What Is Strategic Communication Management?

Strategic communication management is the control of communication in and out of an organization to promote the clear exchange of information and ideas. Within organizations, it can be used to facilitate meetings between departments, product development, and policy making. In situations where different entities need to work together, like when two government agencies cooperate on a project, strategic communication management can be important to facilitate the smooth direction of the project. This can also play a role in public communications, media interaction, marketing, and crisis control.

Specialists in strategic communication management may work within a company to facilitate discussions; they can also be hired on as consultants for activities like running political campaigns. They work on strategies to allow people to communicate clearly and effectively. Within a company, this could include projects like presenting a product idea to other departments and supervisors. The people with the idea want to make sure it is clearly and effectively conveyed. Working with a consultant, they can make sure they say what they need to say to be persuasive.

Facilitating clear communication can also be important for writing mission statements, setting company policy, or developing guidance for employees. This can involve meetings with executives from different departments and divisions of a company. If they communicate clearly and develop an effective policy, it can be applied consistently throughout the firm. Efficiency may increase, and the company could serve clients and customers more effectively.

Within organizations, employees need to be able to communicate clearly to develop and complete projects. Companies with systems in place to promote communication and encourage employee contributions to the creation of policy and new products can have a more satisfied workforce. Part of strategic communication management can involve reaching out to employees to provide information about company issues, as well as facilitating clear contact between employees and departments.

In public situations, strategic communication management can be very important. Companies project an image with every public contact, from a press release to a CEO’s comments to the media. They need to project an organized and confident image that remains on message. Good communications can prevent crises or reduce their impact.

In an emergency, good strategic communication management can bring a company to the forefront and keep it there. For example, an Internet service provider might be proactive about reaching out to customers and providing ongoing information during outages caused by severe weather. Likewise, government agencies that keep the lines of communications open in emergencies tend to be viewed more favorably by the public.