Internal communications have one clear purpose – to promote effective communications between the employees of an organization. However, they can be used in a range of different ways to best suit the needs of your business. Their versatility and range can also create some confusion about their importance, but do not be dissuaded – internal communications have some very real benefits.
- Free Access to Information Benefits Company Culture
The most obvious reason why internal communications are important is because it encourages the free flow of information. This keeps workers completely informed with everything they need to know as a member of a company, whether that is upcoming events, policies, HR decisions or something else. Good, open communication leads to a form of transparency that can be highly valued by employees. In fact, a recent study found that 1 in 4 employees had either quit or had known someone who had quit, due to a lack of company transparency. More than 90% said they would rather there be bad news than no news.
- Internal Communications Increases Employee Engagement
Internal communication is the perfect way for a company to communicate their unique story in a two-way communication stream that enables all individuals who are part of the organization to stay informed and empowered. As it empowers employees across cultures and identities, it makes perfect sense to use internal communication transparency to spearhead employee engagement. It has other impacts on employee engagement too – according to research from Simpplr, internal communications benefits employee engagement in three distinct ways:
- Transparency: By showing employees how their work and the work of their colleagues has a positive impact
- Alignment: Ensuring that everyone is one the same page, from employees to CEO
- Community: Fostering a culture where everyone is safe, connected and supported
- Internal Communications Aid Crisis Management
When business does not go the way it should there may be unintended consequences for the company, including teams being forced to restructure as well as the need for M&A deals in extreme circumstances. At these stages of corporate change, internal communications are at their most urgent and necessary. Once a workforce loses trust in a company, it cannot be bought and is very difficult to earn back. Any structural changes that are clearly outlined by internal communications are greatly valued by employees, even if they are difficult conversations to have. The atmosphere of openness implies that you care about your employees, motivating them to stick around even when times are tough.
- Internal Communications Promotes Communication, Discussion and Debate
If you want to promote open communication at your business, you need to have a two-way communication stream. That means you need to give your employees the opportunity to offer feedback, as well as to debate the moves that you are proposing. That isnot just for company culture; your company will be more successful when you encourage a fair debate of ideas. Internal communications channels can be used to facilitate that debate in a controlled manner, leading to wiser decision making.
