How can you diversify your internal communication networks?

1 Assess your current network

To diversify your internal communication network, you must first evaluate your existing one. Take the time to understand how you are currently communicating with your employees, what channels and platforms you are using, and how effective they are. Gather data and insights on your current network through surveys, interviews, analytics, and feedback. Consider the main goals and objectives of your internal communication, target audiences and segments within your organization, preferred communication styles and preferences of your employees, frequency and consistency of communication, strengths and weaknesses of current channels and platforms, as well as how to measure the impact and outcomes of your internal communication.

2 Identify the gaps and opportunities

The next step is to identify the gaps and opportunities in your current network. To do this, you should compare your current state with your desired state and assess where you can improve or expand your internal communication. Frameworks such as SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, or SMART goals can help you identify these gaps and opportunities. For instance, consider if there are any groups of employees that are overlooked in your internal communication, external or internal factors that affect it, new trends or best practices that you can adopt or adapt, specific challenges or issues to address, and clear indicators or metrics to track and evaluate it.

3 Choose the right mix of channels and platforms

The third step is to choose the right mix of channels and platforms for your internal communication network. You need to consider the purpose, audience, message, and frequency of your communication and select the most appropriate and effective tools and methods. To assist in this process, you can use categories such as formal vs informal, synchronous vs asynchronous, one-way vs two-way, or digital vs physical. For example, formal and one-way communication can be done through email, intranet, or newsletters; informal and two-way communication can be done through chat, social media, or forums; synchronous and interactive communication can be done through video conferencing, live streaming, or podcasts; and asynchronous and flexible communication can be done through blogs, wikis, or e-learning.

4 Align your communication with your strategy and culture

The fourth step is to align your communication with your strategy and culture. You should ensure that your communication network reflects your organizational vision, mission, values, and goals, as well as fosters and promotes your organizational culture. To do this, you can use strategies such as storytelling, branding, or gamification. Storytelling can be used to communicate organizational purpose, history, and achievements while also inspiring and motivating employees. Branding can create a consistent identity and voice for internal communication while also building awareness and loyalty among employees. Finally, gamification can add fun and engagement to internal communication while also rewarding employees for their participation and contribution.

5 Test and optimize your communication network

The final step is to test and optimize your communication network. To do this, you need to monitor and measure the performance and impact of your communication network and make adjustments and improvements as needed. Surveys, analytics, feedback, or audits are all tools you can use to help you test and optimize your communication network. For example, surveys can be used to collect feedback from employees on their satisfaction with internal communication; analytics can be used to track data and metrics such as reach, engagement, retention, or conversion; feedback can be used to solicit comments and suggestions from employees on how to improve internal communication; and audits can be used to review the quality and effectiveness of your communication network while eliminating redundancies or inefficiencies.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?