Praise for The Definitive Guide to HR Communication

“Davis and Shannon make a compelling case for the value of simple, straightforward, and effective HR communication—and provide valuable insight on how to make it happen in even the most complex organizations.”

—Kevin Kelly, 30+ years internal communications veteran

“The Definitive Guide to HR Communication is a terrific resource for HR professionals. The examples and illustrations reflect actual issues and challenges we face and are a good reminder of how easily we can disconnect with our audience. The tips, tools, and guidelines are clear and effective in demonstrating alternative approaches to generating employee interest and understanding. I enjoyed reading it, found it very helpful, and have already begun using some of the suggested methods.”

—Diane F. Green, Director of Staffing and Development, Hollingsworth & Vose Company

“Don’t be misled by the title of this book. It doesn’t matter if you work in HR communications or not, you can learn from this well-written guide. In fact, even if you’re not particularly interested in communications, you’ll benefit from it . . . the book is that good.

“Here’s why: The authors use a combination of stories, solid writing, checklists, and examples to lead even the greenest communicator through the steps of communicating to an audience. Even if you’ve been in the communications business as long as I have (more than 30 years!), you can still learn—or relearn—a thing or two. The book is organized so you can find what you need and use what you find.

“The authors freely borrow from the best, including communications guru Don Ranly. And, one of their great ideas is to ‘Go Hollywood.’ This is a technique to distill your message into a bite-sized chunk for today’s busy workers. I tried it. It works. And, with a name like ‘Go Hollywood,’ the technique also is memorable.

“That’s just one of the easy-to-implement techniques in this book. There are many. I was just a few pages in when I found something solid I could use at work . . . right now. I continued to read, marked up the pages, turned down the corners, and went back to the book again and again.

“Invest in this book. Your boss will wonder how you got so smart overnight!”

—Becky Healy, Agency Communications Manager, State Farm Insurance, and 2010-2011 President, Council of Communication Management

“This book truly is a definitive guide to increasing employee engagement by helping people understand and appreciate their pay and benefits. Davis and Shannon’s book should be invaluable to a range of business professionals: 1) From students who are learning the basics of employee engagement and talent management, to 2) HR and communication professionals who design and explain pay and benefits to employees, to 3) Managers and executives who sign off on people management strategies

“The book is built on the premise that great benefits must be understood and appreciated if they are to be of real value. Davis and Shannon’s book is all about helping organizations of every size get the most ‘bang’ for the expensive bucks they shell out on total rewards. The book starts with an analysis of how employees read and listen (or don’t) and progresses through an analysis of what it takes to communicate effectively, including developing strategies, messaging, and media.

“Davis and Shannon follow their own advice. Their prose is straightforward and makes it easy for the reader to pay attention. Their examples are meaningful and come from real companies that have struggled with HR communication; the authors explain how some have failed and others have succeeded brilliantly. Their advice is thoughtful and reflects years of practical experience designing and producing awardwinning HR communications. There are no two communicators who know more about this subject than Davis and Shannon—who better to write the definitive guide?”

—Kate Nelson, Faculty, Fox School of Business, Temple University

“Alison and Jane have put together a must-have resource for any Human Resources leader or professional who is involved with preparing company-wide communication events, or for those who coach those who put on these kinds of events. Written in a clear, easy-to-read format, you will find practical steps, real life examples, and realistic suggestions that, if followed, will dramatically improve the success of your communication events. Take the time to digest this book, follow the advice, and you will see measurable improvement in an area that has been difficult to get right for many organizations. Well done, Alison and Jane.”

—William G. Bliss, President, Bliss & Associates Inc., and author, Advisory Services to Cultivate Exceptional Leadership