Just about every organisation I know has groups of employees that are hard to reach, so as an internal communications professional you are not alone. But who are these groups? Their exact make-up will vary from organisation to organisation, but there are some characteristics that we can all identify with. Many of these groups are … Read more
As an internal communicator, there are man1y different types of audience you have to bear in mind. There is no such thing as a one-size fits all approach to internal communication – your communication plans should always acknowledge the groups within your staff body and use the golden thread of messaging to link everything together, … Read more
Last week I chaired a public policy event about child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). It was a chance for professionals involved in working with children, young people and their families to come together, hear from speakers and learn from each other. Attendees came from a range of disciplines within the field and all … Read more
I liked this post from last December so much, I decided to share it again this year! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it….. Santa’s Internal Comms Plan I’m not sure of the exact employment status of the elves – does Santa pay them a living wage or are … Read more
How to make a dry subject more interesting? That’s a question I’m pondering at the moment, as I’m working with a procurement team. They are lovely, hard-working experts in their field who are striving to do their best for their organisation every day – but by their own admission, their subject matter isn’t at the … Read more
“I need a communication!” If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard that phrase during my career, the Sarah Browning Charitable Foundation would be up and running as a generous benefactor to many great causes. It’s always an interesting place to start a conversation because it gives me the opportunity to ask questions … Read more
I thought long and hard about whether to jump on the General Election bandwagon for my latest blog piece, but I’m afraid I couldn’t resist. It is such a big topic in the country right now (and is looking to stay that way for a wee while longer) and there are such clear communication lessons … Read more
My 7-year-old daughter has been a member of her school choir for almost 2 years. Every Thursday lunchtime, she rushes through her lasagne in the lunch hall, has a quick dash round the playground and then trots along to the music classroom. There she giggles with her friends and belts out a few tunes (all … Read more
Today I have been writing a proposal document for a potential new project. I know of many freelancers and people running their own companies who don’t enjoy this part of being independent, but I quite enjoy it. Maybe I would feel different if I had to complete a formal, structured tender process. Or if I … Read more
And it’s always someone over there who isn’t communicating with me. You didn’t tell me that, you’re telling me too much, I’m overwhelmed. You can’t win! But, actually, you can…. If your internal communication is based on an understanding of the employee voice, knowing how they think and feel about different topics, and engaging in … Read more