IABC Barbados

It was heartening to listen to a discussion recently on a local radio station, especially where it was recognized that employee communications was critical to achieving maximum productivity, as this concept is very central to our mandate. For too long in Barbados when people think about public relations they automatically think publicity and promotion, press releases and photo-ops, which is tantamount to low productivity of this critical function.

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC Barbados) was founded in June 2008 to change the mindset of PR professionals to one that is better aligned with helping senior management to achieve corporate objectives through strategic business communication.

One of the major issues mentioned on the programme was developing effective two-way communication between employees and employers to ensure that employees are more engaged and that the psychological contract or unwritten expectations of trust are well managed. We recently held a seminar on how this can be achieved through business-centred communication, even down to the tactical level.

Another major issue highlighted was measuring productivity. We advocate that these measures have their genesis in the clear articulation of goals and targets set with employees, which maximize their abilities and strengths to contribute to business success in measurable ways.

This is often hard to achieve through our traditional command-and-control approach to management. However, through effective, business-centred communication that flows in both directions between management and staff, and a willingness to place employees on the asset side of the balance sheet.

We want to encourage those in the HR, PR and especially senior management positions, to join us at our upcoming seminar, which will feature one of the USA’s top communications strategists, Jim Lukaszewski, for a continuation this discussion specific to our professions.

Christal P. McIntosh, President
International Association of Business Communications (IABC Barbados)
christalpm@gmail.com