Doing more with a seat at the table: Internal comms as an indispensable function

At Ragan’s Internal Communications Conference this past October, Meghann Klein, senior director of strategic communications for the revenue and technology group at Marriott, told the audience that being an indispensable part of the organization is much more than just being a constant presence.

“It’s not about doing emails on vacation or being available 24/7,” Klein said. “It’s about being absolutely necessary. Internal communications is absolutely necessary. It’s the foundation for organizational success. When our work isn’t seen as essential, the business pays for it — in productivity, in morale and in money.”

She added that internal communicators need to do more than provide information to leaders — they need to deliver sway through their storytelling abilities and tie them back to the business.

“Your expertise in storytelling and clarity is your leverage,” Klein said. “The executives already have strategists; what they don’t have is someone who can make complex strategy make sense. That’s what gets you invited back to that table again and again.”

Klein shared an example of these concepts at Marriott.