Internal Communication

While every situation requires the communicator to do her/his best, off the record, PR pros will admit there are few more pressurized situations than dealing with the C-suite, particularly when the message you’re relaying is difficult.

More than 3,100 Google employees have signed a letter asking the company to halt its work on a Defense Department initiative. While the letter has made headlines, it also raises an important question for professional communicators: How should a brand prepare for the possibility that part of its workforce has a political or moral objection to some of its activities?

Start with the premise that all business issues can be traced to a communications breakdown. If true, this means internal communications pros should be critical to fixing organizations’ business problems. Institute for PR Measurement Commission member Mary Miller describes how internal communicators can rise from producing outputs (company-wide emails, intranet content, e-newsletters, executive videos, etc.) to influencing measurable performance outcomes.

So many communicators tell us that internal communications just might be the most difficult assignment for a PR pro. This article provides real-world examples of how two brands, Slack and Dropbox, build engagement and excitement within their ranks with the ultimate goal of creating brand advocates.

Failure, my friends, is the F word I am referring to and the word that so many business leaders tout as the holy grail to get ahead. You’ve heard it so many times: fail fast, learn… Continued

It may be a long road ahead for Toys R Us, the iconic retailer that said it will be closing nearly 200 of its 800 stores beginning next month. The brand is in chapter 11, yet it intends to rebound. Internal communications best practices recommend treating departing and remaining employees with respect. For Toys R Us, which soon will have a lot of both kinds of employees, this lesson could be crucial.

Communications executives have begun in earnest to make their way into boardrooms, C-suite meetings and the critical business conversations at their organizations. But the pace is not fast enough and the courage of their convictions… Continued

What should brands do when an employee says something controversial and headlines result? Is the consequence immediate suspension? Should there be a warning first? What about issuing a public warning that not only puts the employee on notice but serves to inform all other staff? The examples of Shepard Smith and Bob Costas bring these questions to light.

Spacey was accused of a forceful sexual advance by actor Anthony Rapp, who was 14 at the time. Halperin was accused by 12 women of sexual assault and harassment during his tenure as political director at ABC News. Their statements differ in some very important ways.

That idea you have, which everyone is calling crazy and couldn’t possibly work: well, it probably won’t work. But you should try it anyway. Such was the advice of Guy Kawasaki (pictured), venture capitalist and… Continued