MACHMB Internal Communications Ppt_FINAL.pptVIP

Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards (MACMHB) Internal Communications: The Most Important Audience that You’re Probably Forgetting Why Internal Communications? An organization’s internal audience can be its most powerful asset. Communicating messages honestly, accurately and in a timely manner helps eliminate mixed-messages, rumors and even inaccurate or negative external communications. Why Internal Communications? cont. Effective internal communications = better-informed and more positive employees. Employees work more effectively if they are fully informed. Internal Communication Uses Inform Motivate Change Give a sense of security Divvy responsibilities Clarify organization identification Who Are My Internal Audiences? Employees Partner Groups Board of Directors Stakeholders Consumers Families of Consumers Vendors Who Are My External Audiences? Lawmakers/Local Officials Media Public What You Need Know your audiences. Align organizational objectives with communications channels. Establish procedures. Identify resources and bring everybody on the same page. Know Your Audiences Local or far-away? Young or old? Full-time or part-time Working from home? Liberal or conservative? Communications Audit How do we communicate? Print Technology  Face-to-Face How Are We Doing? Have we identified all of our internal audiences? Are our channels working? Are the audiences getting accurate information? Consistent Information? Timely Information? Feedback Gauge your audiences through: Surveys Response Cards Face-to-Face Message Development What is our message? Crisis Response Announcements Policy Changes Controlling Your Message From a crisis to a promotion to an employee marriage to a staff meeting cancellation, there should always be one consistent and accurate message communicated to the ENTIRE internal audience pool. Gossip and Grapevines We’ve all played telephone: Emily has red hair becomes Emily’s aunt was