20 Guiding Principles for Internal Communications  Publicat la 1 septembrie 2015 Paul Barton, ABC Public Speaking Workshop Leader & Coach, Internal Communications and Crisis Communications Consultant (As originally published on PaulBartonABC.com) 1. Strategic communications help a business achieve its objectives. That is their purpose. 2. Effective communications are those that produce meaningful results and they can be a competitive differentiator. 3. There are costs associated with communicating, but there can be costs associated with not communicating as well. Internal communication professionals seek cost- effective and creative solutions to solve complex communications challenges. 4. Employees are drowning in information, but starving for understanding. Our job is to make the important interesting. 5. Credibility is the foundation upon which effective communication is built. Unless it is believed, a message has no worth. 6. Face-to-face communication is the most desirable form of communication because it is immediate, personal and interactive. Most employees say their immediate supervisor is their preferred and most credible source of information about the business. 7. Communication is, by definition, a two-way process. Feedback mechanisms must be part of every employee communication. 8. Communication is a management responsibility. Internal communication professionals supports leaders by serving as consultants, facilitators and resource partners.