‘Employee communication’ -- Learn it in the real world!

*Note: All pictures belong to Corporate Communication Department of Curtin Sarawak

After finished my first week internship, I would like to share with you what I have learned and observed while doing my internship. Due to the holiday period in Curtin University Sarawak, so our department does not have any event to deal with the students, but only event to deal with the staffs (internally).

There is an event called "Staff farewell & Welcoming Gathering for outgoing & Incoming PVCs" held in REC hall. They gathered all the staffs to give a farewell event to our Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor lan Kerr whom is leaving and also welcome our new Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jim Mienczakowski. After that, there was a photo-taking session and refreshment for all the staffs to allow them to communicate with each others. There are around 135 staffs who participate in this event. This event had been hosted for one and half hour. They manage this event so successful and well time-control.

Pic 1: Prof. Kerr and Prof. Mienczakowski proceed to the rostrum for 'handover'

Pic 2: Prof. Kerr and Prof. Samyudia proceed to rostrum for presentation of gift

Pic 3: Photo-taking session

Pic 4: During refreshment

Throughout this event, allow me to understand that PR responsibility not only to deal with stakeholder outside the company but also the stakeholders internally. Employees are the organisation's best possible 'goodwill ambassadors'. Employees play an important role of stakeholder because they help the organisation move on and achieve the objectives directly. Therefore, as a PR specialist, they need to concern of this group of stakeholder whom directly reflects to organisation’s success and failure. This event allows to me remember "employee communication" which I had learned on my PR 300.

What is the important of employee communication?

Relationships are based on communication and the functioning and survival or organisations are based on effective relationships between individuals and groups.

Communications help individuals and teams to coordinate and perform tasks to achieve goals. (Harrison 2012)

PR staffs play an important role in improving employee perceptions of their leaders through the interactions between employees and employers. In addition, translate corporate strategy into day-to-day basis and explain to employees also the responsibility of PR staff (Harrison 2006). As happen in the event "Staff farewell & Welcoming Gathering for outgoing & incoming PVCs", although it seems like a farewell party for outgoing and incoming PVCs, obviously the purpose for the event is to update the organization situation and everyday news to them. Besides, the purpose is a place for staff and management to interact with each other in order to have a same personal goal to achieve organisation's objective.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to attend this event during my first week internship. Hope all of you enjoy my sharing! Wait for my next post! ;D

Best Regards,

Corina Ling

15108931

Curtin Sarawak