Whether Internal Communications is a function of Corporate Communications, HR, Marketing—or another area entirely—a strong partnership between HR and Internal Communications is advantageous to the organization. As Internal Communications is changing in focus from the dissemination of information and reinforcement of an organization’s values toward establishing a community of engaged individuals, this partnership becomes increasingly important.
Employee engagement is one of the most decisive factors in the success of a company. Engaged employees know what’s at stake, actively contribute, and feel a sense of belonging to an organizational culture that enables their personal development and success. Their experiences reaffirm their decision to join and remain with the company. The role of both internal communication and people management is critical in the engagement process. An effective partnership results in a solid employer brand – holding a promise towards both current employees and future candidates.
The technological tools we use to keep employees informed, productive and engaged in the workplace are constantly changing. Many organizations are leveraging social and mobile tools to collaborate, champion company culture and build brand ambassadors from within.
How are they doing it? Here are five internal communications trends to watch:
1. Visualizing with Video
When it comes to internal communications, video has long been used for employee training, but consider how it can also be used to communicate your company culture, announcements, expectations, and goals. Video is eye-catching, it’s personal and these days it’s even easy to make. Including video in your internal communication strategy is a more personable and memorable way to share company updates, whether your team is big or small.
2. Going Mobile
With the “Bring Your Own Device” trend becoming increasingly accepted in the work environment, companies are finding new ways to make their internal communications mobile device friendly. Embracing a mobile communication strategy has many benefits, especially for organizations collaborating with team members in different locations. Mobile allows employees to access messages quickly and easily and consume content wherever they may be. Click here to learn more about the VITAL WorkLife App!
3. Embracing Social Media
Many organizations are still very strict on employee social media usage. Even so, the trend towards encouraging employees to act as brand ambassadors and post on social media is on the rise. Many companies have realized the benefits of having employees spread exciting company news on social media greatly outweigh the risks, so long as proper social media education and risk mitigation are in place.
Social media in the workplace is still a fairly new concept, but it presents a huge opportunity for internal communication, collaboration, and innovation. Internal social networks can help employees innovate new ideas faster and share them across the organization with ease.
4. Measuring “Return on Communication”
A struggle for many companies is measuring the value and impact of their internal communications, which is key for improving employee engagement and measuring return on investment. New tools are needed to go beyond an annual meeting or paper survey to gather employee feedback. Whether it’s an online tool or mobile application, we see new solutions emerging to help organizations measure employee engagement with their internal messaging strategies.
5. Becoming More Human
“Humanizing” a brand is a hot topic in marketing right now, but many companies are also applying this concept to their internal communications. Traditional internal communications tend to focus heavily on company strategy and long-term initiatives, and not enough on the actual people doing the work in the business. Adding more “human” stories to your internal publications can help support company culture and give your employees a voice.
By adopting new technologies and tools such as video, mobile and social media for internal communication purposes, many organizations are taking a giant leap forward with their ability to collaborate, build company culture and increase productivity.
What tools are you using for communicating with employees?
We Can Help
Contact us to access your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources by calling 800.383.1908 or through your VITAL WorkLife App.
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