By Natasha Calder, Senior Communications and Engagement Manager (Corporate Communications), CIPR Accredited Practitioner, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
People hear ‘comms’ and think press releases, newsletters, social media and pretty pictures but we know that’s only scratching the surface. We’re also connectors, culture shapers and guardians of our corporate values.
I saw this first-hand recently when colleagues and I took part in Share Ramadan – an initiative promoting empathy and understanding by encouraging people of any or no faith to fast or give something up for one day.
At my organisation, it was also an opportunity to instigate conversation and raise awareness of how we can offer support to our Muslim colleagues.
Share Ramadan is something colleagues in our strategy team have taken part in for a few years. This time, a member of the comms team who is observing her first Ramadan since moving to Manchester became co-organiser and encouraged more people to join.
A WhatsApp group was set up to share tips (such as avoiding caffeine or sugary foods pre-fast as they encourage thirst), which also meant that people working in different teams or unable to come into the office on the day were still part of the conversation.
The sense of camaraderie was apparent from 4am when the first breakfast photos pinged into the chat.
I deliberately arranged my diary to come into the office as I wanted to be around others knowing that the shared goal would spur me on.
I was sat with around nine other members of the comms team taking part. We checked in on each other, spoke about our last meals, daydreamed over the food we were going to share together later that day and even swapped a couple of cooking tips.
There was a community feel among the team with everyone in good spirits.
Our professional masks slipped and we had the opportunity to get to know each other on a different level by bonding over a practice unfamiliar to most of us.
As well as finding out one of my colleagues is also a trained hypnotherapist, I also learned that fasting times are set by the moon.
In advance of Share Ramadan, we arranged for our CEO to have a filmed discussion with a member of our Race and Faith Network observing Ramadan about what it means to him and how his colleagues could support him during this time.
It was a really interesting conversation that touched on practicalities like being mindful of different working patterns, prompt finish times and being considerate of travel to ensure colleagues can get home to break fast with their family and/or friends as soon as they are able.
As well as day-to-day support, the conversation also explored the importance of curiosity and asking questions.
Ramadan is a time for understanding and coming together and showing genuine interest in this part of colleagues’ lives is a great way to embrace that.
We met the strategy team for our iftar meal to eat at 6.09pm exactly.
We broke fast with a date as is traditional, congratulated each other and thanked our colleagues for organising the experience.
For me, Share Ramadan proved to be more than giving up food and drink for a day. The iftar meal brought people with different life experiences and job titles together and it was a great example of empowerment in action – one of our corporate values.
Throughout the day, I noticed mutual support and empathy. I’m hopeful that this experience is the first rung on a ladder towards better collaboration – another of our corporate values.
Share Ramadan may have been instigated by faith but the benefits were felt more broadly and I’ll certainly be exploring the different ways I can connect with my colleagues from now on.