How can we connect for good causes with clients, colleagues, and each other? How can we address the community credibly and free from clichés, both in the workplace and beyond? These were the key questions of the third Connect conference organized by Blue Colibri on April 11, where, as usual, trends in HR and communication took center stage. The top-notch professional content was delivered by 120 speakers, from whom more than 900 attendees could learn while enjoying themselves.

In Hungary, it is a strategic priority for the entire higher education system to support the creation of successful startups and innovative businesses. Within this system, HSUP is one such practical knowledge-providing program that encourages students to try to realize their ideas and create startups for this purpose.

Dive into the latest innovations honored with Blue Colibri Awards, from game-changing strategies to community-building triumphs. Stay tuned for insights into these pioneering initiatives reshaping employee satisfaction!

Connect again on 11 April 2024 at the Eiffel Műhelyház! We have brought you the most topical and exciting issues in internal communication and corporate culture. Super speakers, top professional questions, fun networking. We've already revealed what's in store for the third Connect - get in the mood for the conference with our blog article.

As the global authority in recognizing excellence in people practices, Top Employers Institute proudly announced over 2 300 Top Employers for 2024, 15 of them are certified in Hungary. Top Employers always keep up with the latest HR trends, also supported by the Research conducted by the Top Employers Institute, that every year culminates in the creation of the World of Work Trends Report, a powerful insights tool for those organizations that want to shape a better world of work.

In the spotlight: Internal communication is evolving from a traditional HR task to a crucial tool for success. Experts from shared how creative content, podcasts, and videos can enrich corporate life, making it engaging and educational.

The impact of a four-day working week on engagement, customer relations and turnover.

It is worth conducting internal research beforehand on what employees would like to receive internal company information about, in what form and with what frequency.

Male strength in management: should male leaders always be strong and can they embrace their insecurities? Failure, mistake, weakness, uncertainty, self-identity, cooperation, immediacy, perfectionism, listening and availability: these were the terms used mainly by the male leaders interviewed.

The main characteristics of women leaders and managers are multitasking, perseverance, love, leading by example, service and self-identity.

More and more companies are adopting hybrid working and the time has come to introduce it in a cost-effective way that can be used by employees.

The idea is that internal company events are part of organisational and cultural development and employer branding. It will also be discussed how to attract employees - especially different generations - back to internal company events and what research should be done to inform the strategy for events.

Topics such as more occupational health services than before, the benefits of the online space, full and regular screening in companies, less sick leave, the disadvantages of teleworking, and the health situation of older workers were among the topics discussed. In addition, participants argued in favour of the use of the online space to provide valid and rapid health answers and advice to workers.

Knowledge transfer, knowledge sharing from older, more experienced leaders to newer, younger leaders. Working together is an inspiration for the mentor. It is important to shape cooperation and communication between different generations. Mentoring is a more flexible framework than coaching. And can the mentor be grateful for the feedback he or she receives from the mentee?

‍In the Connect Conference panel discussion moderated by marketing and communications expert Judit Gál, Balázs Varró, Marketing and Communications Director of Prohuman, Ádám Szinai, Marketing and Communications Manager of CIB Bank and László Kurucz, Communications Manager of Aeroplex of Central Europe gave their thoughts about the releationship between HR and Communication.

What internal communication channels, content and timing should be shared with employees?

What content should we produce for different generations of workers and what do we need to know about baby boomers, Generation X, Y and Z?

In addition to new forms of internal communication, AI will have the biggest impact on the organisation and its employees.

With hybrid working gaining ground among workers at a brutal pace, perhaps nothing will ever be the same again. Gallup's findings suggest that it's time for workplace leaders to rethink their expectations of presenteeism, and instead invest more energy in weekly systematic, meaningful and supportive feedback.

Increasing employee engagement has become one of the most important tasks for employers in recent years. Not only global trends, but also domestic trends show that turnover and retention tools are becoming a growing focus for organisations to address. Generations require different kind of treatment just as their behavior differs.

How are HR and investment aspects related in a digital business? When is an external consultant or subcontractor valuable?

Labour market turnover is on a steadily rising trend and wage increases are no longer the most effective response, despite the fact that a significant share of workers expect to be compensated for inflation. Managerial competence and employee well-being have become crucial factors.

In a difficult economic environment, with real wages falling due to inflation, it is worth rethinking the system of company fringe benefits and cafeterias. We spoke to our expert about what additional, often tax-free elements can be included to encourage engagement.

How does employee share ownership affect engagement and how are ownership, employee and customer satisfaction related? Good practices from ERSTE Bank.

Podcasts, a new form of internal corporate communication, have broken through the walls. Representatives of two innovative companies - Anita Knáb, Merkbau Zrt. and Dina Pacsi, ZNET Telekom Zrt. - talk about their first experiences, design and editing as well as production.

With emails growing exponentially, it is important that new digital tools, such as apps, are brought to the forefront of internal corporate communication, alongside their former almost taken-for-granted use.

In an age of constant changes and anxiety, it is important to find the necessary answers not only as individuals, but also as employees. But what can we do at the individual and organizational, corporate level?

An effective response to changing employee needs can be to produce internal company podcasts or videos and content that can be consumed flexibly instead of the usual company meetings. US research on the growing effectiveness of internal corporate podcasts.

Digitalisation in HR has now become a fundamental principle that has made data-driven planning and execution inevitable in an inflationary and challenging business environment. Data analytics helps both retain and develop the workforce.

In this episode, we highlight the success story of the Blue Colibri App and the valuable practices they employed in the realms of digital onboarding, mentoring, and talent management.

For the second time this year, Blue Colibri App has launched the Connect conference as a celebration of internal communication, a dedicated meeting platform for the disciplines that are of key importance in the life of companies and businesses - this year, 712 professionals were able to listen to the ideas of around 120 speakers.

For the second time, the Connect Awards were presented to the most innovative internal communication and employee engagement activities and campaigns implemented on the Blue Colibri App.

More than 100 speakers, more than 30 case studies and expert panels, several rooms, hundreds of participants, all in the spirit of corporate culture, internal communication, engagement and digital transformation. This is the Connect Conference.

A business has several life cycles. A successful entrepreneur has to learn the place and role of the ego in the process, and how to delegate. And the brand of an SME can be linked not only to the founder, but also to the chosen leader.

What are the differences in recruitment techniques between multinational companies and SMEs? In general, what are the new values of employees and employers? How do we use artificial intelligence in the selection process? And how can corporate self-awareness help SMEs?

How does mentoring affect engagement, company culture and employer branding? A discussion with Judit Zolnay, board member of the Hungarian Association of Executives, business coach and Flóra Németh, Head of PR at Telekom.

The Hungarian Association of Executives has been running its mentoring program for several years. In the interview, Tímea Buday Kollárik, Managing Director, also talks about how the selection process works and how mentors and mentees meet.

According to a study by consultancy McKinsey, if domestic start-ups could grow at a rate and scale similar to other European countries, they could attract €2.5-5 billion of additional resources to the sector.

Digital transformation is now proven to contribute to business performance and profitability. KPMG's research shows, among other things, that domestic companies already know and recognize the need for digital transformation, yet are slower to embrace it.

According to Trenkwalder's findings, as a result of the economic crisis, workers are prioritizing job security over cost-of-living raises. Fewer people are making plans to look for new employment.

Change has been constant for OPERA in recent times. How, in the context of both continuity and change, can an organization whose mission is to provide arts services improve internal communication and organizational culture?

Changes in the labor market in recent years have changed the technique of internal company surveys. Internal surveys, which also affect employee engagement, should be better prepared, conducted and communicated than in the past.

The cooperation between HR, marketing and communication is now essential for successful and effective internal communication. According to Tamás Barathi, the line between internal and external communication is becoming increasingly blurred.

The introduction of the four-day working week in Hungary has been piloted mainly by large companies, such as Telekom or Libri. SMEs have been less willing to try it, even though it could bring them many benefits. Cubicfox took the plunge last year, and although it caused some operational reorganization, the company's CEO says the decision had an impact on recruitment effectiveness and employer branding.

In recent years, female participation in the labor force has increased. Women are still paid less than men for doing the same work, but they are increasingly applying for and being hired for jobs.

Internal company events have been disrupted by the pandemic and now need to be organized more consciously, taking into account the needs of employees and building on their feedback in order to increase their engagement.

Gossip is not an inherently bad thing: it has its place and time, and with a little attention it can be a useful source of information for internal communication. Podcast interview with Zsuzsanna Szvetelszky, social psychologist.

COVID has radically transformed organizations and the way they operate, which now requires different leadership qualities. The authors of the Corvinus research have proposed, among other things, digitalization development and a transformational leadership style for leaders of domestic enterprises.

Recent research by Deloitte reveals that the majority of Hungarian workers are planning to quit. Employees now value flexible schedules more than financial compensation.

There are enough skilled IT professionals available to Hungarian startups, and more than the EU average, according to a recent study by McKinsey. Although more cooperation is required for the growth of Hungary's startup culture, Blue Colibri App has recently led an initiative to do just that.

Persistent labor shortages have also changed employee expectations, while money is only one of the five essential conditions for engagement and retention.

The economic crisis is having a significant impact on the existential and mental situation of workers. Fears and frustrations have led to an even greater need for psychological attention for employees and managers alike.

An interview with Szabolcs Kovács (GreenSense) and Gábor Lévai (Green Brands) on how a company should take environmental and social aspects into account. We discuss greenwashing, internal training, environmental and employee pressure, as well as the relationship between sustainability projects and employer branding.

We talked to Csaba Azurák, a communications expert, about the types of content and channels a manager should use to communicate with employees. What to do if a leader isn't naturally comfortable with public speaking? Spoiler: even that is not an issue. However, communication is a must, otherwise unwelcome distractions like rumors will crop up.

Societal engagement is changing. While the external economic environment is becoming increasingly sensitive to CSR objectives, the impact on staff retention and employer branding is growing.

To ensure that all members of a company, managers and employees alike, are well informed, well-designed internal communication is needed. And that means accurate, high-quality, targeted content, regular publication and the right format.

Flexible and fast decision-making is important for SMEs, especially for dispersed SMEs with multiple sites. Internal corporate communication strengthens the workplace community, which can be effectively supported by an easy-to-use, customizable application.

How to channel employee needs into decision-making? How can online and offline tools support the effectiveness of internal communication and how do they relate to engagement and employer branding? Podcast interview with Márk Maczelka, Communications Director at SPAR Hungary.

A self-reflective leader, honest expression of feelings among workers, and a shift in the company's overall culture are all necessary ingredients for creating a psychologically safe work environment.

What is the relationship between understanding corporate strategy and the type and method of internal communication? What content do employees consume today and why is that important? This was one of the many topics covered by József Nógrádi, Trenkwalder's Sales & Marketing Director, during his talk at the 2022 Connect Conference.

Digital apps that are useful for employees and employers, and in many cases support engagement, were presented at the People Platform workshop. The five startups' services and products are now available through the Blue Colibri App employee platform.

In business, it's not surprising that change is constant: pandemics, inflation, rising interest rates and, for example, persistent labour shortages. Businesses have to adapt to new situations, while at the same time they are forced to act or accelerate their digitization. What are the benefits of digitization and how to communicate to employees in times of crisis? Tamás Barathi, co-founder and CEO of Blue Colibri App, answers our questions.

In many cases, effective internal communication relies on the support and involvement of senior management, while the right content and channels should also be credible.

DokiApp is a great example of an innovative digital platform for employee health that not only increases engagement but also yields financial benefits for the company.

The global economic crisis following the pandemic shock is forcing business leaders to fundamentally rethink. Besides profitability, retention, internal training, and digitalization are becoming increasingly important.

Hybrid working and home office make workplace conflicts more difficult, but not impossible, to resolve. Online or offline, the key is to build on the strength of human relationships to find a solution.

In times of crisis, the importance of internal communication and engagement, as well as the need for corporate digitization, is growing. This year's Connect Conference will focus on these issues, often through practical examples.

Is ESG still just a trend or is it a mainstream business issue? And what is the link between responsible and social business and management decisions and the value of a business? Is digitization, quality internal communication, or even an accepted corporate culture a competitive advantage for a business? Interview with Péter Oszkó, Founder & Managing Partner of OXO Technologies Holding.

An unprecedented collaboration was formed between Hungarian startups that have joined forces for more caring Hungarian workplaces. The initiative was launched by Blue Colibri App and Dokiapp, who recognized that employers and employees alike are facing increasingly difficult situations due to the current economic uncertainties. This makes it increasingly important for companies to provide supportive work environments—and to do this in a variety of ways across sectors.

Along with the crises, an increasing burden falls on the employees, who are also looking for happiness and harmony in their workplace. This year's targeted, global research by Gallup reveals that there is still a lot to be done to achieve a balance between work and life, and for as many people as possible to love their work.

Almost everyone has a smartphone nowadays, which is why a company's digital development can be effectively built on this device. Moreover, we are using smartphones for more and more purposes, such as secure banking, shopping, content consumption.

What is the correlation between a satisfied and engaged employee and the digitization of HR processes? What are the results of Deloitte Hungary's digital business research? Interview with Martin Csépai, HR Consulting Director at Deloitte Hungary.

Danubius Hotels has already done what other multi-site companies with many physical employees are only considering as an option for the distant future: they moved their internal communications to a digital platform. We looked behind the scenes.

Nearly 900 employees, diverse locations, a continuously growing team - almost all your internal communication challenges in one place. A domestic logistics company has moved into digital terrain and experienced sweeping changes. A journey from the pale results of paper-based internal publications to an activated, modern community.

Zwack has migrated much of its administration and internal communication to its company application. Find out from our article the steps and results of this change!

In his presentation “Feedback Plus: More, Better!” Zoltán Kulcsár talked about the culture of feedback, the experiences and results of CIB's programme at Connect Conference. After the conference, we asked a few more questions on this exciting topic - Connect Follow-up interviews part 2.

In her presentation “X-factor in corporate culture”, Mariann Pajor talked about the development of Egis' culture, its twists and turns and its remarkable achievements at Connect - and we had a lot more to ask her. Connect Follow-up interviews Part 1.

Internal communication, corporate culture: these topics have perhaps never been as interesting and topical as they are today, as the last few years have turned the world of work, among other things, upside down. The Connect Conference, held on 26 May, is a professional event organised around internal communication and corporate culture, with more than 50 speakers.