# Making leadership visible, accessible and actively involved

**14 Nov, 2025**

Written By **SWOOP Analytics**

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## What this session was about  
ACC needed more two-way communication and better visibility of leaders. Sam shared how they secured full exec buy-in, rebuilt leadership communication habits, and turned Viva Engage into their core communications channel.

### Key messages  
- ACC launched Viva Engage as a response to employee need.  
  Staff wanted more visibility, more authentic leadership posts, and a place to ask questions.
- They built a strong business case for the executive team.  
  A simple, clear, evidence-based deck secured unanimous approval.
- They replaced “Outlook-style” CEO updates with Engage announcements.  
  This was a major signal that Engage was now _the_ source of organisational communication.
- The CEO modelled the behaviour early.  
  His posts reached 85% of the organisation, setting a performance benchmark for others.
- Exec onboarding was done 1:1 and highly personalised.  
  Sam sat with each leader to set up their device, walk through how to post, and answer concerns.
- Publishing support was available (via EAs and advisors).  
  Leaders could post themselves or delegate without stigma.
- Clear expectations were set for each exec community:  
  - What they would post
  - How often
  - What employees could expect
  - How they were expected to respond and engage
- Communities were created using pre-existing SharePoint groups.  
  Ensuring membership was accurate, automatically maintained, and low effort.
- Internal comms acted as business partners, not content police.  
  They coached leaders, co-created content, and stayed close to each business unit.
- Momentum and sentiment improved rapidly.  
  Engagement rose across multiple regions, and leaders became more proactive and confident.

### What can you take from this  
- Executive engagement isn’t magic — it’s onboarding, expectation-setting and follow-up.
- Leaders need to _see_ themselves on Viva Engage before they believe in it.
- Communities thrive when they’re built around real people, not structure charts.
- Consistent leadership behaviour normalises two-way communication.
- Culture shifts when internal comms becomes a partner, not a publisher.

[Download the slides](https://swooppublic.blob.core.windows.net/publicfiles/Others/2025%20Viva%20Engage%20Festival/ACC%20NZ%20-%20Viva%20Engage%20Festival%202025.pdf)

## Meet the speaker:  
  
**Sam Parker**  
Senior Communications, Channels & Content Specialist  
[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/scparker/)
  
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### Session Highlights  
1. **Q&A Panel (All AMER speakers)**  
   - Date: 14 November 2025

2. **Why communities win: How culture and connection fuel productivity**  
   - Date: 14 November 2025  
   This session, Ray takes us through why communities at Eli Lilly reach beyond broadcast communications to drive engagement and innovation and spark imagination.

3. **Moderation that matters: Building safe and engaging communities**  
   - Date: 14 November 2025  
   Discover how smart moderation keeps conversations constructive and communities thriving at Siemens Energy.

4. **Leadership engagement and top-down communication in driving adoption of Viva Engage**  
   - Date: 14 November 2025  
   Dan shares lessons from a decade of internal communications, exploring the shift from traditional email and town halls to dynamic, community-driven conversations.