Melcrum Podcast 18 July 2008: Shownotes

By Sona Hathi, Assistant Editor, Melcrum

The new Melcrum Podcast is ready and waiting to be plugged into your ears.

In this edition, practitioners at last year's Melcrum member event (including Mike Love, communications director at BT Global Services,) tell us how tough economic conditions are affecting them in their roles, and some of them share tips on recession proofing the internal communication function as a whole.

And Graeme Ginsberg, Melcrum's reports editor talks us through the recently published research, How to communicate with hard-to-reach audiences, focusing on a case study on how Rolls-Royce used storyboards to communicate key strategic messages.

Until next time,

Sona

Comments

[Clive]

Melcrum must have key stategic messages relating to wasting the time and resources of small businesses.

We have v recently spent time and money sourcing venues etc for an upcoming event on behalf of the company but when it came to selecting the venue they secured it totally behind our backs and therefore no commision for our own business.

Of course our close friends at the said venue informed us of the proceedings. We called Melcrums relevant staff to explain that just acknowledging our involvment would secure our commission and by no means whatsoever would it affect the cost of the proposal etc. We were told to get lost basically!

This sort of wrecklessness and disregard for other businesses is something that I believe will turn around and bite them in the proverbials one day as more and more networking and genuine communicating is done between individuals and networking portal sites etc These sort of sites are bringing back ethical practices and business between people that are morally sound.

Reputation management is something that is very important. Disregarding this is bad business acumen.

How to communicate with hard-to-reach audiences?

How about communicating good business practices amongst its very own staff?

Regards

Clive

[Robin Crumby]

Hello Clive,

I understand that Alex Garforth, our Head of Events, has been trying to contact you today to discuss this in person.

Just for the record, we are a small family-owned business, and have worked with the same suppliers and customers for 12 years, so your comments were a little alarming.

It would appear that we were already in contact with the Fira Palace, which one of our staff members had used previously at a former employer, and had personally recommended.

The hotel were unsure of their availability for the dates we needed so Heena Sohelia contacted Conference-Coordinator to search for alternative venues and subsequently explained that we had already approached Fira Palace directly. I understand that the Fira Palace also informed your finder of our prior enquiry.

The Fira Palace confirmed availability for the dates with us directly and the deal was done.

So in this instance Conference-Coordinator played no part in this booking. When my team explained this, I am assured that they did so in a polite and friendly manner.

Should we choose to use your company again in the future, we will make clearer our existing relationships and contact with venues in advance to avoid any misunderstandings of this nature.

Please contact me direct if you would like to continue this discussion at robin.crumby @ melcrum.com

Robin Crumby,
Managing Director.