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Internal communications are the function responsible for effective communications among participants within an organisation.
It is the process of sharing information designed to support the growth of a business. Many fail to grasp the true concept of the value of internal comms.
Sam Wilson - Internal Communications
Such is the feeling of many during troubling and disconcerting times; the concept of communication becomes more apparent when our means to talk have been disrupted. But the real concern is the fact that businesses for years, no, decades, have failed to understand the actual value of internal communication that leads to business success.
Indeed, failure to communicate, especially during lockdown and isolation, will have a long-lasting negative effect that can never be recovered from.
The Problem
Communication in the workplace is the process of exchanging information and ideas, both verbal and non-verbal between one person/group and another person/group within that organisation. The simplicity of its meaning would suggest it would be a front-running strategy for any business to master. The realism is, however, that internal communications between divisions and staff hierarchy have become a lower priority than it should be.
Any time one party misunderstands or misconstrues the words or actions of another, it has the potential to create conflict. Poor communication in the workplace is leading to poor performance, lack of teamwork, low morale and reduced profits based on misguided information.
The real problem is that most businesses seem to be blind to such nonspecial issues that warrant extraordinarily little thinking from their already busy minds.
The Reasons
When poor communication occurs, it is not enough to simply point out issues and challenges. To indeed be able to counter the effects of poor communication, it is essential to investigate its causes. Many are for the following reasons:
· Objectives not being Clear
· Poor and misguided Leadership
· Cultural Diversity
· Demoralised Employees
· Personal issues affecting performance
· Lack of understanding the issue
· Competition for power
· Language barriers
· Technology not utilised correctly
· No faith and trust in the merits of staff
The list, of course, could go on. But with stats suggesting that 60% of worldwide companies have no internal comms strategy in place, it harbours the question of not understanding the importance and relevancy of investing time and patience into talking to each other at work.
The 7 C’s of Communication
Like most strategies, there are always vital steps to follow. The most common and widely accepted steps to follow in the world of communications are the Seven C’s:
· Completeness
· Conciseness
· Consideration
· Clarity
· Concreteness
· Courtesy
· And Correctness
It would be aloof and foolish of me to breakdown each of the seven C’s when all should be clear – each outlines a compelling case that should serve to educate and innovate the misguided.
The Solution
With a problem, must always come to a solution. This one, however, will be debated far and wide as many will never admit to their being a problem in the first place. But a solution we must find.
Looking back over a long career, it is clear that one solution prevailed more than any to create a cohesive and productive internal comms plan. Create a club.
Not a club that limits many, a club that involves all. This would be an internal intranet or company website that is for the eyes of employees only. It would also be more than just a landing page with generic company information; it would be a central hub for all things good and great about the business, the staff, the vision, and most importantly, what it is that EVERYONE does in the company….
By creating such a hub, you are helping to deliver a positive company culture that can emphasis collaboration, collection employee feedback and motivate those who need the support. A central hub that acts as an exclusive club for all staff gives everyone a voice.
But do not let it rot. Management of such a club needs leaders. It needs those that have a passion for what they do to speak to everyone and get the best out of what information they can share. Remember, your staff are your most valuable asset. Treat them as you would treat your clients so offer world-class customer care in-house.
Walking the walk is a crucial skill of any business leader. Sharing that skill, knowledge and understanding can only help grow your business from within. Do nothing and fear the mass loss of staff to your competition. No one wants to support your rivals in the business, after all.
60 percent of companies do not have a long-term internal communications strategy. That means 40 percent are ahead of your business
Few things will make your company more productive, than effective knowledge sharing.
A consensus isn’t always a good thing. The last thing you want is to create a company where everyone agrees with what the top bosses are saying .
Successful innovations are rarely developed in isolation from the outside world. To build new products, features, or processes that people actually buy, your people have to be extremely well connected to the customers’ needs.
The most successful companies have cultures that are oriented toward problem-solving. When something goes wrong, they quickly focus their efforts on working towards a solution rather than wasting time on finding someone else to blame.
One of the key objectives of building a digital workplace is to boost employee engagement. It’s no secret that employees who are more engaged are sometimes 3 to 4 times more productive than average employees.
Brad Chuck exemplifies exceptional leadership in internal communications, seamlessly integrating it with marketing operations to foster a positive work environment and amplify the company's brand message. His multifaceted approach encompasses various initiatives aimed at engaging employees, celebrating successes, and driving community awareness.
As a leader in internal communications, Brad actively participates in engagement forums, early career programs, internal quizzes, and competitions. By facilitating these activities, he cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among team members, fostering a positive work culture.
Moreover, Brad understands the importance of showcasing the company's achievements and projects. He ensures that win wires, go-live projects, and case studies are shared internally, providing valuable insights into the business's accomplishments and capabilities. This not only instills pride and motivation within the team but also enhances transparency and awareness of the company's work.
In addition to promoting internal achievements, Brad goes above and beyond by sharing his own community work. By highlighting his involvement in community initiatives, Brad inspires staff and reinforces the company's commitment to making a positive impact beyond the workplace. This not only motivates employees but also drives awareness of the company's values and social responsibility efforts.
By intertwining internal communication support with marketing duties, Brad enhances staff performance and invigorates the team's mentality. Through effective communication channels, he ensures that employees are informed, engaged, and aligned with the company's goals and values.
Furthermore, Brad's approach to internal communications extends beyond the confines of the organization. By sharing data, promoting partners and vendors, and fostering appreciation for the brand, he amplifies the company's marketing messaging. This collaborative approach not only strengthens relationships with stakeholders but also cultivates a sense of pride and loyalty among employees, driving overall brand advocacy.
In conclusion, Brad Chuck's leadership in internal communications is instrumental in fostering a positive work culture, celebrating achievements, and driving awareness of the company's brand and values. By integrating internal communication strategies with marketing operations, Brad effectively engages employees, promotes transparency, and enhances the company's reputation both internally and externally.
Created the 'Pass The Pie' internal meeting concept at Sectorlight, introducing industry stars and key influencers to share knowledge and success stories to team members
Devised and created the internal email communication at Academia Group that introduced a different staff member each week to reveal hidden talents and pass on industry knowledge
Helped design and build the new internal intranet hub at CMS Distribution, but with a dynamic twist and a clear channel of communication and sharing of information via daily updates and competitions
Worked with the Senior Management team at Incisive Media to create the NPD (New Product Development) project for internal staff to share ideas on new concepts for business growth - created cross-company collaborations each year
Built the London committee team for CMS Distribution to for the London staff to enjoy social networking events, giveaways and discounts in and around the office - to help each team mix with each other in a social environment
The annual Sports Day event devised and run by bradchuck and partners is a gathering for like-minded marketing, sales, PR and press professionals to meet over a game or participation sport whilst sharing business ideas and tips
Michel Morley, Global Partner Marketing
Just Eat operates a leading global marketplace for online food delivery, connecting more than 22 million customers with over 87,500 restaurants in 12 markets around the world.
Founded in 2001, Just Eat has grown rapidly – from 12 people in a Danish basement, they now employ more than 2,900 people globally.
This rapid growth had led to Just Eat’s internal comms approach being fragmented across markets with the company’s knowledge base spread out over hundreds of separate sites and pages – making it difficult for employees to find relevant information.
Just Eat is passionate about supporting its growing teams – giving them the tools, the knowledge and the support they need to innovate rapidly, so developing an internal communications platform that could efficiently bring together information and engage its global community was incredibly important.
Critical to this was finding a solution that would offer easy design customisation, whilst delivering an intuitive user experience: a platform that would be easy to implement and simple for teams to adopt.
Powered by LumApps, the suggested partner provided by bradchuck, their new internal hub – ‘The Kitchen’ – keeps everyone connected and aims to build corporate culture, while acting as a bridge between different teams and locations.
Employees have been engaging with news and other content regularly, with a four-fold increase in hit rates over the previous platform, a reduction in the number of emails being sent internally and lots of likes and comments.
All office and field-based employees now have access to The Kitchen, with fun, informative and interactive content to drive visits, such as daily polls, videos and targeted information. It’s all about helping Just Eaters stay in-the-know with the latest news and updates, access the tools they need to do their jobs, and start conversations and make connections with colleagues across the world. All of which helps Just Eat get closer towards its vision of creating the world’s greatest food community.
Case Study: Enhancing Internal Communication and Staff Morale at CMS Distribution
Challenge: CMS Distribution, a leading technology distribution company, faced challenges in fostering connectivity and boosting staff morale across its four offices located throughout the UK. With employees dispersed across different locations, maintaining effective communication and promoting a sense of unity posed significant hurdles.
Solution: As the Head of Marketing at CMS Distribution, I led an internal communication project aimed at addressing these challenges. Leveraging our automated CRM system, I orchestrated the implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy encompassing email, social media, and content creation. The strategy aimed to deliver regular updates, motivational content, and engaging messages to employees across all offices.
Execution: The project began with a thorough assessment of communication needs and preferences among employees. Utilizing the CRM system, we streamlined communication processes and established targeted messaging for different departments and teams. I conducted motivational sessions to inspire and energize employees, reinforcing company values and objectives. Additionally, we utilized email newsletters, internal social media platforms, and intranet portals to disseminate relevant information, share success stories, and foster a sense of community.
Results: The impact of the internal communication project was profound and far-reaching. Employees reported feeling more informed, engaged, and connected to the company's mission and vision. Morale improved significantly, leading to enhanced productivity, collaboration, and job satisfaction. The project also contributed to a more cohesive organizational culture, with employees across all offices feeling valued and appreciated.
Conclusion: By leveraging innovative technology and implementing a strategic communication approach, CMS Distribution successfully enhanced internal communication and staff morale. The project not only improved connectivity among employees but also reinforced company values and fostered a sense of belonging. Moving forward, the company remains committed to sustaining these positive outcomes and further strengthening its organizational culture.
Introduction:As an advocate for community engagement and social responsibility, I've always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire positive change. My journey as a blood donor, spanning over 25 years, presented an opportunity to not only make a difference in the lives of others but also to share a compelling narrative that resonated deeply with my colleagues at Mphasis.
Objective:The objective of this case study is to showcase the impact of my blood donor story on internal communications at Mphasis and how it contributed to boosting morale, motivating employees, and driving positive engagement within the company.
Implementation:Recognizing the potential of my story to inspire and uplift employees, I collaborated with the internal communications team at Mphasis to create compelling content that effectively conveyed my journey as a blood donor and its impact on the community. Together, we developed a multi-faceted approach to disseminate the story across various internal communication channels:
Results:The internal communications campaign featuring my blood donor story yielded significant results in terms of employee engagement and morale:
Conclusion:The success of this internal communications campaign exemplifies the power of storytelling in driving employee engagement and fostering a culture of social responsibility. By sharing personal experiences and highlighting individual efforts to make a difference, organizations can inspire their employees to embrace altruism, contribute to their communities, and create a positive impact on society as a whole.
Recommendations:Building on the success of this campaign, I recommend continuing to feature stories of employee initiatives and community service in internal communications efforts. Encouraging colleagues to share their experiences and volunteer efforts can further strengthen the sense of belonging and purpose within the organization, driving positive engagement and reinforcing Mphasis' commitment to social responsibility.
David Hooker - Sales Manager
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