The Power of Communication

"I think, therefore I Blog"

Jason Robb, Director of Media Relations, Mohawk College

Our Public Relations class was given the opportunity of having guest speaker Jason Robb, Director of Media Relations, Internal Communications, Community Projects and Special Events and Mohawk College Internal Communications department and Sean Coffey, Media Relations and Internal Communications at Mohawk College. His ideas and information on ‘Integrated Marketing Communications’ plan was helpful to us as public relation students and future PR officers because it gave us the direct and indirect tips of developing an effective, simple and successful communications plan.  You might be asking yourselves, “What is Internal Communications?” According to Robb he says, “Internal Communication, in a business context, is the dialogic process between employees and employer, and employees and employees. It is part of the two-way communication process.” As a result, the PR officer acts as the middle man between employees and employers and no matter what change is brought to your organization, it is part of your role to ALWAYS remain looking positive and stress free. Employees trust your thoughts and perceptions and if they see you look stress, they will begin to panic and from that point on, you lose the communication connection between yourself and your publics. Recognition in internal communications is another key aspect when working in the PR industry. Highlighting what staff has done for students, building stories around a person who dedicates their time and efforts to help achieve student success or simply saying “Thank You” will all go a long way.

Other essential tips that were provided for our class will remain in our thoughts when we enter into our careers. Firstly, which ever organization, company or business you work for, never say the “C” word; that is CHANGE. Change or transformation frightens people who appear to stand on the other side of that potential adjustment. On the other hand who can blame them? Secondly, when searching for a career in public relations, it is vital to research the company or business that you want to work for because it goes without saying, “love the organization your work for or get out”! To follow up with this statement, as a professional PR practitioner, it is beneficial to both you and the organization that you work for, that you gain a sense of sincere and genuine pride in what you are doing and in what you are preaching to the public on behalf of your employer or organization. A third guiding principle for PR practitioners is always to keep in mind the adage “Praise in public. Punish in Private” because no organization likes surprises.

And finally, the final guiding principles will continue to help practitioners alleviate any given problem or crises that they may be challenged with before it arises:

•  Proactively identifying and effectively managing emerging issues when they arise within the company.
• Position effective communications as a shared responsibility for all staff members.
•  Manage the flow of communications to staff.
• Avoid information overload and reduce risk of staff tuning out all outlets of communications. And in as a final and vital proposal, “Never shoot the messenger; only pull the trigger when messages are never sent or sent out too late.”

The presentation that was given to our class by Jason Robb and Shawn Coffey was both uplifting and educational. As future public relation practitioners, we all may develop a career in numerous areas of this increasingly diverse field of work. Part of our future success in this industry is the work and hand-on experience that we are given throughout our Public Relations program and the inspiration of guest speakers. As a result, it is important that we digest all take with us all that is taught and presented to us by those experienced individuals who have and continue to serve within the public relations business.