Internal Communications Training Session Part Three Piers Schreiber HR Academy - 6 th February 2007

Avoiding the Pitfalls Spotting the errors Corrective strategies Conclusions

Spotting the errors

Corrective strategies

Conclusions

Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

Pitfall No 1 - Underestimation

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

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

Pitfall No 2 - Ambiguity

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

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

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?”

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?”

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…

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…

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

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