Human Resource Communications and Corporate Communications ? are they one in the same? Both plan and develop written communication strategies to further the understanding and perceptions of their audience. Both provide counsel and editorial support for management communications.
Business communications transmits and manages messages that inform, persuade and collaborate by speaking the language of the company. HR Communications creates a "one company" culture, integrates acquisitions and facilitates information sharing company wide. Both work at the highest levels of the organization, aligned with senior management and the board.
The most successful HR professionals are consummate communicators. Typically their organizations over communicate with all constituents. Their leadership styles transmit the traditions and values of their company. You often find a strategic HR function when the spoken and written words parallel leadership actions.
Human Resource Communications is a subset of our corporate culture. Corporate cultures determine communication styles. Cultures as diverse as a business headquarters viewed as a traditional downward style with an abundance of males in dark suits and white starched shirts to other companies which express their identity by polo's with logo's and scores of identical sites around the country.
Which of the three following communication styles dominate your culture?
HR COMMUNICATIONS ARE SPECIALIZED
Human Resource professionals uniquely position themselves at both the start point and finishing point of the communication chain. New hire orientation and policy and procedure manuals exemplify downward communication intended to help employees perform their jobs. Employee opinion polls, employee focus groups and exit interviews deliver information upward to solve problems and make executive decisions. Employee newsletters help work teams requiring a coordinated action between units or locations.
How well is HR information exchanged in your company?
Human Resource Communications Consultants manage and direct the planning, creation and execution of communication strategies to further the understanding and perception of HR policies, procedures, programs or initiatives. This often involves conceptualizing, researching, writing, editing and design/production of materials. Either print or electronic, projects often involve web pages (internet and intranet) and e-newsletters. HTML experience and knowledge of Dreamweaver and other graphic programs will serve this function well by providing the HR Communication Consultant a larger repertoire of up-to-date tools.
Is your HR information timely, accurate and understandable?
What should I expect from my Human Resource Communications Consultant? First, excellent writing and project management skills. Either internal or external, this person should display a record of accomplishment of interpersonal and project management competencies. They must be experienced in managing multiple assignments, with strong problem solving abilities. This "internal consultant" must have your confidence in an environment of highly confidential matters. Perhaps their past included the responsibilities of corporate due diligence matters.
Have they work experience at the highest levels of HR?
Do they have the proven ability to motivate themselves and others to generate strong results? To round out your choice, have they led HR initiatives and cross-functional teams? Ad industry / communication industry exposure just could be the icing on the cake.
Formally by PowerPoint or informally by walking the second and third shifts, we demonstrate HR Communications leadership as we amass information, process facts and disseminate intelligence at lightning speed. Our free flowing atmosphere of dialog and written messages translates values, traditions and habits into words and actions employees interpret
Operating as an internal consulting agency, or external resource, HR Communication Consultants work with employees and vendors on communication matters relating to the highest work initiatives. By building and managing cohesive communication strategies and working closely with HR process owners, they oversee the integration of both print and multimedia content and distribution. They may also create HR Communication metrics to measure results using employee communications to create a distinct competitive advantage.
One-page field memos and one hundred page policy manuals present a challenge for busy HR professionals. Your Human Resource Communications requires advanced knowledge and professionalism. Our HR role, singularly positioned at both the start and end of the communications continuum, offers an advantage to HR professionals who initiate and advance HR correspondence for field and headquarters functions.
© John T. Mooney 2003 All Rights Reserved
About The Author
Focused exclusively on EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, HR COMMUNICATIONS and RECRUITMENT PROJECTS contact John Mooney at (972) 355-7481 or email JMooney@ConsultiveSource.com or the company website www.ConsultiveSource.com. I utilize extensive hands-on industry competencies to solve your HR challenges. Supporting small, medium or large human resource projects with 20 years of human resource and operating experience, John Mooney has a results-oriented, focused approach to the human resource needs.
A paper manufacturer with over 300 employees once announced that... Read More
We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and... Read More
With client expectations higher than ever before, and the gradual... Read More
What principles should a company keep in mind when developing... Read More
Despite the fact that everyone sighs "How glamorous!", the life... Read More
I was watching a TV program some months ago about... Read More
How can I make my community of practice truly effective?How... Read More
Introducing a learning culture into organisations can be difficult at... Read More
"The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss... Read More
Solving a big problem is a project: you're far more... Read More
It has been said, there is no better way to... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
A good leader has the ability to empower others. It... Read More
This article relates to the Senior/Top Level management of an... Read More
FEAR! To what extent does fear rule your life? How... Read More
Question: ERPs seem like a good idea, so why is... Read More
You've hung out your shingle and are ready for business.... Read More
Cost cutting has become a necessary and important reality in... Read More
I once worked with a developer who showed up at... Read More
Picture yourself standing on the bank of a river watching... Read More
The quickest way to cancel out all the thought, work,... Read More
Increasing shareholder value is the most important driver for organisations... Read More
"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump... Read More
Usually, we're most interested in communicating outwardly; getting our messages... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
A recent report entitled "How Google Grows?and Grows?and Grows" stated... Read More
Bad hiring decisions cost organizations, both in dollars and lost... Read More
It is 9:00 am on a Monday morning. Do you... Read More
Project management is a very important business concept because it... Read More
Top leaders...Are Visionary Top leaders have a very clear understanding... Read More
As you look around your office, is everyone just like... Read More
Are you planning your business or are you... Read More
A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More
Soon after I finished a brief seminar on how to... Read More
In our fast paced work culture, manned by technology savvy... Read More
People talk to me about making personal and professional changes... Read More
Bringing an HR consultant into your organisation can often be... Read More
This article relates to the Work/Life Balance competency, which investigates... Read More
My mechanic has me trained. When I take my car... Read More
Does your business need the services of a computer consulting... Read More
Meetings can be like mythical vampires ? sucking the life... Read More
Are you planning your business or are you... Read More
INTERNAL PUBLIC RELATIONS: Never overlook an opportunity to do internal... Read More
Stop hiring new administrative support staff. And learn how to... Read More
Being a leader isn't easy. Every one looks to you... Read More
In today's business environment with increases in staff reductions and... Read More
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by e-mail? Have you ever... Read More
Late last year I was presenting a workshop for the... Read More
This article relates to the Career Opportunity competency, commonly evaluated... Read More
Several years ago, I took over the supervision of a... Read More
Many people believe that everyone sees the world exactly the... Read More
This article is directed at senior managers. As a senior... Read More
Leadership in Troubled Times The... Read More
Effective project managers know how to get the job done,... Read More
Are your people consistently following your procedures? Each year, organizations... Read More
I was watching a TV program some months ago about... Read More
As a manager our role is to:1. Establish the vision,... Read More
Sexual Harassment Policy Guidelines ? Part IPermission is hereby granted... Read More
ACCOUNTING AND BILLINGCHECK BOOKSWe recommend that you maintain a business... Read More
Over the past few weeks I've been developing plans for... Read More
Growing companies must always be ready for the next challenge.... Read More
If past behavior is the best way to determine future... Read More
How many times have you wondered why you are unable... Read More
Communication is the basis of who you are as a... Read More
SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION PROCEDUREEvery complaint will be thoroughly investigated.... Read More
Once working and focused in tune with what they do... Read More
Business Management |