Strategically Communicating

As we discussed internal communications and investor relations in class this week I found myself looking into it a bit more and more throughout the week because it is one of the areas of PR I am not that knowledgeable in. Sure I know what they both are and the surface of what they entail, but I had never really gone any further than the surface. I found this video via PRCoach.com on how NOT to do things…

and it got me thinking, how exactly are we supposed handle the internal and investor stuff? There are many great articles out there on it, here are some tactics from BDC–

• Company newsletter that provides and allows for employee input
• Intranet site
• Small group meetings (face-to-face communication) – A fellow student and I were just talking about how the Internet is a great tool, but that it should not replace face-to-face communication in companies. E-mail and chat is great, but I am all about face-to-face communication.
  
• Suggestion boxes where employees can submit questions or concerns anonymously
• Posters in high traffic areas that announces changes, events, etc.
• Crisis communication tools in place and ready to go
• Be able to manage change — if top management can’t handle it, employees won’t feel very confident in the change and might be more resistant

I learned a lot this past week on investor relations and internal communication. In one of my other PR classes we are learning that employees are almost like a trial period — if you can’t get your employees/stakeholders on board with a change or new idea, how are you going to get the customers on board?