CEOs and business leaders today want their internal communication professionals to be business people first, communicators second.
This is backed up by surveys that show business acumen is in the top 10 skills and competencies that internal communicators need. Yet a VMA Group survey in 2018 highlighted business acumen as the skill and competency they lacked most.
Of course, this is not a new problem. As Amit Bajaj, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services Europe told IC Kollectif: “Business acumen, co-existing with communications expertise, is the foundation of good internal communication. IC pros should know how the business works, its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. They should have an overall sense of everything that happens inside and envisage the future.”
In a recent Poppulo white paper, Going beyond engagement: The business value of internal communications for the C-Suite, the CEO of Artis Advisory, Zora Artis, explored what communication professionals need to do to be strategic advisors in an environment of constant challenge and change.
In this guide, Zora focuses on the key competencies and characteristics that communication professionals need if they want to become more rounded and strategic. At the center of these is the foundational one of business acumen.
Zora Artis GAICD SCMP
CEO
In today’s competitive business landscape, it’s increasingly important to showcase the impact and value of internal communication efforts. IC teams that use data-driven strategies can ensure their communications contribute to business success—and, most importantly, that they have the proof to back it up.
It’s time for a strategic communications reset. Strategic focus is key to company success, yet half of internal comms executives say they don’t strategize to deliver their top priorities.
The debate over the return to the office remains divided, with opinions on whether to return—or in what capacity to return—split across the board. Regardless of whether the return is mandatory or voluntary, it will be doomed if the office experience is subpar. If the in-person environment fails to meet employees’ needs and expectations, it will inevitably lead to low morale and poor engagement, making it difficult to retain and attract top talent.
