Too often, rumors and the workplace grapevine serve as the primary source of information for employees, a situation that severely limits the ability of managers to share important information accurately and communicate effectively. It also can foster employee distrust and resentment of management, spoiling morale and productivity.

In organizations that communicate well with employees, all levels of management are actively involved in regular organizational dialogue and participate in a process that creates a culture of open, factual and timely internal communications.

The Cascade Communications Process helps reinforce the relationship between managers and their staff by “cascading” or pushing information throughout the organization – from senior executives to supervisors and managers to workers on the frontlines.

The process also is designed to send information up through the organizational structure, creating a dynamic, two-way information flow that drives vital information and gives employees a voice in the workplace.

Most importantly, this process emphasizes face-to-face communications, allowing employees to learn about important information directly from their supervisors, to ask questions and to provide critical feedback.

As part of IRI Consultants’ custom Cascade Communications Process, supervisors and managers receive targeted training and participate in developing systems that fit the organization’s culture. This process includes regular updates for managers from senior executives, training in constructive conversations and how to use talking points, Q&As and messaging documents, both to influence and guide employee perceptions and improve the workplace dialogue.

Cascade communication is a flexible process. Some messages are most effective when they are delivered in “skip-level” meetings, others in a direct cascade. The exact configuration depends on the nature of the project and the organization’s structure.

Whatever your communication needs, IRI can help you develop an effective, cost-beneficial plan.

For more information on Cascade Communications Process contact IRI Consultants at info@iriconsultants.com or by calling (313) 965-0350.

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Communicating in the workplace can be challenging, especially when the subject is complicated or unpleasant and the desired outcome is ambitious or controversial. Because effective communication plays a critical role in leadership, it's essential that everyone in management have the skills and tools needed to inform, motivate, change behavior and achieve results.

• Increased productivity
• Stronger employee loyalty
• Greater customer satisfaction
• Higher Morale
• Less vulnerability to unionization
• Reduced waste and redundancy
• Lower legal expenses

Through its various Corporate Communications, Organization Effectiveness and Labor & Employee Relations diagnostic tools, IRI helps organizations pinpoint gaps in communications skills and resources that can impair business performance. Many of these gaps are the result of lack of knowledge, experience or skill.

IRI's proven communications classroom training courses provide intensive skill building and real-world practice in the techniques and tools that are most essential to effective organizational communication. These courses can be offered based on client needs: as one comprehensive series, as stand-alone modules or in groups of closely related curricula. Additionally, each course can be tailored to reflect specific organizational or cultural issues to ensure they are reinforcing any initiatives already in place.

Managers who complete IRI's training classes will be equipped with communications tools that they immediately can apply to their jobs. They not only will know the whys and hows of best communications practices, they will have practiced them and gained a comfort level that translates into immediate performance improvement in your workplace.

Leadership Communication Best Practices

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Use the three building blocks that comprise effective communication
• Understand specific tools and behaviors to enhance leadership communication
• Apply communication tools with different people in different situations
• Adapt their communication style to meet employee needs
• Deliver messages they don't completely agree with

Be Direct -- With Confidence

Sometimes, kinder gentler just doesn't work; if an employee is disrupting the workplace or their performance is sub-par, a more direct style of communication is necessary. Doing so without making the situation even worse can be difficult. Being Direct equips leaders to:

• Prepare to be assertive. Assess your risk,
reduce your emotional involvement and develop a plan to succeed
• Focus on specific behavior, not personalities
• Follow up. Stay assertive after a negative response, and provide reinforcing feedback should improvement occur

Developing a Personal Communication Strategy

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Identify the stakeholders involved in the communication process
• Determine expectations inherent in manager/employee relationships
• Identify the most appropriate communications tools or methods to achieve results
• Determine how best to manage time in order to ensure that communication is a priority
• Develop and use a personal communication strategy to enhance communication effectiveness on the job

Effective Listening

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Prepare to listen effectively
• Focus on the other person's communications
• Translate and validate understanding
• Follow-up as appropriate

Confront With Confidence

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Prepare to use confrontation positively and effectively
• Assess the risks of confrontation
• Reduce their emotional involvement
• Confront with confidence
• Focus on specific behavior (their own and the other person's)
• Follow the process for effective, respectful confrontation
• Follow up the confrontation
• Stay assertive after a negative response
• Provide reinforcing feedback after a positive response

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Identify common sources of conflict
• Understand the five options for responding to conflict
at the source and the risks and benefits of each
• Leverage their preferred style for responding to conflict
and adjust it as needed
• Guide a conversation focused on productive conflict
resolution between themself and others, and between others

Planning and Running Effective Meetings

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Understand why different meetings require different processes
• Plan and begin outcome-oriented meetings
• Manage and conduct meeting processes and behaviors
• Close meetings to enhance understanding, agreement and action
• Conduct follow-up meetings to provide maximum benefit

Presentation Skills: Hands-on Learning

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Organize a presentation into a logical and interesting sequence, including the introduction, the body and the conclusion
• Choose words and tone that will enhance the audience's understanding of the presentation
• Choose, create and use the appropriate media for a presentation, including props and documents
• Use voice, posture and presence to make a point
• Respond to questions and comments after a presentation

Leading Others through Change

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Predict their own and others' natural responses to day-to-day and event-based change
• Create a strategy to gain acceptance of change
• Use their leadership and communication skills to help
their employees and others work through issues
• Adapt tactics as necessary

Coaching Employees to Higher Performance

At the conclusion of this module, participants will be able to:

• Define performance goals based on the needs of the employee and the organization
• Understand various coaching approaches
• Demonstrate which coaching approach is best suited to support individual employee success
• Set up and facilitate a coaching meeting for maximum success
• Increase employee performance as a result of focused feedback

For more information about Communications Training, contact IRI Consultants at info@iriconsultants.com or by calling (313) 965-0350.

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Integrated, strategic communications are pivotal to any organization’s success in managing change and achieving desired goals.

Organizations that employ a high-quality communications process perform better, enjoy greater customer satisfaction and a more engaged, loyal work force – all of which lead to a more productive and successful organization.

IRI Consultants offers proven communications tools and processes, as well as customized communications plans to help organizations communicate more effectively with their employees and key stakeholders in the community.

At IRI, we have helped hundreds of organizations meet their goals, manage change, and engage their employees through strategic communication planning tailored to their needs.

Among these services, we offer the Cascade Communications Process,an effective system that helps reinforce the relationship between managers and their staff through a “cascade” of information that flows down through the organization and back up again.

We also offer a wide range of assessments that allow clients to better gauge the success of their communications vehicles and efforts.

IRI’s Communications Services:

• Strategic Communications Planning
• Communications Audits
• Organizational Communications Training
• Stakeholder Communications and Advocacy
• Corporate Campaign Vulnerability Assessments
• Employee Polling and Surveys
• Presentation and Media Training
• Issue Research and Management
• Community Relations

In times of growth, change and challenge, organizations need allies in the community, the statehouse and within their own ranks. If your organization becomes a target or subject of controversy, those allies are even more important.

Our communications team includes former journalists, legislative aides and public relations executives who know how to gather information and craft compelling stories so that you can manage your message and rally support where it matters most.

For more information about Corporate Communications contact IRI Consultants at info@iriconsultants.com or by calling (313) 965-0350.

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A formal assessment of an organization’s ability to communicate key messages effectively, IRI’s Organizational Communications Audits highlight existing practices that work well, and identify opportunities for more robust, results-oriented communications with both internal and external audiences.

A thoughtful, well-executed communication strategy is the foundation of any successful positive employee relations program. Communication fosters the trust, support and commitment of employees and other stakeholders that is vital to successfully managing organizational change, public relations challenges and key employee relations issues.

Does Your Organization Need a Communications Audit?

• Does your organization have a communications strategy?
• Are you confident that organizational and departmental communications reach all employees?
• Do your communications convey your intended message?
• Are you maximizing opportunities to tell your story to employees and other stakeholders?
• Do you provide opportunities for employees to ask questions and receive feedback from managers and leadership?
• Do managers have the skills and knowledge they need to communicate effectively with employees?
• Do you know which communication vehicles are most effective in reaching, informing and motivating key audiences?
• Do you reach out to key constituents in the community and do they understand your organization’s value to the community?
• Are you maximizing your investment in organizational communications?

A communications audit provides information critical to developing a sound communications strategy designed to encourage employee engagement, improve community relationships, enhance workplace productivity and manage organizational change.

Successful organizational communications share key traits and benefits; chiefly, the ability to develop and deliver messages that are persuasive, educational and supportive of the organization’s goals.

Structured properly, an effective communications strategy provides leaders with the ability to anticipate issues and respond effectively, recruit employees as advocates and supporters, build community support, achieve financial and performance goals and burnish the organization’s reputation in the community.

IRI offers two levels of communications audits:

Internal Communications Audits

An analysis, report and recommendations assessing an organization’s communications process and proficiency based on:

• Interviews with key executives
• Surveys of key managers
• Employee focus groups
• Review of internal publications, materials and communication practices
• Prioritized recommendations for improvement
  
  

Comprehensive Communications Audits

An analysis, report and recommendations assessing an organization’s overall communications strategy, policy and materials to internal and external audiences, including employees, governing boards, financial stakeholders, legislative leaders, community leaders and the media. Assessments include:

• Employee communications
• Community outreach
• Media coverage and relationships
• Legislative and lobbying communications
• Communications to investors, bondholders and donors

The process and insight provided by a communications audit allows leaders to build upon successful communications methods and eliminate those that don’t work, delivering practical recommendations for improvements. Your investment in a strong communications program advances your organizational goals as well as demonstrates to employees your commitment to building a culture of transparency, open communication and collaboration.

For more information about using Organizational Communications Audits contact IRI Consultants at info@iriconsultants.com or by calling (313) 965-0350.

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Sometimes employers need to speak in many languages and many ways to really reach employees. One of those is the language of social media.

No longer can an organization publish an employee newsletter or update its intranet and assume that it has successfully communicated with employees. This is especially true for a younger generation who, as they enter the workforce, bring with them a strong habit and preference for social media. Unaccustomed to reading bulletin boards and not likely to pick up a newsletter, some under-30s even shun e-mail as outmoded technology. To reach them or any other employee more inclined to use Twitter than Outlook, smart employers build a strong social media component into any internal communications plan.

Why? Because employee engagement depends on strong, effective communications. And if you’re not tapping that channel, others are – including labor unions that increasingly rely on social media during organizing campaigns and contract negotiations. Too often, these efforts are off the radar screens of organizations.

Does your organization have a social media strategy? Are you leveraging this communications channel to its maximum effect? IRI Consultants helps clients develop and implement custom social media strategies to help leaders communicate quickly and credibly with various groups, and encourage shared ideas, concerns and suggestions to better guide your strategies.

At IRI Consultants, we have the experience and expertise to leverage new communication channels to help you make the best use of social media to deliver messages that resonate.

Engaging Employees with Social Media

Blogs

Many blogs have evolved from online journals into sophisticated communications channels. Blogs can be used as a way to reach workers who prefer online communications, and are often promoted through tools such as Twitter, Facebook and Google+. This allows for quick distribution of messages – including advocacy campaigns and community service initiatives – to a broad audience.

By engaging employees through blogging, leaders can reach a larger audience and build credibility with techno-savvy workers. And as a tool for two-way communications, blogging allows readers to comment and interact with leaders and their co-workers, providing organizations unprecedented opportunity to learn about the issues most important to employees and respond appropriately.

IRI’s experienced communications professionals guide clients with the strategic direction and carefully crafted messaging to maximize the use of blogs as a communications medium.

Campaign and Negotiations Web Sites

Organizations facing union campaigns and contract negotiations are particularly vulnerable to social media campaigns against the company. A successful outcome depends on an organization’s ability to counter those campaigns with a timely, effective and relevant social media campaign of its own.

Our experience and expertise helps your organization maximize the value of your online presence through:

• Toolkits for managers providing on-time and easily-accessible information to help frontline supervisors understand strategic objectives, stay current with new developments and communicate more effectively with employees
• Public websites designed to inform employees and key stakeholders about a campaign, negotiations or other developments critical to your operations

This online presence is a key component of any organization’s social media efforts, whether through blogs that provide a communications channel for an individual or department or websites that showcase broad initiatives and provide organizational information to:

• Handle questions from front line supervisors and managers. This feedback loop will lead to faster and more relevant and effective communications
• Collect feedback, solicit questions and manage rumors. Your ability to gauge opinion and respond to inquiries about your organization will help you better control your message
• Manage operational change by sharing a vision and speaking to employee and community concerns
  
  

The Social Media Solution

In today’s environment, there is no more important component of a communications plan than social media, whether for an operational change, employee relations objective or reputational campaign.

One clear threat is organized labor, which continues to refine and expand its use of social media.

Our services include:

Scenario Planning

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Scenario planning helps organizations think through and plan for possible threats to their business and reputation. With IRI’s experience, you will be able to plan for different scenarios so that your response is reasoned and deliberate rather than rushed and reactionary. Our approach is designed to help you craft an effective social media response to challenges ranging from:

• A union-run Web site launched to attack your organization’s reputation for quality and safety
• A flash mob of union supporters, organized via Facebook and Twitter, converging on one of your facilities
• Union representatives posting videos of your employees touting the benefits of joining the union

Social Media Monitoring and Reputation Management

Effective social media monitoring goes beyond clipping services to measure trends and changes that could influence your employees or affect your reputation. Our services provide early warning and real-time intelligence about what’s being said about your organization in the social media sphere and help you distinguish between isolated comments and actual vulnerabilities. Our monitoring services help you:

• Manage the online dialogue and shape the message in social media and traditional news coverage
• Track hits and commentary on high-traffic blogs
• Gather intelligence about union organizing and corporate campaign efforts

Corporate Campaign Preparedness and Response

With labor unions and special interest groups adopting social media as a primary weapon of attack against corporations and organizations, these online campaigns can wreak broad and lasting damage to your business, reputation and community standing.

• Disparaging web sites
• Anti-company blogs
• Fake “grass roots” campaigns
• Negative commentary in the mainstream media
• Facebook and Twitter feeds designed to organize opponents

The negative noise of a corporate campaign can seem overwhelming. IRI has helped clients to mitigate the reputational damage caused by corporate campaign tactics. With extensive experience and robust social media capabilities, we can enable you to retake control of your organization’s key messages, helping you rally the community back to your side.

At a time when social media is rapidly evolving and growing as a communications tool that can be used against public institutions, organizations and companies, the best defense is a social media offense. Our specialized expertise and social media services will help you develop a powerful,

For more information about Social Media: Strategies for Employee Engagement contact IRI Consultants at info@iriconsultants.com or by calling (313) 965-0350.

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IRI Consultants offers a complete range of strategic communications services. Our seasoned communications consultants – who have experience in newsrooms, public relations firms and managing corporate communications teams – can help clients develop and implement communications plans that successfully inform, educate and influence key constituencies.

IRI collaborates with an organization’s leaders and subject-matter experts to design programs that take advantage of a range of communications tools to target key audiences or expand the reach and influence of their current methods. As partners in your project, we will help you gauge your internal capabilities and capacities to manage costs, meet deadlines and achieve your objectives.

Recognizing that individuals are unique and communications shouldn’t take a one-size-fits all approach, a comprehensive communications plan leverages multiple tools to help ensure that the organization’s messages are delivered in an effective, consistent manner.

Organizational Communications Audits

Our formal assessment of an organization’s ability to communicate key messages effectively highlights existing practices that work well and identifies best-practice opportunities for more robust, results-oriented communications with internal and external audiences.

IRI offers communications audits that focus on specific constituencies including:

• Employees and internal stakeholders
• Community leaders
• Media
• Legislators and advocacy groups
  
  

Communications Messaging and Support

Communications are most persuasive when messages are coordinated, consistent and customized for the needs of specific audiences. For instance, employees need to know about process improvements, benefit changes or a construction project, but with different levels of detail and emphasis than do board members, managers, the public or elected officials.

IRI’s communications consultants help clients develop customized messaging for all critical stakeholders, from managers and employees to elected officials and community leaders.

Business Literacy and Education

As part of a broad-based employee communications program, business literacy efforts help employees understand nuances that are unique to the industry and the organization, and build support for new initiatives, service improvements and other changes. These efforts also better equip managers to discuss issues often targeted by unions and played out in the media, helping to keep the organization “on message.”

IRI helps clients develop and implement education and business literacy programs that enhance employee understanding of key issues and economic factors affecting the organization.

Community Relations

Organizations with strong reputations have regular, meaningful outreach in their communities, whether these relationships are geographic, demographic, economic or social in nature. Such interaction can be a continuous loop: the organization provides information to the community, the community gives feedback, the organization considers the feedback and in turn responds to the community’s views.

IRI’s communications consultants work with clients to determine the best approach for the organization, and then to develop and deliver strategic, systematic community relations initiatives that target critical stakeholders, convey clear, concise messages in the appropriate manner, and identify the best person in the organization to deliver and manage the two-way communications path.

New Media Consulting

The rapid growth and adoption of electronic communications and social media requires organizations to rethink and carefully consider their communications efforts for both internal and external audiences. Although electronic communications can be attractive for numerous reasons – especially their speed, wide reach and low cost – using them for maximum effect requires in-depth knowledge and experience with how different audiences access and process information.

With many years of hands-on experience, IRI’s communications consultants help clients balance the many benefits and risks of new media platforms and electronic communications. We also help clients make effective use of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social media platforms and avoid potential legal and public relations pitfalls.

Cascade Communications

IRI’s Cascade Communications process helps reinforce the relationship between managers and their staff by pushing information throughout the organization – from senior executives to supervisors and managers to frontline employees.

The process is designed to also send information up through the organization, creating dynamic, two-way communications that drive vital information and give employees a voice in the workplace. Most importantly, this process emphasizes face-to-face communications, allowing employees to learn about important information directly from their supervisors, to ask questions and to provide critical feedback.

For more information about how IRI’s Strategic Communications Planning services can help your organization increase its effectiveness, contact IRI Consultants at info@iriconsultants.com or by calling (313) 965-0350.

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