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Scoop.it!
Your one stop shop for everything you need to know about effective internal communications for your 2020 communications plan and strategy.
Read the full article to discover content on more than 20 IC topics as well as a link to download the free 45 page pdf guide. 
sflocalmoving's comment,
April 28, 2022 5:37 AM
nice
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Scoop.it!
"A new role in internal communications?
If so, what's the plan? This is a handy guide for newly recruited leaders in internal communications. It contains 22 tips drawn from our experience of working in internal communications for more than 50 years.
This is not a guide to management. It's a guide to internal communications - how to drive it forward inside a new and largely unknown organization."
Read the full article to find out more about the 22 tips to make a positive impact from day one in your new job in employee communications.
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"To put it bluntly, corporate communications is the spurned stepchild of the C-suite. In many organizations, the function hardly gets the attention it deserves until the moment crisis hits. But undervaluing the importance of powerful communication is a mistake, and it's costing some companies dearly." Read the full article to find out more about these ways corporate leaders can do their part to improve how their companies communicate:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
The communications challenges companies face these days are growing. I thought this quote from the article addressed a significant challenge (but also makes for exciting times) communicators are facing. "The communications model changes every six to seven months. There’s media convergence, new technology, and new analytics. It affects how you need to communicate and how people get their information." Yes the vehicles may be changing, but communication fundamentals remain the same. It's key that communicators develop the fundamentals, strategic skills, and identify ways to measure to gain a stronger foothold and the ear of the C-suite.
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"We are often asked to help organisations think through their internal communication function. The question sooner or later gets back to the question of where they add the most value and whether it is enough to be a great writer or organiser. Research that I did with Sue Dewhurst in the past highlighted the fact that whilst a good communicator needs certain basic skills, they are just that – basic. In order to have an impact, professional communicators need to do much more. To illustrate this point I have developed the internal communication value chain. The idea is quite simple. Whilst each individual step in the process is important, it is only when you have thought about the whole end-to-end value chain can you decide where best to focus your effort. Naturally, every organisation is different. Where you add the most value will reflect your industry, your history, the maturity of the communication awareness of leaders or the issues which you face." Read the full article to find out more about these components of the communications value chain:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
This is a great way of thinking through the focus of communication teams. Ideally we'd be able to do it all. But when you can't, understanding where you can make the most impact within your resources, and possibly expertise, will help guide you forward. This is also a great chart to show to people who may not understand what it is internal comms can offer the organization.
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"Great! You got the job. But you've never felt so alone, working as a one-person communications department. Executives are demanding press releases for every minor rejiggering of the website or redecoration of the office. Colleagues are requesting time-sapping commitments to their projects. And you've got to answer to your boss's priorities. If this describes you, pull up a chair." Read the full article to find out more about these tips to survive in a one-person communications department:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Everybody wants something. Everybody's got a great idea how you should spend your time. These are some great tips on how to stay sane, organized, and successful.
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"Factoring in staffing constraints, workloads, and sometimes-outlandish demands from clients and executives, communications professionals are universally overworked. Increasingly they're being asked to do more with less. We began discussing ideas on how to gracefully say “no” to a project that simply can’t be taken on." Feel like you're getting roped into projects that aren't part of your job and don't use your talents well? Read the full article to find out more about these six ways to politely refuse:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Saying no can be hard - so these tips are great. But I love #2! Many people are a little confused about the role of communicators. On top of my communications role, apparently I can also do web and graphic work, manage projects, and develop the program. And often also a miracle worker. So clarifying what I can do is a lifesaver. I've discovered people are overwhelmed with the thought of having to write or develop communications, and the process seems overwhelming. It makes sense especially if they don't do it all the time, or isn't their area of expertise. Once I can explain I'm not the content expert (and point out who I think that is), and simply there to support them by getting their material out to the appropriate audience in a way they can hear it, things shift. The conversation changes, information starts flowing, and a more collaborative approach begins. Here's another Ragan article with some generic ways to say no - 10 ways to say 'no' that won't damage business or relationships
Scoop.it!
Weber Shandwick released Chief Communications Officers: First 100 Days, an e-book reflecting advice from dozens of veteran corporate communications officers (CCOs). Our new e-book provides invaluable advice from CCOs on making the most of those first 100 days when any missteps can derail the best of plans."
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Regardless of your level, these tips will help any communicator as they get settled into a new job. Learn from the veterans who share “if I could do it over” laments, likely challenges for newcomers and, importantly, invaluable advice for a smooth first 100 days of a new comms job.
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"What is the role of internal communications? What should it be? You know that old chestnut – Be the change you want to see? Internal communicators must take this to heart and search our opportunities to bridge the gap between how things are today and how we desire them to be tomorrow. You have to choose to stop doing some things that have served you well in the past in order to make room to do things differently today in the hope that they lead you one step closer to where you want to be." Read the full article to discover a list of steps that need to be taken to move us away from an old school (information, one way) to a real communication (dialogue, two way) approach:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Great advice! Take a few minutes to take stock of what your mind set and approach is and what you’re producing under the banner of internal communications. Are you doing things because that’s the way it’s always been done? Are you producing more communication or information type materials? Compare your list to the list in this article and see which category you fit in. If you're mostly on the right hand column of "not that...", then look to the left column of "it's this" to help guide you to a more communication oriented approach. You really can be the change you want to see.
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"Corporate change presents an opportunity for communications professionals to be transformational leaders and to have a real impact on strategic decision-making within their organizations." Read the full article to find out more about Kelly McGinnis' five keys to elevating the role of communications in times of change:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Getting to the table and heard is the hardest. For me, this article emphasized the old mantra "show don't tell."
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Wonderful and highly inspirational video. Reminds us all to strive for authentic and purposful communication. So chose your words wisely. They are extremely powerful.
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
A favourite video of mine. I've watched it many a time when I need a reminder that what I do as a communicator is important. For a interesting tidbit on the back story to this video, read Karen Dietz's March 12 comment below.
Jane Dunnewold's curator insight,
March 15, 2013 5:43 PM
I'm sharing this courtesy of Karen Dietz and Ken Mikkelson - which only proves how worthwhile it is to check out what other people are discovering and writing about on the web. Karen's take is that of a storyteller -business person. Mine is as an artist; where communication is essential and has the potential to be equally compelling. How can we as artists strive for authentic and purposeful communication? I will hazard a guess that compelling artwork begins in my head as an idea, migrates down through my chakras/system to my heart, where it engages me emotionally, and then lifts unstoppably into my Will - or throat - where it manifests as a proclamation of what I intend to make next.Perhaps that part is sometimes a silent proclamation, but when it happens I know it. Does your Artist Self recognize this chain of events in you? If not, pay closer attention next time an idea arises and see where it leads. Thanks to Karen and Ken for a big lift to my afternoon! 
Kirby Wadsworth's curator insight,
March 17, 2013 3:45 PM
I've loved this video for years...always gets me |
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What's worse: No one understanding what you do at work or having no way to prove you did it well? We interviewed 20 IC professionals for our Chuck Chats series and they told us what really gets their blood boiling about internal comms.
Read the full article to find out more about these six infuriating things that piss off internal communicators:
Susanna Lavialle's curator insight,
October 28, 2017 4:52 PM
Some interesting quotes, like explaining all the time and justifying... infuriating it can be indeed... I especially like the part about making noise and blurring rather than having an impact on the business objectives... or getting people aware, not engaged or even understanding,,, Much time spent in internal co. In running after people for content and responding to some urgent last minute requests... or working ad hoc reactive way rather than in a planned way...Makes it quite impossible to work... Also agree on the difficulty of keeping it internal.. ans too often see companies having no real strategy or objectives... or no real effort to do measurement
Scoop.it!
"The employee communications department is at risk of becoming irrelevant. There already are voices calling for companies to do away with them, arguing that a function focusing on one discrete audience is anachronistic given everybody’s ability to see what everybody else is saying. Most internal communication departments spend most of their time creating and distributing content. Much of that is done through email and intranets, which have become the replacement for newsletters and magazines (and something called a “magapaper”). It remains vitally important for a dedicated internal comms function to report news and other information employees need to know. While they may read the same reports other stakeholders read (like customers, shareholders, and local communities) and have access to sites like Glassdoor.com, where employees praise or condemn their organizations with granular detail, employees have special contextual needs those channels don’t serve. Reporting alone, however, is not enough to sustain employee communications’ relevance. Everything about business and work is changing; so is the way people get, share, and use information outside the workplace (and even inside, since it’s easy for employees to bypass official channels). Employee communications departments need to recognize the realities of the modern workplace and reinvent themselves in response." Read the full article to find out more about these roles a modern internal comms department needs to fill:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Whew! Makes me tired just looking at all things we should be doing each day. It's hard to do even a few of these things when you are trapped in the role of only producing stuff. It is very frustrating to see more and more rumblings of doing away with the internal communications only function. There is so much value in what we know and do. If you haven't already, start demonstrating and talking about these skills, and share this list when promoting your services.
Scoop.it!
"Employee communications are crucial to an organization’s success, no matter its size or sector. You want to make sure your employee communications are as effective as possible, right? But how? Should you use internal staff to get the job done or look to an outside vendor to take care of everything? The answer: It all depends." Read the full article to find out more about when it's best to go the:
The article also includes interview questions for potential vendors, and a chart you can print to help you decide whether it makes sense to handle your employee communications in-house or to outsource.
Scoop.it!
"The fact that the internal communications (IC) function is going through widespread transformation should come as no real surprise to those in and close to it. Read the full article to find out how the IC leader should be the one to bridge any hierarchical levels, in order to further develop an open culture by acting more as:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
It's good to see more and more clarity on the roles that internal communicators should be playing.
Scoop.it!
"In this post in our blog series on the future of Smarter IC, we explore what it takes to become a powerful and influential internal communication leader in 2015 and beyond. How can you best support employees and executives? What skills and attributes do you need to cultivate? What’s changing and how?" Read the full article to see a video on what it means to be a smart and successful IC leader and find out more about these three key things IC leaders do right:
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"They say that if you don’t know whether or not you’re on schedule, it’s a safe bet that you aren’t. One time you really need to be certain of your direction is during your first days and weeks in new internal comms role. When you’re promoted to a bigger role, you need a big plan to go with it. And you need to deliver results fast." Read the full article to access the link to the downloadable guide and find out more about these 10 tips to make the most out of your first 100 days in a new internal comms role:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Some wonderful tips in this guide to help you shine in your new role. You can also supplement this guide with this one I scooped earlier that was produced by Weber Shandwick for Chief Communications Officers.
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"If you’ve ever worked in – or for – a large organization, chances are you’ve experienced that eternal “healthy tension” between corporate communications and division or subsidiary communications. Whether your communications function is centralized, decentralized or some hybrid version, the perennial question inevitably is, 'How can we address a corporate and division communications agenda without bloodshed?' " Read the full article to find out more about these methods to help you work together and align your objectives:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
I typically see this occur when roles and responsibilities aren't well-defined. It also happens with external comms, internal comms, and marketing departments. This should never be an us and them situation. Everyone should be working together to achieve the best possible outcome. Some tips I'd add to this are:
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"Communications is a broad field, and when you’re asked to help communicate something it can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. If you are working in a small communications team, particularly in a bigger organization, this can mean you wear a lot of hats and are sometimes left to wonder what skills you should be focusing on. How will you best serve your clients with your limited resources (ie time)?" Read the full article to hear more about the benefits of specializing vs being the jack-of-all-trades.
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Presentation at the Internal Comms Forum, Dubai, Dec 2013. View the entire slide deck to find out more about:
Kim Zinke (aka Gimli Goose)'s insight:
Be sure to check out slide #17 which highlights the 3 steps an organization can take to move away from traditional corporate communication and towards the organizational conversation model:
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Wow! This is an amazing resource. It provides a great summary on so many topics, examples, tips and tools, and links to supporting material and people. Not only is this valuable for ICers, but if you have trouble explaining what you can do for an organization, I would recommend sharing this guide with your decision makers.