What is Influencing and Advising?
Influencing and advising within the realm of internal communications refer to the strategic use of communication skills and tactics to shape opinions, encourage certain behaviours, and guide decision-making processes within an organisation. It involves providing expert knowledge, insights, and recommendations to support leaders and employees in making informed choices that align with the company's goals and values.
Why is Influencing and Advising relevant to internal comms?
Influencing and advising are critical components of internal communications because they directly impact an organisation's ability to effectively implement change, foster a positive culture, and achieve strategic objectives. By effectively influencing and advising, internal comms professionals can help ensure that communications strategies are aligned with business goals, and that employees are engaged and motivated.
Examples of Influencing and Advising in internal comms
This could include advising senior leaders on the best communication approaches for change initiatives, influencing the tone and direction of internal messaging to better align with employee sentiments, or guiding teams on effective communication tactics to enhance collaboration and productivity.
Best practices for Influencing and Advising
Develop a deep understanding of the organisation's culture, goals, and challenges to provide relevant and strategic advice.
Build strong relationships and credibility across the organisation to effectively influence decision-making.
Use data and insights to support recommendations and demonstrate the impact of proposed communication strategies.
Common challenges for Influencing and Advising
Navigating organisational politics and resistance to change.
Balancing diverse perspectives and priorities within the organisation.
Ensuring advice and influence are based on a comprehensive understanding of the situation and desired outcomes.
What does Influencing and Advising mean for frontline teams?
For frontline teams, effective influencing and advising can lead to clearer, more relevant communications that support their day-to-day work and align with their needs and challenges, ultimately enhancing their engagement and performance.
Influencing and Advising FAQs
How can internal comms professionals improve their influencing skills?
By honing their understanding of organisational dynamics, enhancing their communication skills, and building strong, trust-based relationships throughout the organisation.
What role does empathy play in effective advising?
Empathy allows internal comms professionals to better understand and anticipate the needs and reactions of different stakeholders, making their advice more relevant and impactful.
How can we measure the impact of our influencing and advising efforts?
Through feedback from stakeholders, the successful implementation of advised strategies, and the achievement of communication objectives aligned with business goals.
