What is corporate communication strategy?

A corporate communication strategy is a strategic document that helps an organisation to focus and have direction in communicating to its various stakeholders. To strategically manage an organisation and contribute to its success, effective corporate communication is vital as it binds communication objectives and organisational goals. In addition, the effectiveness of organisational communication is only backed by a corporate communication strategy (Steyn, 2000:12). Moreover, the communication strategy connects the corporate communication role with all other organisational strategies such as enterprise, corporate and business. Steyn and Puth (2000:52-53) defines the communication strategy as the spinal cord for every business as it directs the company to achieve its desired future state (DFS).

A corporate communication strategy is vital for any organisation’s survival. Steyn (2007:140) argue that having a corporate communication strategy in place, puts a company in a position where it continuously scans the environment, so that it can be aware of societal uncertainties and therefore, capitalise on that to build strategic relationships with its stakeholders. The communication strategy puts organisations in a state of being proactive rather than reactive, organisations plan stakeholder relationship, cost reduction, reputation management and revenue generation.

In addition, a communication strategy gives the organisation direction and therefore, to focus on its mission and vision statements, this ensures that the primary objective of the organisation is reached (Heath, 2007:43); (Huang, 2007:250); (Steyn, 2007:159).

My big fat BIG dream

I am chasing my big fat BIG dream, though; it’s not an easy chase.
Patience is a virtue in this quest.

The hunt for this enormous dream requires proper planning in order to have direction.
Of which direction results in being focused on what I want to achieve.
Oh, Yes! Determination, the courage and strength to go on is needed as this is a complicated road.

It’s a road full of many serious obstacles; ditches, bumps, people congestion, blockage of the mind and fear of risk taking and failure.

My chase of the big fat BIG dream, I can assure you has been the most devastating ever although, the most rewarding one as victory is evident.

This quest has now made me too deeply understand the Portuguese term (Aluta Continua-A Victoria E Certa), which Angola and Mozambique used during their liberation struggles.
In English the term means “The Battle Continues-As Victory is evident/certain”.

I believe every big fat BIG dream requires the craziest chase ever, the chase of a life time. Chase your dreams to the fullest.

Most amazingly, I am almost there.

As the saying goes, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you only have one idea”

“Do you have an alternative plan?” A friend of mine would always ask when am telling him about my future plans. This to me shows how important it is to always have option B for any idea. Just in case the original idea backfires, you would at least have something to fall on.

I recall how excited I felt that I was going to work during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. My initial idea was to at two places so as to make money on both sides. I planned on how I was going to spend the money even before it was conformed that both companies would take me. I lived on cloud nine just on the thought of making lots of money while having fun. It was something that could make someone not to think otherwise.

Although, my plan did not work out the way it was originally planned. The manager of one of the events management company I was supposed to work for had somewhat really issues. Apparently, he was very selective on who would work; he based his appointment criteria on the colour of the people and not on the experience or merit. This is true as one of my friends and others reported this manager to the labour courts.

But anyways, we move on, it happened that I could not at two places and therefore, worked one company. That day, 11 June 2010 I went to work thanking God that I had not turned down the offer to which I initially planned to do. My conscious saved me as I told myself not to refuse the offer in case things were not well from either side. At least I made money although not as expected, that is the power of having a backup idea.

Have you figured out the second head fake?

An alternative plan?! Yes I have, I think it should happen quickly so as not to lose your mind when the origin plan doesn’t work. It’s amazing how I most often do head fakes; I guess it’s natural for any sound person. A person can’t always think of going into the one direction and carry on just like that. One needs to stop and take into consideration other things that might prevent or allow him/her to succeed.

However, at times head fakes might seem stupid if the opposite direction you choose to go looks complicated than the initial direction. I think people who choose the other direction without doing a plan of some sort to foresee the dangers in that route are silly. Rather, be in the same direction/one side of the football field and use your head to get the ball rolling and into the net, goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Head fake, a good tactic to use your brain and win, though, if used wrongly every one laughs at you. So head fake or not, let your aim be to breakthrough.

How hard is it to follow instructions?

Is it really hard to follow instructions? Probably not. If they ask to right YOUR NAME on the line at the end of the employment contract, you write exactly “YOUR NAME”! You followed the exact instructions and still didn’t get the job.  What do they want from me???

I know a few guys in the PR4 class who does seem to have this problem with following instructions. Really? NOT!!!  They just like to wing it…

If I had got a buck for every time I have heard classmates say “Ag, I’ll just wing it”, my studies would have been paid off by now! We deliberately don’t follow instructions because either we are too lazy to read the instructions we think our own way of getting it done is just so much better.

That is the characteristic of a student… and as Pink Floyd sings: “Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!”

In industry it can become a little bit more of a problem though.  I think that most people find it hard to follow instructions as their creative little creatures crawl out of their brains and screams “I OBJECT”!

Personally, I have found this when I am doing PR work. We are told to do something exactly this-and-this way, but as creative individuals we know that the outcome will be so much better if we are let free to do what we want. The only problem is that it doesn’t matter how fabulous you have done your job if you have done the wrong job!

I would say that if you do struggle to follow the decisions, speak to the person who gave you the instruction about your additional way of completing the task. If your ideas get shut down, you need to make a choice…

Play it safe and keep your creative little creature on a leash until you are someday calling the shots…

Andy Warhol said, “In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes” – You can’t choose the 15 minutes but why would you be world famous?

I love to think of myself as God’s gift to the world, seriously I really think that “I am all that” as the ladies would say. I completely agree with Andy Warhol’s statement, I will be famous.

Take for example the Deputy Finance Mister of South Africa; all he had to do to become famous was to fall of a chair. I can do that – I’m sure it does not take a genius – excuse the pun.

In a more humble manner, I think that every single individual is destined for greater things. Nelson Mandela is only famous because he was born on the right time and had the mentality to make it work for him. This does not mean that one has to be arrested and go through apartheid to make their mark.

All it takes is for you to be in the right place at the right time, and mentally prepared. That’s why I’ll be famous.

Practicing a Positive Lifestyle

Let's face it most of us would love to live a life where everything just seems to go at a nice fluid pace with little or no interruptions or few setbacks. This would be great - and it can be done if you start practicing a positive lifestyle.

So what exactly is a positive lifestyle?
This involves looking at things a little differently. It requires that you see and understand the positive aspects of people and situations - instead of just focusing on the negative aspects.

Too often we get caught up with the negative opinions, attitudes, actions and thoughts of those around us - and in the end we create a negative lifestyle that leaves us unhappy, depressed, hopeless and angry.

So in order to avoid falling into this trap or in order to move from a negative lifestyle to a positive lifestyle - we need to begin changing the way we see things and change the way we interact with each other.

Those of you who are now working with the Creating Power system are already in the process of building a positive lifestyle. The Creating Power system shows you how to eliminate the negative thought patterns and beliefs that create a negative or limiting reality. With Creating Power you start building a positive lifestyle from day one.

Failure leads to success

Many people disagree with asking them questions on how failure leads to success? But it is true; for each failure provides a lesson that we will never forget. The more you fail, the closer you are to success. We see failure as a bad thing but only through the most brutal of failures do we see the light of success.

Without failures, how does one improve? Every failure points out mistakes which can be learned from. When we see failure we learn from it; when we learn from it we understand it. When we understand it we change it; when we change it we profit from it. When we profit from it we grasp it. Let failure lead you to success for failure paves the road to it.

Many people they think that everything in life will just go smooth and easy. If you only live that life of smooth and easy life, I advise you to prepare yourself for the days of difficulties and frustrations.

Life needs people who are strong, those who have faith and believes that when things go for them they will overcome and stand up and fight again.