Take your Small Business to the Next Level with a Great Internal Communications Strategy

Internal communication is a vital part of any organization. Great communication can create more engaged and prepared employees. A recent study from the Harvard Business Review shows employers Why Withholding Information at Work Won’t Give You an Advantage. 60% of workers surveyed say that they have had trouble gathering the information they need to do their job effectively. A great internal communication strategy can make it easy for everyone to communicate effectively. Framedrop.ai is a great tool for packaging information in easily digestible clips that can add an additional method of communication to your strategies.

What is Internal Communication?

An internal communications strategy is a business plan to get the most out of their communication with internal employees and any possible stakeholders. An internal communication strategy can help small businesses improve communication across the entire organization.

An internal communications strategy provides everyone involved with a set of guidelines used to improve communication. A great internal communication strategy will ensure that everyone will be on the same page and feel like a well-informed part of the team.

What are the benefits of great internal communications strategies?

Increase Employee Engagement

It’s no secret that an informed employee is more likely to be engaged in the workplace. Employees who receive great communication will be better equipped to help your organization reach its goals. When employees know that they will receive clear and accurate communication they will feel more comfortable solving problems on their own and going above and beyond to be successful.

Create Shared Goals  

 When the entire company is well informed it is easier to expect buy-in on organizational goals. Communicating clearly and effectively can get everyone in the organization on the same page when it comes to shared goals. When employees are clear on what they are expected to achieve as part of the organization they can more effectively take action to meet those goals.

Develop Resiliency

One of the most valuable side effects of a great internal communication strategy is that it prepares your entire organization to deal with adversity when things get hard. Great internal communication means that employees and leadership have all of the information they need to solve the problem. When something goes wrong, everyone is informed and can address the issue head-on. When everyone is informed, miscommunication can not further complicate a difficult issue.

Internal Communications Strategy Template: The Non-Negotiables of Internal Communications

Follow these steps to make sure that your internal communication strategies have all of the elements needed for effective and actionable communication.

1.     Know your Audience

Understanding who you are communicating with will help you understand how to craft your message. When sending out a strategic communication start by identifying who your audience is. Defining your audience will tell you the following:

·         What is their previous experience on the topic?

·         What is their current level of knowledge on the topic?

·         What are their priorities in your organization?

·         What is their current level of trust in leadership?

Once you identify exactly who your audience is, you can begin to craft strategic communication that contains the appropriate information and tone to be effective for your audience.

2.     Understand the Context

Understanding the context surrounding your strategic communication will allow you to craft a message that is right for the situation. Consider the previous events surrounding the topic, past communications, and the expected outcomes. To provide effective communication, it is important to identify what is happening in the organization and your audience's, experiences surrounding the topic.

3.     Determine your Goal

Once you have considered your audience and the surrounding context you must determine the goal of your strategic communication. What outcome do you hope your communication directly influences? What is it that you want your audience to know, believe, and do as a result of your message?

Outcome-oriented communication will ensure that your audience knows exactly what is expected of them. A goal gives your communication purpose. When crafting your message, your audience must be clear on what actionable steps they can take as a result.

4.     Decide on a Method

We have all heard the cliché, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” While the content of your message is important, the way you communicate that content can be the deciding factor on whether or not your communication is effective.

Whether you choose to send a simple email or use an internal communication channel like Teams, the method of your communication matters. Effective internal communication strategies use a variety of different methods to communicate within an organization. The content of your message and the urgency of the information can determine which method is most appropriate.

For example, direct messages and emails may be ideal for pertinent or personalized messages while an internal podcast can be great for spreading company-wide expectations, policies, and updates.

5.     Measure your Success

The only way to know if you are communicating effectively is to measure your success rate at regular intervals. You can easily measure how successful your internal communication is by performing regular check-ins with your employees. Ask questions to ensure that your intended outcome was met. Did the receiver of the communication do what it is you needed them to do? Have they learned what you need them to learn? If you continually find that your internal communication outcomes or goals are not being met, it is time to reassess the previous steps and try again.

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