Humanizing Internal Comms for Today's Busy Workforce

The modern workplace is a whirlwind. Employees receive a lot of information, have many deadlines, and often feel disconnected from their benefits, colleagues, and company goals.

This is where internal communication (IC or internal comms) steps in, not just to deliver information, but to forge genuine connections and reignite employee engagement to strategic communication.

Just like customer-facing marketing and CX teams, internal communications teams have access to technology, video, and personalization strategies that can help them humanize every interaction to enhance employee engagement, create a sense of belonging, and build advocacy.

However, internal communication professionals often lack the organizational support and resources to try new and creative approaches that can have a significant impact on their communication with employees.

Worksop's Internal Communication Trend Report 2024, packed with data from IC professionals, offers a roadmap to navigate these challenges. We are adding our perspective, as personalized video software and service used by both internal comms and marketing teams.

Here's how you, the IC pro or marketer, can humanize your communication and reconnect with your workforce in a meaningful way. Use this information to uplift your internal comms strategy or share it with the relevant team in your organization.

Beyond the Inbox: Rethinking Traditional Channels

Email remains a dominant force, but let's face it, inboxes are overflowing. The key is to personalize your messages based on employee preferences/needs. However, almost half of internal communication professionals struggle with this.

Segmentation ensures information is relevant, not just another faceless email in the queue.

So, even when a whopping 70% of IC professionals cite email as their most effective channel, remember that personalization is key to make it truly engaging.

Think of employees as customers. Research has found that more than half of them expect all offers to be personalized.

What about other channels?

Texting for the Win: For quick updates and reaching busy or geographically dispersed employees, SMS shines.

With a whopping 50% higher open rate than traditional methods, it's a powerful tool to cut through the noise and deliver essential messages that truly land.

The Human Touch in a Digital World: Video

The report highlights a surge in video usage. However, let's personalize it further! Here at Pirsonal, we believe in the magic of personalized video for employees.

Here is a personalized total reward video statement:

The creation of these videos can be automated with specialized, secure video software like Pirsonal's personalized video software.

Imagine an employee receiving a video acknowledging their contributions, tailored to their specific role and company updates relevant to them.

Even better, imagine a data-driven video that uses creative storytelling to explain benefits and compensation plans to every employee, resulting in better awareness of benefits, higher employee morale, and retention.

Our CEO, Josías De La Espada, recently shared a client story where personalized video statements were a game-changer, boosting employee satisfaction to record highs.

Events: Reigniting the Spark of Connection

The data reveals a strong preference for in-person events. There's a reason for that! Face-to-face interactions foster a sense of community and belonging that digital communication often lacks.

Consider hosting town halls, employee retreats, or even team lunches to reignite the human connection at your company.

Interestingly, 36% of IC professionals consider in-person events the most effective communication channel, and data shows event-based emails often have a 10-15% higher open rate.

However, note: For companies with many employees, it's impractical to share important information through face-to-face meetings or webinars as many employees simply don't have time.

Instead, personalized videos can be used to maintain a personal touch while reaching a large audience at scale.

Data-Driven Decisions for Lasting Impact

The report offers valuable insights to guide your communication strategy. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Top Priorities: Intranet (63.5%), Email (42.9%), Video (38.6%), In-person events (31.7%)
• Most Effective Channels: Email (69.8%), In-person events (36%), Intranet (24.3%)
• Challenges: Content creation, limited resources

Taking Action: Your Human-Centered Communication Plan

Feeling inspired? Here's how to translate these insights into action and build a communication strategy that resonates:

1. Personalize business-critical campaigns: Segment email lists, tailor messages, and explore personalized video options like those offered by Pirsonal.
2. Embrace multi-channel communication: Utilize a mix of email, SMS (15.3% consider SMS a top channel), video, and in-person events to cater to diverse preferences and reach all employees.
3. Leverage data: Use the survey findings to prioritize channels and tactics that resonate best with your workforce.
4. Communicate your employer value proposition, constantly: Employees thrive when they understand how their contributions impact the bigger picture. Regularly communicate your company's value proposition and how each employee plays a vital role.
5. Seek support: Don't be afraid to seek help. Managed services like those offered by Pirsonal can assist with video creation and overall communication strategy.

By prioritizing personalization, embracing a multi-channel approach, and leveraging data, you can humanize your internal communications.

If you are looking for creative, effective way to humanize your internal comms campaigns, let's talk.

Pirsonal provides both the expertise and software organizations use to create personalized videos that truly engage with every employee. At scale.

Remember, building genuine connections with your workforce is no longer a luxury only available to customer-facing comms and marketing teams, it's the key to unlocking a happier, more productive, and ultimately, more successful workforce.