Internal Communications - Part 3

Presentation title Date 1

Internal CommunicationsInternal Communications

Training SessionTraining SessionPart ThreePart Three

Piers SchreiberPiers SchreiberHR Academy - 6HR Academy - 6thth February 2007 February 2007

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Avoiding the Pitfalls

• Spotting the errors

• Corrective strategies

• Conclusions

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Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

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Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

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Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

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Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

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Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

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Pitfall No 1 – Underestimation

The Learnings

• Thoroughly research the issue before acting on it

• Make sure your solution is robust enough to do the job

• Listen to the advice of those around you

• There is no need for a crisis to become a farce

• Allocate the right resources from the outset

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Pitfall No 2 - Ambiguity

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Pitfall No 2 - Ambiguity

The Learnings

• Be straightforward in your messaging

• Do not try to deliver subtle messages

• Make sure there is no opportunity to read between the lines

• Hidden messages = hidden agenda = distrust

• Test your messages with a ‘tame’ employee

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Pitfall No 3 – Misreading the Audience

• A young teacher from the city was sent to teach a class of 4-year-olds at a village school in Wales

• Her first lesson was to teach the letter S so she held up a big photo of a sheep and said: "Now, who can tell me what this is?”

• Twenty blank faces looked back at her

• "Come on, who can tell me what this is?”

• Eventually, one brave soul put up a tiny, reluctant hand and said: "Is it a three-year-old Border Leicester?”

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Pitfall No 3 – Misreading the Audience

The Learnings

• Research audience awareness of an issue in advance

• If worried about pitching at the right level, test it first

• Use message matrix/checklist to ensure you hit the right key

• Don’t assume anything…

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Conclusions

Internal Communications

• A discipline that will help motivate and engage employees

• A tool for ensuring consistency in corporate messaging

• A set of practices that facilitate change and focus

• …and it can be fun too