Communications in Today’s Environment

Communications in Today’s Environment

Phil Morabito, CEOPierpont Communications

Ken Jones, PresidentKJ PartnersDirector of Entrepreneurship, UHD

April 23, 2009

OverviewOverview Communications has never been more important than

now in this down economy

Employees want to be informed

Stakeholders (customers / vendors / investors) all want to know what is happening with your business…good news or bad news

Clarity and consistency must resonate in all messages

What to DoWhat to Do Have a strategy and a plan Crystallize your messages both internally

and externally Get all your leaders on the same page Be consistent with no surprises Work harder and smarter

External CommunicationsExternal Communications

Two sides informative stimulus

Paint a real picture Be positive, but not fake Use your messages consistently (i.e., our

company…largest in town….safe choice)

External CommunicationsExternal Communications Proactively seek out new venues to

communicate through new groups target companies industries vendors external professional resources

Your External CommunicationsYour External Communications

Be visible while others are invisible Speak more Network more

Events Lunches Seminars Activities

Your Internal CommunicationsYour Internal Communications

The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas

The communication that exists within a company, between and among employees

Your Internal CommunicationsYour Internal Communications

Many forms: face-to-face casual conversations, formal meetings, phone calls, emails, memorandums, etc.

An organization's adaptability to external changes relies on efficient communication internally

Communication Vehicles

Intranet web site

Wikis, blogs, podcasts, internal social media tools (e.g. internal Twitter-style sites such as Yammer)

An informal session where employees can listen to and talk with the organizational representative such as a managing director, such as a Town Meeting or breakfast with CEO

Communication Vehicles

Conference calls

Employee television channel

Intranet web site

E-mail

Communication Vehicles

Team briefing sessions

Message boards

Personal or group meetings

Virtual meetings

Communications packs for line managers

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

Non-Verbal Communication accounts for 93% of all communication–7% Words–38% Tonality–55% Physiology

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

Of all Internal communication–13% pen and paper–49% from email–29% SMS text–10% Internet Instant

Messaging

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

50 Billion emails per day world wide….in 2000, < 12 BillionAverage Company spends $15k paying employees to read unnecessary e-mailMany people use 10 words when they could use 3…when communicating

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

Employees spend more time wading through their messages than playing with their children…according to one study– Working parents spend 25 minutes per

day playing with their kids Recent report – workers spend 49 minutes per day to sort out their in-boxes

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

While texting:– 32% of 15-24 year olds also watch TV– 18% also listen to music– 10% browse the internet– 6% also are reading

Traditional lunch hour becoming thing of the past – almost ½ of the workforce takes less than ½ hour for lunch and 1 in 10 take no lunch break at all

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

2 hours and 10 minutes…amount people waste each day at work…of which 1 hour and 38 minutes was due to communication technologies not being used to good effect

70% of 15-24 year olds say they could not live without their mobile phone

“ Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind…”

Rudyard Kipling

Interesting Statistics and Data Points

Internal communications budgets have increased in 42% of organizations over the last three years

High performing organizations put communications at the top of their agenda…

“The problem with communication…is the illusion that it has been accomplished….”

George Bernard Shaw

Pet Peeves

How much information do you share?E-mail salutations Voice mail Business cards

Pet Peeves

Lousy receptionists

Phone mail messages out dated

Lack of knowledge on how to use the phone system

Do’s and Don’ts of CommunicationsDo’s and Don’ts of Communications

DO:

Be honest Show your strengths Have consistent messages Execute a communications strategy

letters / e-mails / calls Have a focus in your messaging Inform your employees of your plan

Do’s and Don’ts of CommunicationsDo’s and Don’ts of Communications

DON’T:

Be fake Send mixed messages about your

company Try to do too much Hesitate

Tips and TacticsTips and Tactics

Have a message / communications meeting with staff

Put your messages on a card for everyone

Read your own website

SummarySummary

Pay attention to your communications

Develop a plan

Be genuine

Q&AQ&A

About the PresenterPhil Morabito founded Pierpont Communications in Houston in 1987. Under his leadership as CEO, Pierpont is now one of the largest integrated communications forms in the Southwest, with offices in Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.

A regular on the networking scene in Houston, Phil is a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA), the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He is also on the Board of Directors for Theater Under The Stars, and Houston Technology Center.

Houston 713-627-2223 | Austin 512-448-4950 | Dallas 214-217-7300 | San Antonio 210-372-9200

About the PresenterPhil is a sought-after speaker on the topics of public relations and marketing, Phil is well known in the Houston community and across the state as an expert in all aspects of marketing and communications. He was named a 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Houston.

Phil earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and MBA in marketing. Since 1988, Phil has been an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and today teaches a course in integrated marketing communications in the Graduate School of Business. You can email Phil at pmorabito@piercom.com and visit Pierpont on the web at www.piercom.com, or in Houston call 713-627-2223.

Houston 713-627-2223 | Austin 512-448-4950 | Dallas 214-217-7300 | San Antonio 210-372-9200

About the Presenter

Ken Jones picture

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Ken Jones has more than 25 years of experience creating, building and selling businesses. His background includes an array of responsibilities with documented success ding in the areas of entrepreneurial development, turnaround management consulting, software development and implementation, and e-business creation. Mr. Jones’ background also includes experience in financial management, sales management and strategic marketing.

Mr. Jones is the Director of the Entrepreneur & Venture Development Center at The University of Houston Downtown. He is a national speaker/instructor for the NKBA – National Kitchen and Bath Association, teaching and consulting to business owners in that industry.

About the Presenter

Ken Jones picture

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Ken defines an entrepreneur as “one who knows the outcome is up to him and wants it that way.” This definition is proven everyday through his consulting practice, KenJones Partners, which targets small to medium sized businesses and provides strategic as well as practical advisory services for revenue and cost optimization. KenJones Partners also excels in the area of turnarounds and strategic shifts sometimes necessary for early stage businesses.

Mr. Jones has an undergraduate degree from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and received his MBA from the University of Houston.

kjones@kjpartners.com 281-687-4633