Corporate
communications
Knowing what your
organisation is, what it represents and where it's
going are core elements of strategy. Helping
people to understand and engage with this is the
role of communication.
You'll need a sound
communication strategy and effective, practical
delivery. I can help you build your
communication strategy from basic principles, or
work with you to review and evaluate your current
position. Key steps are to:
- establish
communication objectives that support your
organisational objectives
- develop and test
your messages
- identify and
prioritise your audiences and stakeholders
- select the
appropriate channels and tools
- measure and
evaluate your communications.
Client case studies
RAND Europe, an independent,
not-for-profit 'think tank', had run a very successful
communications and outreach programme for six years. A
new, ten-year blueprint for growth meant it was time to
review how the organisation's profile should develop over
the coming years and what communication resource was
required to make that happen.
I conducted extensive
interviews with staff, clients (current, former and
prospective), trustees and supporters to give a
clear direction for the communications required to
help achieve the corporate goals. From this,
we deduced the level and type of communication
resource required and I assisted in recruiting an
additional communications professional - a valuable
part of the assignment.
Diamond Light Source was
conducting a five year communication review and
commissioned Communication Options to support the
in-house communications team through the review,
providing expert input and acting as a sounding
board. We conducted an initial scoping phase
with the executive team. This was followed by
interviews with selected employees and then online
surveys of all staff and users of the synchrotron's
facilities. The project provided the ideal
opportunity to evaluate the performance of the
communications function, identify concerns, test a
revised vision and mission, and provide specific
recommendations for action to improve communication.
The
Chemical Regulation
Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive was
created from two previously separate bodies, one
from HSE and one from Defra. There was a clear
need for a communication strategy for the new
directorate and Communication Options was brought in
to help a non-specialist team develop and own the
strategy. Interviews we held with senior staff
laid the groundwork for a focused communication
strategy addressing internal and external audiences.
The work established the over-riding priorities for
communication and clearly set out the role of the
communications team. This then enabled the
in-house team to own and deliver the communication
strategy.
Last updated 25/01/12 |
