Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Employee communication is different … and so are the E2E Communication Awards

by // Leave a Comment

 Most HR executives can't stand employee communication. They talk about "having it" in their portfolio the way the rest of us talk about having an inoperable tumor in our belly.

Most marketing people, on the other hand, love employee communication! They love it so much, they recreate it in their own image, and call it Internal Marketing!

PR people like to do employee communication too. They take it one campaign at a time.

The E2E Communication Awards is for those of us who believe that employee communication is different: from HR, from marketing, from public relations: Another discipline entirely, with separate principles, different techniques and goals all its own.Logo

You wouldn't enter your art project into a science fair. So don't enter your employee communication work into some PR awards.

Peruse the perfectly calibrated categories and the agreeable entry process for the E2E Communication Awards, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

But do it soon. The deadline for entries is April 2.

Sincerely,

David Murray, Program Chairman

P.S. Employee communication impresario Steve Crescenzo has just agreed to present the best of the winners at the Employee Engagement, HR and Social Media 2010 conference in Chicago May 12-13. Mark your calendars. More details to come.

I’d Sprint in the other direction ….

by // 5 Comments

Is it me, or does this new ad for a communication manager at Sprint leave you puzzling over what drug combination its writer was taking?

My favorite items:

• "Manage 'rolling thunder' activities, including managing content/keeping current Elevator Speeches."

• "Secure speaking engagements for, at a minimum, the senior vice president of HR. Attempt to secure speaking engagements for members of the HR leadership team."

• "Work with other members of Sprint's public relations department to ensure the people effort is adequately represented in their media pitches on various topics."

And this concluding paragraph:

At Sprint, we're more than just talk. We are leading the way with cost-cutting technology, like the first 4G network in the United States and our unmatched push-to-talk service. What will you add to the list? Bring your energy, ideas and the uniqueness that makes you who you are. Own your career at Sprint and we'll help you achieve your goals. Raise your hand, send your resume, step up and do work that matters.

(Like getting those douche bags in PR do pitch more stories about HR!)

Sometimes the bed is on fire before you lie down on it.