Do you know how effective your internal communications are? Here are some common signs your communications aren’t working hard enough.
“Nobody told me about it”
If your communications are frequently being missed by your colleagues, it may be a sign that you need to up your efforts. This cycle of finding information out late (or not at all) leaves people feeling frustrated, undervalued and unimportant. Sending one email to promote an important event, or sharing one social post months or weeks before a deadline won’t do the job. Instead, choose your channels and use them effectively, with a clear strategy for your messaging. Schedule regular communications with different calls to action, and make sure you give people notice for any important deadlines, organisational changes or sign-up dates. Little and often should be your approach to keep colleagues in the loop.
“Who’s that? I don’t know them”
Some things can be left unsaid in an office environment, although in a remote team, those gaps can be damaging. More of us are working remotely, so when new starters join or people move around in the business, you may not notice immediately. And if that person isn’t someone you work with directly, you may never see them at all. Internal communications play a role in connecting colleagues across the business, so consider what you’re doing to foster an inclusive and welcoming culture for everyone. Employee spotlights, social forums, new joiner emails and social media posts are all easy and visible ways to acknowledge new colleagues.
“I’m leaving”
Belonging is a key factor in retaining your colleagues. Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging, and your internal communications can encourage this. How are you fostering a culture where colleagues feel part of your long-term success and growth? What messages are you sending so they feel valued and supported? Can they show up as their whole self each day? These questions are particularly important.
“My opinion doesn’t matter”
If you hear this from your colleagues and alarm bells are ringing, it could be because you’re missing upward feedback from your internal communications strategy. If you’re only communicating from the top down (senior leadership) and rarely asking for your colleagues’ input on important business decisions and updates, you risk losing their attention and interest. Additionally, you miss out valuable ideas and contributions from others with different perspectives.
“I don’t understand”
If your internal communications leave people feeling confused and overwhelmed, you’re doing something wrong. Whether you’re communicating about pensions to your Gen Z colleagues or share plans to growing young families, find ways to meet people where they are and speak their language. This will vary by age group, life stage, exposure and other factors. To get the most engagement and response from your communication efforts, remember that a one-size-fits-all approach probably won’t get you the overall results you want.
Did you find these tips helpful? For more support with your internal communications, get in touch!
