Developing an effective strategic communications plan for reaching and engaging customers is one of the most essential steps that a business can take to be successful. An enormous amount of importance should be placed on how and where you communicate with your clients and customers as well as what you are saying to them. One element that tends to get neglected in corporate communication plans, however, is internal communications with your employees. After all, your employees keep your business functioning and play a huge role in customer satisfaction and the overall quality of your products or services. Here are five tips for keeping your employees informed and engaged:
- Determine the Best Method – One aspect of employee communications to consider is what vehicle you are using. It is important to come up with a consistent standard for getting messages out to your employees, so that they know where they can expect to find them. Many companies will simply blast out staff emails, which is a great method for info that needs a fast response. Some other options include an employee portal or Intranet with company updates. The main point is to have one consistent place where your staff can always expect to find internal information and news.
- Designate Somebody – Another important decision to make in regard to internal communications is who the messages will be coming from. It is a good idea to designate one person or department to be in charge of publishing or sending out your employee updates. This goes along with having one determined method of delivery. Designating a common “messenger” helps create consistency and familiarity among your employees and sets a standard process.
- It’s All About Timing – After you decide how you will communicate with your employees and who will be doing it, it is also imperative to decide when internal messages are appropriate to send. You obviously don’t want to communicate with your employees on their off time when they aren’t going to see or care about your message. Conversely, it may not be a good idea to communicate with them at times when they are busy and trying to get work done. Come up with a set time that your employees can expect updates that will work best for them.
- Keep it Casual – So, you have the how, who and when of your corporate communications plan nailed down. All that’s left to decide is what you are going to say. Create a consistent messaging style and tone that goes along with your company culture. This can typically be much more casual than the style you use to communicate with customers and clients. “Casual” can mean different things to different people, so come up with a guideline of what is considered appropriate.
- Happy Employees = Happy Customers – Establishing a consistent process for communicating internally is an important part of employee satisfaction. Whatever process you decide on, write out the rules and guidelines in your employee handbook so everyone knows what to expect and that your company takes employee communications seriously. If your employees are left in the dark when it comes to important company news, it makes them feel unappreciated and unimportant. Keeping them informed is a huge part of keeping them happy with their jobs. When employees enjoy their company culture, they produce higher quality work which leads to better customer satisfaction, and, in turn, a better overall image for your business.
Need help with your internal employee communications? Give Absolute a call at 701-478-1111 and ask to speak with a marketing advisor or visit absolutemg.com/contact. We have the expertise to develop a plan that will keep your employees engaged, informed and most importantly, happy.