By Rose Flood
Last night, we FaceTimed with Myra Cocca, founding principal from IronStrike, a company that specializes in internal communications. Myra spent the meeting explaining exactly what internal communications was, and how companies can benefit from hiring companies like IronStrike to help them. Myra herself graduated from Indiana State University (where she was a PRSSA member) in 1991 and has been in the public relations and communications field for 25 years.
The Importance of Internal Communications
Myra says that she “geeks out” over communication. Without communication, how could people share stories with one another? How else would employees react to news? Internal communications helps with those sorts of things. She says that employee communications are a big part of what IronStrike does. IronStrike has helped companies both small and large with orientation strategies, culture change strategies, leadership training and other organizational support.
Why IronStrike?
She explained that she has a passion for helping employees deal with the forces of change. IronStrike is the only firm in Indiana that is focused on internal communication. They’re a selective firm that’s focused on an interdisciplinary approach; They think beyond marketing and public relations for solutions. The idea for the company name is fitting as well. Myra wanted the brand essence to remind her and others that you only have a short window of time to be effective and make communication work the way you want it to work. In other words, “strike while the iron is hot.”
The Importance of Leadership in Internal Communications
To be an effective leader and to be respected the way that you want, being a good communicator is just part of it. If you don’t have enough time to talk to your people, then something is wrong with your job. If you don’t make time for your people, then why are you there?
How She Knew PR Was Right For Her
She didn’t declare a major in college, but she took an intro to PR class in college and loved it. After talking to her academic adviser, he told her that, “If you just like people, that doesn’t mean you should be in PR. You have to be a good writer, you have to be able to think strategically.” He also gave her a pamphlet from 1970 titled “The ABC’s of PR: The art of getting along with people.”
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