Internal Communications

Synopsis of the topic

 

A communication audit is the best way to assess the effectiveness of a company’s internal communication. Studies show that management must provide information to employees and listen to them because it favors employees’ connection with the company’s vision and they are more willing to accept changes.

 

Both corporate communication and the human resources departments in large corporations have someone in charge of internal communication. Some companies integrate its public relations and internal communication functions to keep messaging consistent across all the audiences.

 

Implementing an effective internal communication program implies to communicate up and down, to make time for face-to-face meetings, to communicate online (notice that the use of multiple channels offers the best potential for success), to create employee-oriented publications, to communicate visually, to focus on internal branding (aimed to create emotional ties among employees), to consider the company grapevine (an informal communication network including everything from private conversations between two employees to the latest anecdotes shared in the cafeteria).

 

Personal examples

 

When I was in internship, I received a journal from the company I worked for every month. I made me feel as a part of the company. In this journal, the latest changes were explained and some articles focused on some divisions within the company. It made me understand the corporation’s strategy and the corporation’s vision.

 

This company used another way to communicate with us: weekly meetings. My company organized weekly meetings were people from one team expound their work in the company to all other employees in the company and the top management was always here. It created situation where we were able to communicate easily with them and raise problems or interrogations we had.

 

Additional resources

 

- Cisco, (2007), Coca-Cola Enterprise Accelerates Executive Communications, [pdf], URL: http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac79/docs/wp/CCE_CS_0905.pdf

 

- The Center for Excellence in Communication (CEC).

CEC’s official website: http://www.comcec.com/public/intern_1.html

 

- Shel Holtz, (2007), Managers And Lousy Internal Communication, [www page], Managersnewz, URL : http://www.managernewz.com/managernewz-21-20070806ManagersandLousyInternalCommunication.html