Emily Mellwood
In our recent report, Bridging the Communications Gap, we discovered a staggering statistic: Businesses lose $1.2 trillion annually due to workplace miscommunication (Grammarly). This figure should underscore the importance of clear and effective internal communication, especially during challenging times when teams are busier than ever. Yet it‘s often one of the first systems we sacrifice when the world gets busy and the going gets tough.
When communication systems falter under pressure, the impacts are felt throughout the organization: Morale and productivity dip while frustrations rise. It’s essential to prioritize communication strategies that effectively connect teams and foster a collaborative environment.
Prioritizing engagement and transparency allows organizations to cultivate a sense of belonging that motivates employees and enhances their performance. Regular feedback loops, where employees can voice their ideas and concerns, can strengthen and solidify this sense of connection. Encouraging open dialogue fosters trust and reinforces the idea that every team member plays a vital role in the organization’s success, ultimately bridging the gap between leadership and staff for a more cohesive workplace.
6 ways to increase the reach of your internal comms
1. Use your time wisely
Time is a precious resource. Yet 52% of communications professionals spend time on tasks that are not tied to core goals. Shift your time and energy away from mundane tactical work by repurposing existing content, using a wider group of authors and responsibly using AI when appropriate. Then you can invest the time you saved into more strategic impact, such as reaching underserved employee groups, building relationships, joining higher level meetings and supporting new audiences and topics.
2. Remind leaders of the value of 1:1 meetings
Your messages will be better received if employees are also hearing them from their direct leader. Regularly share key topics to be reinforced in one-on-ones or with your leadership group. Remind managers that 80% of employees trust their company more when communication is transparent, and that trust is key to performance. One-on-one meetings, regular updates and active listening matter.
3. Build managers’ communication skills
At 40%, better communication skills top the list of what employees want to see from their leaders – ahead of flexibility, time management and empathy. Millennials (45%) and healthcare employees (48%) feel even more strongly about the importance of communication skills.
What existing or new training can help managers improve their ability to listen to employee needs and share corporate messages?
4. Make communication data-driven
Track clicks, opens and engagement reach on communication channels, alongside strategy awareness, to continuously improve. A client once told us their communication wasn’t even worth trying to improve. But after a few years of following metrics, listening to employees and reminding leaders of communication’s critical role, their survey scores for communication rose and employees saw and felt the difference.
5. Amplify through advocacy
Empower employees to become advocates for your internal communications. Encourage them to share messages within their networks, fostering a culture of openness and engagement. This peer-to-peer communication can enhance credibility and extend the reach of your messages, making them resonate more deeply with your audience. Implement programs that recognize and reward employees for spreading the word, whether through participation in focus groups, sharing insights, or leading discussions.
6. Save time with HR tech
Technology’s main role is to free up staff capacity for strategic work – 79% of HR leaders agree. Effective internal communications tools can save on administrators’ time, allow for easy sharing of work, track your efforts more effectively and feel like another full-time employee. A flexible platform lets you make it your own.
Learn more about how Reward Gateway | Edenred can help you centralize and fine tune your internal communications strategy and better reach your people – wherever they are – and make your corner of the world a better place to work.
