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increasingly blurred. Employees are brand ambassadors, and their voices, amplified by social
media and digital channels, carry significant weight.
Read on for Yes& CommCore’s take on internal communications strategy in a world that can go unexpectedly viral.
The recent leak of an internal town hall meeting led by J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon serves as a stark reminder: there is no such thing as a truly “internal” message. Today’s best-practice internal communications is treated with the same rigor and strategy as external communications. In today’s hashtag-connected world, any communication, regardless of its intended audience, has the potential to become public.
Dimon’s candid, and at times, expletive-laden remarks about return-to-work policies, intended for his employees, quickly found its way onto social media, which was then picked up by conventional publications. The subsequent backtrack and attempts to clarify the tone underscore the precarious nature of employee communications. This incident highlights a crucial truth: what you say to your team can, and often will, be heard by everyone else.
This isn’t just a cautionary tale about using colorful language. It’s the realization of how we
approach organizational communication. The lines between internal and external audiences are
increasingly blurred. Employees are brand ambassadors, and their voices, amplified by social
media and digital channels, carry significant weight.
Best-Practice Internal Communications Strategy Tips
So, how can we navigate this reality? One key takeaway is that internal communications must
be treated with the same rigor and strategic planning as external communications. This means:
- Assume Everything is Public: Draft every message, even those intended for internal
audiences, as if it will be read by the media, customers, and competitors. This mindset
encourages clarity, accuracy, and a more measured tone. - Align Internal and External Messaging: Sensitive topics like return-to-work policies or
potential downsizing require a unified approach. Internal and external communications
teams must collaborate closely to ensure consistency and avoid mixed messages.
Proactively prepare external talking points in advance of internal announcements. - Train Leaders on Communication Best Practices: Equip leaders with the skills to
communicate effectively and responsibly, both in formal presentations and informal
settings. This includes emphasizing the importance of tone, word choice, and the
potential for messages to be shared beyond their intended audience. - Utilize Multiple Channels Strategically: Consider the sensitivity of the message and
choose the appropriate communication channel. For highly sensitive information,
smaller, controlled meetings might be more effective than large-scale town halls.
The Dimon incident reflects our communication reality. By embracing a more integrated
approach and recognizing the porous nature of internal messages, we can better protect our
organization’s reputation.
Schedule Your Communications Skills Training
Do you have staff in management or leadership roles who could benefit from communications skills training? Are certain members of your team increasingly in the public eye – either internally or with external stakeholders, or the media? Those who often facilitate meetings, have frequent public speaking engagements (presentations, panels, short speeches), and spokespeople who appear on radio, TV and/or digital media interviews will benefit from this type of professional development.
We offer communications skills training programs for:
- Your Executive Management Committee
- Managers
- C-Suites and Division Leaders
- Spokespeople
- Salespeople
- Marketing, Legal, IT, HR, Security, Finance
- PR, Communications, Investor Relations, Public/Government Affairs
- Operations Staff
Contact Us:
To schedule a training or get answers quickly use our contact form. We can also be reached at (202) 659-4177 or info@yesandcommcore.com.