How much thought do you put into your internal communications?
Do you treat them as ‘second class’ to your external marketing?
After all, they’re just newsletters, emails, intranet articles and that sort of thing. They’re not that important, are they?
Yes, they are. Although they may not sell your products and services to the public, they are selling your company values.
If your employees don’t understand your values and expectations clearly, how can they represent you effectively in the marketplace?
You hadn’t thought of that, had you?
Don’t overlook your internal communications
Internal communication is often something that’s overlooked.
Why should you spend money on sending out a message to your employees that they should already know?
But why should they automatically know what’s expected of them? Companies evolve, so your troops must see how those affect their work and standards.
During onboarding, you may have issued a company handbook (or equivalent) that sets out your values and ethos. But that was five years ago, and a lot has changed. Effectively communicating those changes is essential.
Poor communication leads to:
- Poor customer service
- Unhappy, unmotivated employees
- A high staff turnover rate
So, what can you do about it?
Make your expectations clear
First, do not talk down to your employees. Treat them as people, engage with them and show them how much you value their contributions.
Second, clearly set out what is expected of them and what they can expect in return.
Whether you have an intranet or a regular newsletter, don’t bombard them with rules and regulations. Applaud their successes, interview staff, so everyone can get to know one another better, provide informative articles that will help them in their daily work, and keep them up to date with what’s happening within the company.
How often have you worked in an organisation where departments don’t communicate with each other, so no one knows what is happening?
Keeping everyone in the loop about what’s happening companywide makes sure no one is left in the dark, employees feel valued, and this greater depth of knowledge will lead to better customer service.
Ask someone who can
Not everyone is a natural writer.
Considering the importance of your internal communications, it pays to invest in them. Although you may think copywriters are there purely for external marketing, they’re not.
Many corporates use copywriters to create engaging internal comms for their teams. Not only does that lead to compelling content, but it also frees us time that could be used more effectively elsewhere within the business.
Your copywriter can conduct staff interviews, collate information, research, and write articles on your behalf, providing a steady stream of content.
Why not investigate finding a freelance copywriter to join your team to boost your internal comms?
Sally Ormond is a professional copywriter for internal and external communications.