Communication is a core strategy of many businesses. Unfortunately, that communication is often aimed outward at customers, competitors, and partners. Whether ten employees or one thousand, many companies neglect to consider the importance of internal communications in their strategic plan for business success. Omitting this vital piece of communication can not only hurt your employees but your business. Below, we’ll discuss the importance of including an internal communications strategy in your business plan.
Working Towards the Company Mission
For employees at the top of the corporate ladder, the mission is always in sight. Whether it's to reach out to the community or become a leader in the field, the entire scope of their job duties are reaching that mission. For hourly workers though, that mission may be hard to connect to their daily job duties. The employee in the stockroom or crunching numbers for finance may not connect their work with the overall mission. An internal communication strategy can help link employee tasks to the company mission, which allows employees to feel more connected to the company and its mission.
Increasing Morale By Squashing Rumors
If you have an engaged and community-oriented workplace, you also have a fair share of gossip. Whether it's about the weekend plans of the summer intern or the newest HR policy, it's better for management to direct the flow of conversation to avoid false rumors and low morale. An internal communications strategy allows employers to ensure that employees receive current and correct information en masse, rather than expecting managers to play telephone with important information.
Cultivating a Culture of Communication
Communication is key in today's business world. Companies that fail to communicate lose business and customers, but it's not enough to just ensure external communication is up to snuff. Communication starts internally because both upper management and front line workers need to be on the same page when speaking to the public. Cultivating a culture of communication with a strong internal communication strategy allows information to pass from the top down and the bottom up. When employees feel as though they have the ear of upper management, they can voice concerns both from employees and customers. In turn, upper management can address these issues before they impact the company's bottom line.
Aiding Managers in Optimizing Processes
While managers try to stay on the pulse of their employee's workday, often between meetings and other duties, it's an impossible task. Managers naturally drift away from understanding the daily challenges of their employees and without adequate communication, productivity can stall. Valuing and encouraging an internal communications strategy gives managers a pathway to understanding their employees frustrations and challenges with the current work process and address those concerns. An internal communications strategy can help improve everyday processes that improve business and satisfaction.
Improving Adherence to HR Policies
When a company reaches a certain point of growth, ensuring understanding and adherence to company policies can get dicey. HR thinks that managers train employees and get policies signed while managers assume that was done during orientation. In the end, employees start their job understanding what their job entails but not understanding what the company requires. When policies are updated, HR struggles to communicate with every employee and entire departments are missed. This leads to frustration both for employers and employees. An internal communications strategy gives the company a means to openly communicate with all employees, at the same time, and receive understanding in the form of a signed policy.
