Communications from the Inside Out

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Anne Bleeker, Managing Partner at In2Consulting, offers her thoughts on internal communications as a necessity for companies in the region…

There are far too many organisations out there that still see internal communication as they used to see public relations: as a fluffy, soft-skill, nice-to-have department

Is silence really golden? Certainly not when it comes to internal communication. Sadly, many organisations still believe it is best not to tell employees what’s going on or to share important information. But guess what? You communicate whether you like it or not through formal communications, policies and procedures, systems and the behaviour of management. And more importantly, you can communicate through silence. There is no ‘opt out’, so if we are communicating anyway, we may as well think about it and do it well.

It’s surprising that not more organisations see the immense benefit that internal communication and strong employee engagement can bring to the table, and the bottom line. There are far too many organisations out there that still see internal communication as they used to see public relations: as a fluffy, soft-skill, nice-to-have department that sits anywhere but around the boardroom table.

I see internal communications as communication ‘from the inside out’. Not using your most credible colleagues, your most passionate people and your most active advocates to reach out to your audiences seems ludicrous. It’s a lost opportunity, and a costly one.

According to the UAE Executive Summary of Towers Watson’s 2012 Global Workforce Study, “23% of UAE employees are investing energy to overcome ‘substantial obstacles’ to get their work done, but less than half (49%) feel they have their supervisor’s support in doing so. Only 57% believe they have the necessary tools and resources to achieve exceptional performance and even fewer feel they have access to the training they need to be productive.” What about the other roughly 50% of employees? How are they getting through the day? A scary thought.

Employees want to be informed, and in order to do their jobs well they need to understand how they contribute individually to the overall success of the organisation. Communication around strategy therefore needs to be clear, transparent, regular and honest, and that’s exactly what a strong internal communications capacity provides.

Strong internal communication gets everybody ‘on the same page’ so they can work effectively towards common goals; it helps create a workplace that motivates people – and one they don’t want to leave; it enables everybody to do a better job, so you have happier customers and a more successful business.

I group the business benefits of internal communication into five core areas:

  1. Line of Sight: “I know where the company is headed and the part I am expected to play.”
  2. Reputation: “I say good things about my company and am a good ambassador.”
  3. Change Management: “I understand what changes are happening and why, and how I should respond.”
  4. Regulation & Compliance: “I follow all the rules and regulations associated with my role.”
  5. Engagement: “I am motivated to perform well at work.”

And here is how it impacts your bottom line: the Towers Watson 2013–2014 Change and Communication ROI Study Report states, “a continued strong relationship between superior financial performance and effective communication, and change management. Companies with high effectiveness in change management and communication are three and a half times more likely to significantly outperform their industry peers than firms that are not effective in these areas.”

Internal communication is no longer ‘nice to have’, but a ‘must-have’. It’s a true business enabler that optimises the flow of information within the organisation and helps improve individual and organisational performance. Communication matters.

“Like a human being, a company has to have an internal communications mechanism, a nervous system, to coordinate its actions.” – Bill Gates.

 

Anne Bleeker is Managing Partner at In2 Consulting. Follow her on Twitter @Annedubai 

Features Editor, Danae Mercer

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NAME: Danae Mercer

AGE: A lady never tells…

FROM: California, but recently UK

JOB TITLE: Features Editor at Motivate Publishing, focusing on Jumeirah


When did you first arrive in Dubai?
I arrived not long ago – on April 7, 2014.

Where did you work prior?
Sunny London. I worked as a freelancer covering a range of topics ranging from romance, fitness and high-end luxury through to beauty and profiles. I wrote a book with The Guardian, features for Marie Claire, USA Today, The Independent, The Atlantic, THE, The Telegraph and so forth. I was also a corporate and financial PR focusing on content creation.

What are your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
In general, I think the media world here is exciting. There’s the potential for rapid growth, to do new things, to work hard and see things happen. People seem very open minded and outgoing, not to mention very kind and welcoming – nice for a new expat.

Tell us about your role…
I am a Features Editor, which means I manage and write long form content for Motivate. Right now I’m focusing primarily on the luxury magazine Jumeirah, which I know is going to be fantastic.

What challenges do you face?
I need to get to know about all things luxury. In London, I knew whom to contact, but out here it’s a whole new process.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Wrapping up a feature that feels well written, and just constantly learning. I also enjoy meeting fascinating people, which I get to do with features and profiles.

What do you think of the quality of media publications in the region?
I think things have developed extensively since I lived in Doha five years ago, and that they’ll only continue to do so.

How do you find PRs in the region?
A few very clever ones have contacted me already, listing their relevant clients and pointing out those in the luxury space. I really admire such targeted initiative. As long as PRs keep passing me relevant information, I’ll be happy to work with them.

What’s your pet PR peeve?
I don’t like presumptuousness. And I once had a PR ask me what fee I would give the spokesperson for their time. I found another.

What advice can you offer PRs seeking coverage your magazine?
Jumeirah has amazing room for in-depth features that look at not just the latest thing or sparkling new bit, but rather at the history, heritage and story behind brands and people. It’s luxury with depth. It also has a long lead-time.

I’d love PRs to get in contact with me early, let me know what in general they do, point out any relevant clients, keep me updated with relevant news releases and events, and so forth. Right now, especially as I learn the Dubai industry, I’m keen to get out and meet as many individuals as possible, and just start developing that in-depth knowledge of what’s going on. So please do get in touch (with relevant clients, of course!).

Work calls via landline, mobile or both?
Landline. Mobile feels intrusive. Or email me – I’m always connected, and read every email, even if I don’t respond.

Describe yourself in five words…
Optimistic, curious, hopeful, sporty, bookish.

What’s your most overused saying?
I don’t really have a tagline, I’m afraid.

Five things you can’t live without?
My laptop, running shoes, my kindle, cereal and my best friends.

If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be?
An author or a yoga instructor.

Fiona Paterson joins The Indian Trumpet

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Fiona Paterson has joined Dubai based e-magazine The Indian Trumpet as Assistant Editor. Fiona has extensive editorial experience with UK and Australian publications, and continues to work as Copywriter and Editor for publications in the UK. In her new position, Fiona plans to expand the editorial reach of the bi-monthly online magazine, which targets the non-resident Indian community in the UAE, and focuses on all things Indian in the region and abroad. The Indian Trumpet was launched July 1, 2013.

“Working with the creative output at The Indian Trumpet is an immense privilege and a constantly enriching experience,” says Fiona. “The paramount aim? Creating polished pieces that contributors will share with family, friends and the wider world.”

BPA releases circulation and media data

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BPA Worldwide has announced the concurrent release of circulation and media data in the region for the six-month period, which ended December 31, 2013. The figures cover media operations based in 8 Middle Eastern countries – UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, Oman and Qatar.

Included in the report are the average qualified circulations from the most recent 2013-ending Circulation Statements and Brand Reports. These figures are the circulation claims for the newspapers and magazines that have opted to be BPA-audited. Publisher members are required to declare their figures every six months and be audited annually by BPA media auditors. Also included are Event Audit results for events that took place in 2013, and Brand Reach data are also listed showing different audited channels for the same brand, including the Web Traffic “Average Unique Browser”, Social Media and Apps Downloads for the period July – December 2013.

Sandra Lane joins Revolution Middle East

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Sandra Lane has joined Arab Publishing Partners (APP) as Editor-in-Chief of its new launch, Revolution Middle East. Sandra previously served as Editor of Revolution Middle East when Pinpoint Media Group was the licence-holder, and she will now take charge of the luxury goods and watches magazine. It is the latest title to be launched by APP, and will be published quarterly within the GCC from September 2014.

“I’m delighted to rejoin the Revolution family and excited to be working with APP to take the Middle East edition of the magazine to greater success,” says Sandra. “With the strength of APP behind Revolution, we have great plans for its future throughout the region and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”

Marka discloses PR & Ad expenditure for IPO

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Marka, the retail operator that recently listed its shares on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), has disclosed in its prospectus that AED 5.1million was spent on the PR campaign and advertising expenses for its initial public offering (IPO).

The PR campaign was led by New Perspective Media, and the circa AED 5million investment in marketing and PR helped to significantly boost the profile of the offer, as the company received orders exceeding AED 10billion for the AED 275million shares that were issued, resulting in significant oversubscription.

Marka’s IPO is the first on the DFM Dubai market since the global financial crisis in 2008, and the DFM currently holds as the leading performing market globally in 2014, up over 50% since January.

Alicia Buller to leave Motivate

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Alicia Buller has announced that she will be stepping down as Editor of Gulf Business as of April 30, 2014. With over 10 years of journalism experience specialising in Middle Eastern business, Alicia is now accepting work as a freelance writer and editor. Her portfolio includes both business and consumer titles, such as Arabian Business, Revolution, Campaign and Mail Online.

“I have enjoyed my time at Motivate, it was exciting and challenging to launch www.gulfbusiness.com,” says Alicia. “I look forward to working on a wide range of projects within the UAE and beyond; with so much happening in Dubai right now, there’s certainly a lot to be writing about!”

Helen Morrogh joins Forbes ME

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Helen Morrogh has joined Forbes Middle East as Features Editor. Helen’s most recent position was as Chief Correspondent for content marketing company Switch Media in the UAE, and her new role will involve covering business, travel, culture and current affairs features.

“I’m delighted to be joining the team at Forbes Middle East,” says Helen. “To be part of such a high profile global name and writing about a region that I love is a fantastic opportunity. I can’t wait to see what my future at Forbes Middle East holds; I know it will be an exciting and enriching one.”