Internal Communications Is An Inside Job

The most effective communication starts from the inside out.
Everyone inside an organization needs to be on the same page.
Ensuring every manager, employee, volunteer, board member and intern is clear on the Mission, message and purpose of their company or nonprofit is crucial to building a brand and the bottom line.

Before I launched my own Public Relations firm, I worked in-house at several companies - a religiously-sponsored nonprofit hospital, a newspaper and a public education foundation in addition to serving on several nonprofit boards. Being responsible for communications meant I was charged with delivering a consistent message to every department and audience through a variety of mediums.

Getting everyone on the same page can be like herding cats. Too often, departments operate in silos with their own agenda, perspective and priorities. Each audience listens through their own filters. The key to true communication is to deliver messages in a way that breaks through the silo walls to highlight how each department’s piece of the puzzle is crucial to unveiling the big picture. Of course, first this meant listening to each department’s position, issues, goals and opportunities.

The way we talk to ourselves is also filled with a virtual cacophony of voices, each competing for attention. Orchestrating the voices into a single symphony in tune with our desired destination takes a lot of practice, patience and persistence. It also involves listening to the message behind each voice. First we must figure out if it really is our voice or someone else’s recording we let inside our head.

Stories are interesting beings. Yes, they are alive and as active as our imagination.
We need to excavate the Truth from the many sides of each story so we can re-solve, re-member and re-write our stories.

You see, our reality is shaped our perceptions. Our perceptions are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves. This internal communication dictates how we show up and travel through the world.
• Do we see a friendly or hostile environment?
• Do we perceive people as kind and helpful or out to take something from us?
• Do we believe our good will come back to us or is life always unfair?

When I speak to college students about the power of storytelling to shape brands, I remind them that the most important story is the one they believe. Their first job, before any offer is accepted, is to get clear on their story. This builds a solid foundation that communicates who they are, where they’re going and, most importantly, why.

The most important story is the one you believe.
Make sure it’s True.

For more insights, ideas and inspirations to share your story to help build your brand visit www.1bluecube.com.