4 Important Facets of Internal Communications

Feb 29, 2016 | 0 comments

Internal Communications Strategy

Properly developed internal communications strategies within your business have a huge impact on your business’s ability to function smoothly. When internal communications strategies are well thought out, employees throughout the business have a better idea of their standing within the company, clearer definitions of their expectations, and higher levels of productivity. People are more likely to ask for help when they need it, communicate problems when they arise, and work with others to achieve solutions when necessary when they know how the communications process works. If you want to streamline internal communications within in your business, you want to make sure you aren’t missing any of these key details.

Mobile Functionality

intranet-byodIf your intranet is still developed based on the idea that every member of the staff is going to be sitting in front of a computer, typically one based in the office, your company is behind the times. Not only that, you’re missing out on one of the vital functions of your intranet: connecting your employees no matter where they might be or what they’re doing. Making your intranet mobile accessible makes it easier for your employees to use it, especially employees who don’t spend their days in the office.

Get faster answers from employees on the road. If they can’t access the company intranet from their mobile devices, they can’t keep up with important announcements or respond to questions or other communications posed through the intranet.

Increase productivity on the road. Do you have employees who perform the majority of their work outside the office? Are employees allowed to work from home, even on a part-time basis? What about business trips, when employees will be even further away from the office? Easy access to the intranet through mobile devices will streamline productivity for employees no matter where they might be.

Support the bring your own device trend. Many employees prefer to work from their own devices. Whether it’s a tablet that uses their preferred platform or their preferred cell phone instead of one provided by an employer, they’re bringing their own devices to the office–and they’d rather use them. While some professionals question whether or not this trend will continue long-term, in the present moment, it’s evident that it’s the preferred choice for many employees. It’s also a trend that will improve productivity, as employees who are familiar with their existing device will be able to use it more smoothly.

Visual Tools

Images are incredibly powerful tools that have the ability to streamline internal communication and make it easier for employees to remember important information. The saying is, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and that’s equally true when you’re talking about ways to share information with employees throughout the company. Any time you use an image to express yourself, you increase the odds that it will stick in your employees’ minds, helping them retain that critical information. There are several points to keep in mind when developing effective images to communicate throughout your company.

Think about the message you’re trying to convey first. You shouldn’t put up images just for the sake of putting up images. Instead, you need to use images to make a clear, specific point. Develop that point before you start working on the image. Decide what you want people to remember about it.

Be humorous when possible. Even a little bit of a corny joke is a great way to make those key pieces of information stick out in the minds of your employees. When you make them laugh, you engage them more deeply with your image. That makes it more likely that they’ll remember it later.

Keep it simple. The best images aren’t the most complicated ones. Instead, they’re the ones that clearly convey your precise message in a way that will be remembered later, but without excessive details that will take away from your intended message.

By The Numbers

You may not think that your employees pay a lot of attention to the exact numbers, and they may not. Research shows that people are much more likely to remember stories than they are to remember statistics. The numbers, however, still matter. While your employees may not be able to pull up a specific statistic from memory later, they probably will be able to remember the impact that statistic made on them. Tell them that they’re able to see a 30% increase in productivity when they implement a certain strategy, for example, might offer the push that many employees need to embrace that strategy even if it’s new. On the other hand, be sure that you back those statistics with things that employees will remember, including both images and stories.

It’s also critical to keep track of your internal communications statistics. You should identify the important elements that you want to track: for example, how engaged are your employees? How many of them are actually using the company intranet? How many of them are satisfied in their current position? When you measure the success of your internal communications strategies, you’re better able to improve that communication and enhance employee engagement and productivity throughout the company.

Employee Thoughts Matter

When it comes to internal communications, it’s not just about providing employees with access to critical documents and information or offering them the openings they need to communicate with one another. It’s also about letting employees know that their opinions matter. Keeping the lines of communication open keeps employees engaged with their jobs, their supervisors, and the business as a whole. Giving employees a voice can take on several forms. You can conduct surveys, keep an open email account or even suggestion box for employee feedback, or even create a forum on the company intranet to make it easier for employees to share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

Don’t ignore those suggestions, either. While it’s certainly true that employees who are dissatisfied are more likely to speak up than those who are happy with their jobs, addressing that dissatisfaction will allow employees to engage more fully, improving their productivity and increasing the odds that they will remain with the company long-term. You may be surprised by the suggestions that employees have to offer! In many cases, satisfaction doesn’t have anything to do with higher rates of pay or even better benefits. Employees likely have a number of things to say about working conditions, how to improve processes within the office, and how to streamline their work more effectively. When you take advantage of their ideas, you don’t just show employees that they matter more than just a face in the crowd. You also improve your processes and productivity, making your business more effective and your work more efficient.

Your company intranet is an excellent tool for enhancing employee engagement and improving your internal communications strategies. When your intranet is used to its full advantage, particularly when you’re careful to balance all the important facets of internal communications, you’ll discover that your entire business runs more smoothly. If you’re ready to develop an intranet that will allow you to use visuals to enhance employee memory, track employee statistics, maintain mobile functionality, and let employees know that their thoughts and opinions matter, contact us! We’ll provide you with a cloud-based intranet that will take care of all your internal communications needs.

Create A Better Workplace

See How In 5 Simple Steps

Related Posts

Knowledge Management Strategy In 8 Simple Steps

With up to 3.5 quintillion bytes of data generated every day, it’s no surprise information overload is a real challenge for companies. It can hamper agility, innovation, and productivity. And it’s a great source of frustration for your people. Did you know that...

Intranet Applications – 25 Essential Uses With Examples

Every business owner knows that a productive and engaged workforce depends on internal communication, collaboration, and information sharing. However, these can be hard to achieve if you manage teams of deskless and frontline workers or remote employees. The good news...

Work From Home Policy Template (with PDF sample template)

What started as a pandemic-enforced shift has become standard practice: Fully remote and partly remote working are here to stay. According to Upwork, 32.6 million Americans will work remotely by 2025. While many employers adapted on the hoof, two years post-pandemic...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How can MyHub help deliver your internal comms objectives?

The best platform for sharing information to help drive employee engagement

A Beginner's Guide To Creating An Intranet

How To Set Up An Intranet Fast

 

5 Simple Steps

Receive MyHub Original Content To Your Inbox Once A Month

Exit mobile version