We all want to know if we’re providing effective corporate communications.
Our hiring manager and human resources clients are especially cognizant of the need for exceptional communications in the recruiting and hiring process.
But what exactly are corporate communications? We found an excellent definition on Wikipedia:
Corporate communication is a set of activities involved in managing and orchestrating all internal and external communications aimed at creating a favorable point of view among stakeholders on which the company depends.[1] It is the messages issued by a corporate organization, body, or institute to its audiences, such as employees, media, channel partners, and the general public. Organizations aim to communicate the same message to all their stakeholders to transmit coherence, credibility, and ethics.
That’s a pretty comprehensive definition. In this post, we’ll discuss the three foundational levels of corporate communications:
- Communicating Through Corporate Branding
- Corporate Communications Essentials
- Using Common Communications Channels Effectively
So let’s get started with the foundation of all business communications.
Communicating Through Corporate Branding
In a nutshell, your corporate brand defines how your company is perceived by your community of current and potential customers, business partners, suppliers, employees, etc. Your brand identifies how your company is viewed in your business’s operational ecosystem.
Here’s an example. This is our corporate mission statement from our home page:
Founded in 1973, Patel Consultants Corporation is an employee-based, customer-oriented, Information Technology Services firm specializing in offering a wide range of IT Staffing Solutions to our growing customer base. Our sustained growth for over 40 years is due to our focus on the recruitment and retention of our consultants and a formidable customer-oriented sales staff.
Company websites are often the first place potential clients, job seekers, and other interested parties will go to find information on your company. A clear message of who and what you are as a company should be concisely conveyed and easily identified.
Corporate branding also comprises corporate culture, values, ethics, and reputation. These intangible aspects of your brand are slightly more challenging to convey. Internal and external communications will define these aspects of your company with stakeholders at all levels in your business community.
Branding and corporate identity are close cousins. Corporate identity defines the way stakeholders immediately perceive your company in your sphere of operations. Your branding and corporate identity are the frontlines of your business’s communications.
Corporate Communications Essentials
Employees at all levels, including the executive level, need to be keenly aware of the context and content of all professional communications. Communications will reflect your brand, corporate identity, and culture. Concise, professional communications will evolve through consistent employee brand awareness and the development of excellent interpersonal and business communications skills.
Every communication will reflect your business’s culture and values. This includes written communications like email, in-person meetings, virtual presentations, virtual meetings, conference calls, written correspondence, in-person and virtual conferences, etc.
It’s vital to ensure all employees are following practical, appropriate communications standards. Classes are available from online learning centers like LinkedIn Learning, and many other online platforms.
HR professionals might want to consider adopting a corporate communications strategy. Comms strategies set the standard for corporate communications at all levels of the organization. They’ll provide guidance and guardrails for individuals, teams, team leads, managers, and executives to help shape efficacious internal and external communications.
Using Common Communications Channels Effectively
The best strategy is to maintain a consistent internal and external standard of communications. These standards should reflect your impeccable corporate values, awesome culture, and respect for all internal and external stakeholders and individuals.
Business communications channels have grown in diversity and usage. Project management apps like Wrike, and channel-based apps like Slack, are now commonplace. Email is just one of many text-based communication channels.
Make sure your employees have guidance on what channels to use, internally and externally. Your communications strategy should also offer concise guidance on what constitutes exemplary business communications that reflect your corporate identity, values, and culture.
It will take some investment, but the results of a uniform, effective, professional communications strategy and infrastructure will far outweigh the costs!
A trusted partnership with a recruiting firm that understands your industry and hiring process can help you set and meet your hiring and workforce management goals.
The recruitment team at Patel is highly tenured, trained, and experienced in competitive sourcing (passive candidates), reference recruiting, and networking. Our extensive ability to identify, qualify, attract, and represent top talent is the number one reason our clients choose us as their strategic recruiting and staffing partner.
Are you a hiring manager or human resources professional with a job search, or searches, underway? Are you looking for workforce management solutions?
Maybe you have some questions about how we can help you with your staffing needs?
Call us today at 908-964-7575, or get in touch online. Our expert recruiters are waiting for your call.
