Lessons on Leadership Communication during COVID-19: An IT Communications CG Coffee Shop

Published:
Presentations and Seminars
Author(s) and Contributors:
Speaker(s): Linda Ong
Source(s) and Collection(s):
Sources(s): Community Groups Presentation(s): Webinars
ParentTopics:
Communications COVID-19 Leadership and Management

Abstract

Communicators working in higher ed have had to respond to rapid and unexpected communications needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, crafting meaningful messages for both internal and external audiences. IT communications, in particular, has been critical in ensuring campus communities remain teaching, learning, and working remotely under the advice of government health authorities. With three months’ worth of hindsight, this coffeeshop takes a closer look at lessons learned from the perspective of UBC’s IT Communications Director and her team’s efforts to manage communications during the pandemic. The presentation will touch on the following:

  • Shifting the CIO voice. Messaging for IT staff, campus stakeholders, and the greater UBC community
  • Leadership communications. Opportunities to strengthen internal messaging and unify communications
  • Self-care. Who is watching out for the communications team?
  • Anticipated communication challenges. IT-comm preparations for the fall semester.

Linda Ong joined UBC IT as their first communications director in 2017, after spending a decade leading similar communication teams at the university’s HR and Library departments. A member of the EDUCAUSE IT-Communications cabinet, she believes this “crisitunity” will make us all stronger communicators.

For more information about the IT Communications Community Group visit: https://www.educause.edu/community/it-communications-community-group

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