Search #InnerRebel2023 on Twitter for more standout moments!
By Lauren Castle
