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What is Clear Corporate Communications?

The state of the economy being what it is, corporate communications have never been as important as they are right now. There is less and less room for wasted efforts and wasted money as a result of poor communications. It is becoming more and more important to communicate clearly.

Corporate communication includes all of the means that businesses use to communicate, whether verbal or written. This encompasses internal communications such as memos, email, business proposals, and external communications like press releases, newsletters and marketing.

Internal Communications

An internal communication strategy is extremely important to businesses and corporations. Employees, managers, and stockholders must be kept informed of new developments and plans so that a business runs smoothly and everyone feels like part of the same team.

Widespread manager communications are also essential to internal communications. Businesses must be run in a consistent manner with consistent communications.

And managers at all levels need to know what future plans are so they can steer the business in the right direction. This is simply working as a team.

Manager Communications

Both employee communications and manager communications can happen in several different ways. It's good to be aware of the effectiveness and power within each of these instruments. Internal communications tools that businesses use include:

• Electronics - This includes computers, telephones, television and other electronic devices.
• Face-to-face - This is the most personal type of corporate communications. Face-to-face communication can happen formally in team meetings and conferences or informally such as at the proverbial “water-cooler” and on breaks.
• Print - Magazines, newsletters, memos, posters and bulletins are all included in this category of corporate communication. Communicating in print is one of the most traditional and effective communications strategies.
• Workspace - This is any internal communication that happens within the workplace such as bulletin and notice boards and closed circuit TV.

The most important part of any corporate communication is to make sure that the message is not only received but understood clearly. Too may times words are written as they are spoken. The tone and inflection may not be there when words are written. Some of the written words such as 'it', 'this', 'that', 'they' can become unclear or confusing.

That is why having so many methods of communication is helpful. It is no secret that people understand things in different ways. To be truly effective, employee communication must utilize all appropriate means of communication. Another helpful hint is not to be too thrifty using written words. It pays to write more and be precise. Clarity is much more important than confusion.

External Communications

Corporate communications management also includes strong external communications. When dealing with outside entities, such as other groups, corporations, individuals and the public, it is important that the right reputation and corporate identity be conveyed. This could be called strategic communications.

A big part of external communications is public relations, or PR. PR is what affects how a business is viewed by the public. It can also control how the public views the business. Press releases, speaking at conferences and doing interviews are a large piece of PR. Public affairs also includes crisis communications.

Crisis communications are especially important because the wrong response or simply the image of a wrong response can hover over a business for years. How a business is perceived while it is in crisis mode can make or break it. Speaking of perception, how employees view a company leads directly to good or bad morale. Some companies use an internal newsletter to update employees.

Methods of external communication are similar to those used in internal communications, but with a more public aspect. Marketing, advertising, media relations and external events, like seminars or product launches are all included in external communication.

Why Are Corporate Communications Important?

Whether from an external or internal view, how a corporation is perceived is an extremely important part of business. Good corporate communications can alter and mold that perception. Besides, strong corporate communications are instrumental in meeting a company's goals.

When all staff and employees work together with maximum clarity and when the public feels a positive perception toward a company, then that company is a winner.

The previous article is on Improving Employee Communications.

Other wiki resources: communication skills; team building; employee communications; corporate communications; conflict resolution