Internal communication is paramount for an organization to succeed. There should be a clear channel for upward and downward communication. Additionally, employees should easily communicate with upper management as well as their team members.
A significant number of organizations are realizing the importance of effective internal communication and are implementing strategies to ensure that every person gets the right information at the right time. Here are ways to enhance internal communication.
Customize how you communicate to workers
Organizations should customize internal communication based on employees’ preferences. Some may be bored by communicating through emails. For example, employees in the sales department may be inclined to salesforce’s chatter as a way of keeping them informed. Others may prefer being updated via messaging apps such as Yammer and Slack.
By tailoring communication, organizations will make employees feel engaged and valued. Whatever way organizations choose, they should make sure that the method is accessible by all employees. Leaders must know that employees consume information differently. Some will act immediately, while others will buy time before taking action. Leaders should explore different information consumption styles such as intranet, video, newsletters, email, face to face, or text, to mention a few.
Reflect your brand
A company’s employee branding tells a lot about its culture. If an organization communicates with employees effectively, it will not only improve processes but also convert the employees to brand ambassadors. It means that if an organization is working hard to improve its brand, then the same should be expected when it comes to employees.
Engage the employees
Employees want to participate in the decision-making process. They want to know how the organization is relating to stakeholders, the planned changes, and other important things that the top leadership keeps secret. Leaders should avoid one-way communication.
Employers don’t like leaders who only take orders; they want to understand the bigger picture and know the overall performance of the organization. When employees know how their efforts help realize the company’s mission, they feel motivated.
Leaders should host open forums regularly so that employees can share their challenges and propose viable solutions. On the other hand, the top management should take advantage of the opportunity to update their teams about progress.