8 reasons why internal communication and leadership is paramount in company success

What is Internal communication?

Internal communication refers to a collection of accountable tools and parties that allow for efficient information flow and team participation.

At its most basic level, IC is the function in charge of ensuring good communication among employees inside a company. Its particular scope and function vary depending on the organization, but it typically entails generating and delivering messages or campaigns on behalf of management, as well as promoting two-way conversations among the organization’s constituents. This could include anything from announcing a new policy to alerting people about planned events to undertaking a culture assessment or organizational-wide engagement.

Not every firm has the means or finances to invest in an internal communications strategy, and some organizations may already have one in place but lack the capacity or resources to keep it up to date. Internal communications, on the other hand, should not be considered a cost-cutting measure for your company. It is, in fact, critical for the health and profitability of your company. If your business employs people, you must be able to communicate with them effectively and on a frequent basis.

Communication leadership

Leadership in communication refers to the capacity to effectively deliver messages and explain your vision in a way that motivates your audience to act.

Internal communication gives people a sense of direction.

As employees, we want to know what our objectives are, how we’ll get there, and how valuable our contributions are to those objectives. We want to be valued, heard, and included in the team. This is especially true for millennials and Gen Zers, who place a high value on feedback and face-to-face engagement. They’re used to a steady flow of comments, sharing, and criticism because they grew up in the digital age of social media.

Regularly sharing information about a team’s or company’s accomplishments is both effective and motivating in providing this validating employee experience. Reaching stated goals as a group fosters a sense of collaboration and progress.

73 percent of employees who say they work for a “purpose-driven” organization are engaged in terms of commercial value. In comparison, only 23% of those who declare they aren’t are.

Furthermore, a recent global poll of 26,000 LinkedIn members done by the research firm Imperative found that 73 percent of respondents want a job that makes them feel important.

It allows you to have complete control over your message.

Employees should never get essential company information from a third-party source. Internal news should be provided all of the time, not just during times of crisis, to manage the business narrative.

Regardless of the platform (we prefer smartphones), there are two essential requirements for ensuring that information reaches all employees:

With a short permission chain, a flexible and speedy editing process is possible. Creating such a system is comparable to the problem that businesses faced years ago when they were compelled to respond to greater news distribution on social media. They realized how critical it was to respond to posts within minutes or hours, not days.

Every employee has access to interactive and dependable channels. This allows businesses to maintain control over the messages they transmit, rather than allowing information to be interpreted differently by different people.

It gives middle management more power.

The majority of firms’ hierarchies cascade information from the top down. However, this trickle of information frequently results in delays, minimal feedback, and entire reliance on each person in the chain’s individual communication efforts.

By enabling middle management, decentralized or location-specific communications channels simplify the flow of information from HQ to frontline workers. This provides a more efficient means of disseminating knowledge as well as an opportunity to develop better managers. It’s especially important for millennials and Gen Zers, who often feel unprepared for their new responsibilities

It Aids in the Fulfillment of Your Brand Promise

The brand promise of a corporation determines its reputation. Customers can expect to receive this value or experience with each interaction.

How can huge, dispersed firms with thousands of middle managers keep their brand promise consistent?

Internal communication with frontline personnel is improved.

Clear goals, well-trained employees, and smiling faces will dramatically improve a customer’s experience with the business and increase revenue.

The Importance of Internal Communications in a Crisis is Unmistakable

To survive a crisis without escalation, timely and attentive communication with employees and external stakeholders is essential. Internal crisis communication research, on the other hand, has discovered that managers communicate with employees substantially less during a crisis.

Internal communication not only aids in directing the narrative in crisis circumstances, but it also aids in short- and long-term crisis management. Short-term management focuses on the issue, whereas long-term strategies are more concerned with preserving the company’s reputation and putting in place steps to avoid unpleasant circumstances from occurring again.

Internal communication allows you to handle any scenario, regardless of your company’s size, reputation, or industry, by putting in place organizational structure, goals, and channels before a crisis occurs.

It Aids in the Retention of Talent

In 2018, companies in the United States had an average turnover rate of 22%, with 15% of that ascribed to voluntary turnover. Furthermore, the majority of employees who left voluntarily (81%) did so in search of a better career opportunity.

Millennials, in particular, are infamous for changing jobs frequently. Up to 40% of people say they’re open to changing jobs in the next two years.

Internal communicators have the responsibility of lowering these figures by offering ongoing feedback and engagement opportunities for staff, which reduces turnover rates.

Employees need to know their employers whether you’re seeking to acquire or retain talent. In today’s highly competitive market, a well-functioning internal communications system and the openwork atmosphere it generates will give your organization an advantage.

Transparency is improved.

Informal communication offers both benefits and drawbacks. Grapevine word-of-mouth frequently reaches those who might otherwise have missed the original broadcast. It’s also more adaptable than formal internal communications. Furthermore, the grapevine can help enhance employee connections and disseminate insider information that can make work more efficient.

Informal communication, on the other hand, has the potential to alter the interpretation of data. It encourages rumors and misunderstandings, which are difficult to correct after they have occurred.

Wrapping up

Internal communication that is both effective and transparent is essential for a healthy, engaged, and transparent organization. You can start implementing your general message much more successfully and turn your top-down messaging into a two-way conversation by understanding the various ways internal communications may help your organization succeed.