Tara McDonagh’s Post

I recently came across an article in Forbes, "Does Internal Communications Belong To HR Or Corporate Communications?" by Michael Collins, former Forbes Council Member and here are my thoughts; The article discusses the big question, “Where should internal communications live?” and dives into the debate about whether Internal Communications belong to the Human Resources or Marketing Communications department. I agree with the author that internal communications can function well in both departments depending on the organisation's structure and processes. The author distinguishes between employee communications and internal communications, the former containing important information related to employee benefits, hiring, recruiting, career planning, etc., and the latter communicating external branding and the brand's mission to the internal audience. The author believes that internal communications is a separate discipline as it requires a precise skill set. While the author makes a valid point, I believe the goal of both types of communication is to convey important messages to the internal audience. Therefore, it can be challenging to clearly distinguish between the two based on the nature of the message. There may be instances where a message that needs to be communicated is related to the brand's mission, while also delivering crucial information that directly impacts employees. Lastly, I agree with Michael that internal communication is vital for any organisation because it fosters transparency, unity, a proactive workforce, and a clear understanding of an organisation's mission. I'm eager to hear everyone's opinions on this! Link for the article: https://lnkd.in/gkvWmzFq

IMPORTANT! This is Why Your Communications Manager CV Needs More Numbers. When you’re applying for roles as a Communications Manager, your CV needs more than just responsibilities—it needs measurable results. Here’s why adding numbers is crucial and how to do it effectively. 1. Show the Impact of Your Campaigns Instead of simply stating you "Led PR campaigns," quantify the results. Did media coverage increase? Did audience engagement spike? Example: - Before: Led PR campaigns for product launches. - After: Led PR campaigns that increased media coverage by 35%, generating over 500,000 impressions. 2. Highlight Budget Management If you managed a budget, show how effectively you did it. This reflects your ability to maximize resources. Example: - Before: Managed communications budget. - After: Managed a $100,000 communications budget, delivering projects 10% under budget. 3. Demonstrate Audience Reach and Growth As a Communications Manager, you are responsible for growing an audience, be it social media followers, email subscribers, or overall engagement. Example: - Before: Grew social media presence. - After: Grew social media followers by 40%, increasing engagement by 25% within six months. 4. Show PR and Media Wins Did your press releases result in media coverage? Did you secure any high-profile mentions? Use numbers to quantify this impact. Example: - Before: Secured media coverage. - After: Secured 10+ features in national media, reaching an audience of 2 million. 5. Prove Internal Communications Success Quantify improvements in employee engagement or satisfaction after launching internal communications initiatives. Example: - Before: Improved internal communications. - After: Launched internal newsletter, boosting employee engagement by 30% based on survey feedback. Lets us write your CV Email: victoriaeunice36@gmail.com| WhatsApp 0729581191

📨 Just starting out in communications or considering a switch to Internal Communications? 🎙 Over the next few days, I'll be sharing the ABCs of Internal Communications, drawing from my experience in the field and the lessons I’ve learned from my seniors over the years. Whether you're new to the game or looking to refine your skills, I hope these insights will be valuable. Stay tuned! 📣 A: Ask - Ambiguity was my second choice, but I realized that to overcome ambiguity, we need to ASK! In an internal comms role, you will often be asked to create and deliver emails, communications, strategies, etc., with little to no information. With ambiguity as your enemy, how do you still deliver and create the impact needed? ASKING the right questions to the right people is KEY! Identify the key stakeholders for the topic and ask as many questions as you can to gather the necessary information. Always put yourself in the receiver's shoes and think of all the information you’ll need. Some basic questions to have answers to: ❓ What: Understand the topic correctly. What impact would the business like to create? Once you understand this, you can plan the best channel, beyond the standard emails that get snowed under! ❓ Why: Why are we doing this? ❓ How: How are we planning to achieve this? ❓ Who: Who is involved? Do you have a contact person to add to the communication that people can reach out to? Are there stakeholders who need to be recognized? Who is the target audience? ❓ When: Is this related to any event or session? Add all details, including where, with any links if required." ...and the last one, that might be the hardest, but sometimes essential ⁉ Do we really need to communicate this via Internal Communications? Let's admit it, everyone would like to share their bright stories and achievement, because it is indeed special. As an expert, you need to evaluate the impact level of the information and then politely diffuse (instead of refuse) the request. Can this information be cascaded by leaders in meetings? A teams chat? In the world of information explosion, how can you act as a filter, yet support with best solutions to everyone who need a channel and a voice. That's all for today! Tomorrow, I’ll cover 'B' 🐝 Let me know in the comments if this was helpful or if you have any additional thoughts on 'ASK' in Internal Communications.

Is Emailing Employees Effective for Internal Communications in 2024?   Having worked with many clients in the Middle East over the past 13 years, I can name only a few who approach internal communications as strategically as they do external.   Internal audiences are a priority stakeholder for every company. Effective employee communications can transform employees into active brand ambassadors. Conversely, failing to engage employees with thoughtfully tailored communications can be demotivating and uninspiring.    So, before sending your next bulk email to employees, consider these five points:   1. Timing Matters: Keep your employees informed about company updates. The last thing you want is for employees to learn about your latest developments from social media or external news sources.   2. Integrate Internal and External Communications: Ensure your messages are consistent both internally and externally. Employees should know and be reminded of what the company stands for. Use a consistent tone and style across all platforms   3. What's in It for Employees? Before sending an email, think about the purpose it has for employees. Tailor your communication to highlight these benefits.   4. Does It REALLY Have to Be an Email? Explore various ways to engage and inform employees. Not everything needs to be a text-heavy email. Consider using visual, verbal, or multimedia content.   5. Clear Call to Action: Put yourself in your employees' shoes. With busy schedules and multiple tasks, employees may deprioritize reading internal communications. An email without a clear call to action, preferably in the subject line or header, is likely to be overlooked.   What other factors do you think are important when engaging employees?

Good tips for resumes, for communications specialists.

"Oh, you work in communications? So, you're report writer?"😬 😳......a minute of silence for everyone who answered their own question on behalf Comms Personnel. Well, the answer to that is yes..... and NO. Writing is definitely at the core of what we do-it's how we share stories and shape narratives. However assuming that it's all we do, is practically missing out on the real magic. Communications is also about 📌Active Listening: Active listening is more than just hearing words—it's understanding emotions, intentions, and underlying concerns. In communications, we’re not just talking; we’re tuned into what people say, how they say it, and sometimes, what they leave unsaid. This allows us to dig deeper, ask the right questions, and craft stories that genuinely reflect people’s experiences and values. Great storytelling begins with listening actively and empathetically. 📌Relationship Building: Building relationships is foundational to effective communication. We’re connectors, bridging gaps between people, teams, and audiences. True relationship-building involves earning trust, being consistent, and showing genuine interest. When people trust us, they’re more likely to open up, which means we get richer insights and more compelling stories. 📌Emotional Intelligence: Communicators need to understand the emotions behind stories, trends, and reactions. 📌Community Building: Community building is about creating shared spaces where people feel heard, respected, and motivated. We do this by aligning our stories and messages with a common vision, inspiring individuals to feel connected to something bigger than themselves. 📌Creativity: At the core of every message we craft, campaign we launch, and story we share., is creativity. It’s the element that brings excitement, curiosity, and engagement. Whether it’s finding new ways to reach audiences, experimenting with formats, or crafting a memorable tagline, creativity keeps our work fresh and impactful. 📌Strategic Thinking: A communications role is also a strategic one. Beyond creativity, we analyze data, identify trends, and devise plans that align with broader organizational goals. Each message, campaign, or piece of content should contribute to a larger narrative and have measurable impact. 📌Adaptability and Versatility: With trends and technologies constantly evolving, adaptability is key. Communicators need to stay informed, learn continuously, and pivot quickly to keep messages relevant and effective. So there really isn't a "typical day" in the life of a communications professional. One would wish it was all about writing and that was the end of it, but there's so much more we get to experience in communications. #Communications #Storytelling #ActiveListening #Creativity #StrategicThinking #CommunityBuilding #RelationshipBuilding

Internal comms seems to have gotten a refresh. As communicating with employees becomes a critical priority for companies, many are looking for internal communications talent who have an editorial bent. -- Amazon is looking for a leader for its workplace and operations executive communications team -- Law firm Latham & Watkins is hiring a director of internal communications Goldman Sachs is looking for a VP-level role to lead internal communications -- Notion is looking for an executive to lead content and communications for its workforce and employees -- Fintech startup Ripple is looking for an internal communications manager who will “own” the editorial calendar -- Understood.org is looking for a director of internal communications who will be responsible for creating content for internal channels. -- McCann Worldgroup is looking for a manager who will run newsletters and content across communications teams Companies increasingly view employees as they do external audiences: As people to be engaged with, courted, and communicated with regularly. As a result, a growing number of organizations are developing editorial content aimed specifically at internal audiences. That means content responsibilities are increasingly becoming part of internal communicators’ job descriptions. “One of the big reasons we’re seeing more internal communications and content roles is culture wars,” said Kate Meissner, co-founder at D.C.-based Velocity Partners and a former EVP at Edelman. “People now want their workplaces to be places that institutionalize their values.” “I strongly believe it should be called employee communications,” said Becca Chambers ✨, chief communications officer at ControlUp. “Employees are less engaged and they don’t know how to reach them. That means internal communications needs to be about engagement, culture building, employer branding, and crisis and change management as well.” Will drop the full story in comments below.

Absolutely a vital function for a company to operate effectively.

THIS! Editor-in-chief, storyteller, roving reporter - these are just a few of the many hats I wear (and love!). Developing an internal content strategy to celebrate, inform, and recognize the people, teams, accomplishments, and innovations increases pride and emotional connection to the company. Usually I see comms jobs with these responsibilities as 'a nice to have,' with the main focus on exec comms. So happy to see it as a new component of #internalcomms that's actually central to the role. ➡"A major factor is that workplaces have become the new metaphorical town squares – a key place where people congregate. And the rise of employee activism means that people now demand more of companies, expecting them to communicate their stance on major key issues. Enter content." ➡ “Employees can be thought of as thought leaders." ➡"Increasingly, employees want to work in environments where they feel seen and heard." #storytelling #rovingreporter #edcalendar