Internal communication is a priority. Already in 2021, HR expert Josh Bersin emphasized that internal communication belongs to the core HR vertical for every organization, just like handling taxes or compliance does. This means that great employee communication should be on everybody’s agenda every single week.
Much like numerous HR terminologies such as culture, engagement, and experience, the concept of internal communication holds different meanings among different companies. In general, internal communication means sharing information within a company so that employees can do their jobs well. However, the kind of information we share and how we share it varies from one organization to another.
Most companies commonly share information about operational events that affect employees’ daily work. Changes in operations or business results are often shared, too.
The way you choose to communicate can limit how much information you can share with employees and how easily you can get feedback. Digital channels, as explained in our blog post “Company Communication Channels: Pros, Cons & How to Improve”, are a great way to share information because they make it flexible and easy to receive, respond to, and repeat messages. They also support rich or large media like galleries or videos.
The rise of digital communication has expanded the types of information employees receive. This includes things that HR and communication professionals, and even top executives, might consider as “nice to have,” such as stories about projects, colleagues, and customer praise.
But are these “nice to have” things simply nice to have – or is there more to them? In this article, we’ll explore the hidden value behind these seemingly casual posts and their potential impact.
1. Sharing Success Stories
Many employees may not fully understand how their work contributes to the company’s overall success, especially when they work on small parts of big projects. Thinking about the actual results on the production floor or while entering data into the company’s ERP system can be tough. To make employees more proud of their employer and their work, it’s crucial to help them see the value their work adds.
Sharing news about successfully finished projects or important business achievements helps companies achieve that. Even if there is no direct impact, as is often the case for cleaning and logistics services, management can still share the news when valued clients successfully complete significant projects. This assures them that the company is doing well and its services are in demand, which means their jobs are more secure.
2. Introducing Changes
Change is never easy for organizations, and most employees tend to resist it. Research by McKinsey shows that 70% of change initiatives fail, mainly because employees are not on board with them.
To make changes more successful, it’s vital to consider employees’ perspectives. Organizations typically analyze and plan for the “people aspect” of change alongside financial and other aspects.
By sharing information about upcoming plans and projects, you provide your employees with essential insights to help them form opinions about the project and determine their level of commitment. In addition, employees can form their opinions based on accurate information, rather than rumors. Sharing updates on investments and new projects also makes employees feel more involved, especially when they can quickly give feedback.
Even if the news isn’t great for everyone, being open and transparent is better than keeping employees in the dark and expecting them to fill the gaps by themselves. In some cases, it could show that the organization has the resources to invest in the future, which will bring more favorable working conditions and a boost in job security.
3. Welcoming New Faces
Introducing new employees to the organization is essential for smooth onboarding (read more about the topic from our post “8 Types of Interview Posts for Introducing Employees + 31 Interview Questions”). Knowing a new colleague’s name and a bit about them can make initial interactions go more smoothly. In larger companies, you can share information about key people or share more on a team or department level, while smaller organizations can introduce everyone.
Highlighting employees’ skills, hobbies, backgrounds, and experiences helps build connections among colleagues. People appreciate having cool colleagues, whether it’s someone who climbs mountains, possesses exceptional gardening skills, or engages in other fascinating hobbies. When employees feel closer to their coworkers, they tend to be more engaged in their work.
This same principle applies to existing employees who have interesting stories or skills outside of work. If you have a colleague who’s training for a marathon or someone involved in a voluntary project, sharing their stories would make people feel they belong and foster support among colleagues.
It’s also crucial to share information about new hires with excellent track records or unique skills. This demonstrates that the organization can attract top talent, giving employees confidence in their future with the company and making them engaged and content.
4. Celebrating Customer Praise
Everyone likes to be recognized and appreciated. And all organizations (at least theoretically) have customers who love their products or services. Do share this info with all your colleagues. Sharing this positive feedback with all employees boosts their pride in their work and their company.
However, it’s essential to focus on teams or departments rather than singling out individuals for praise. For example, instead of saying, “John received three compliments last week,” you can say, “Our department had a fantastic week and made our customers happy.”
Digital communication tools such as GuavaHR make it easy to share feedback in its original form, but if you don’t have digital tools, you could definitely create an article about a happy customer and share it in a print form or on your dashboard.
In addition to the feel-good factor of positive feedback, employees also get the message that the company is doing well and their customers are happy. This usually leads to an impact on their work life in a positive way.
Why Choose a Digital Channel?
Sharing this kind of information can greatly support employee engagement, retention, and overall job satisfaction. Digital channels not only expedite message delivery to every employee in a more relatable format but also facilitate broader information sharing among a wider audience.
Updates from project managers located at a distance or positive feedback from customer support specialists often carry greater authenticity than polished versions from Communication Managers. In essence, internal communication resembles a chair: its long-term sustainability benefits from having more legs.
Should you be looking for a great digital tool for your internal communication, look no further. Book our free demo & let’s get your internal communications going!
