Internal Communication: Its impact and the thing hurting your charity.

Since COVID became the word on everyone’s lips, there was the obvious surge to remote working. A huge number of benefits for this including, flexibility, improved mental health and wellbeing, work/life balance and more. I am a complete advocate for flexible working and support different working styles, suiting people in different ways. My personal preference is being in the office four days a week.

Personally speaking, I like being around my team, but I enjoy that one day a week where I can have my own space to do all the little bits I wouldn’t normally get to do. Furthermore, managing people from afar has its pros and cons. I haven’t figured out the best way to manage my team remotely. I try and maximise the time I see them in person, but often fail with multiple meetings and a long list of responsibilities.

The reason I am writing my own personal view on this is that given my role, I have to spend time focusing on internal communications. There isn’t a perfect way of running a team who are working remotely, let alone in the office five days a week. I have two important policies when it comes to communication with my team:

·        ‘Ask me anything anytime, if I don’t get back to you immediately, I will as soon as possible.’

·        ‘I’d rather you ask me a question that can be answered in five seconds, rather than thinking about it for thirty minutes.’

I’ve spoke to a lot of people who are working for a charity or have worked for charities where their leading frustration is communication. Junior members of staff frustrated because they cannot contact management, or they don’t hear from other teams. People don’t follow up when they say they will and often don’t complete tasks in a timely manner. It leads to frustrations, a lack of trust and ultimately a demotivated workforce.

If management are displaying poor communication, it will filter down to those in their teams…because they think it’s the norm. What’s more damaging is a senior leadership team implementing a communication guideline, then not following it up themselves!

I wanted to put together some ideas around internal communication because it’s so significant. If it’s not effective, people will leave their roles as you can have fantastic people who are brilliant but cannot fulfil their potential because they are being held back by poor internal communication.

To improve efficiency and better internal communication within UK charities, senior leaders can take several steps:

Establish clear communication channels

Clearly define communication channels within the organisation, including preferred modes of communication for different types of messages. This could include regular team meetings, email updates, or dedicated chat channels. Consistency in communication methods helps employees understand how and where to communicate effectively.

Foster an open and inclusive culture

Make sure everyone feels free to speak up and be honest in the company. Management should make it easy for employees to share what they think, worry about, or suggest. They can do this by having regular team meetings, individual chats, and anonymous feedback. Ultimately, you want new ideas from those in your teams as they are the ones looking to develop and grow with the charity…get them invested.

Provide regular updates and feedback

Senior leaders should strive to provide regular updates on organisational goals, progress, and changes. Clear communication about expectations, priorities, and performance feedback helps employees understand their roles and responsibilities, reducing ambiguity and frustration. Being completely transparent with your team helps them learn and understand the challenges you face as a leader within your charity.

Implement structured remote work policies

Develop comprehensive remote work policies that outline expectations, guidelines, and support mechanisms for remote employees. Ensure that team members have the necessary resources and technologies to effectively work from home.

Encourage social interaction

Foster opportunities for virtual social interactions among employees. This could include virtual team-building activities, casual chat channels, or online coffee breaks. Such interactions help maintain a sense of camaraderie and strengthen relationships among team members. Sometimes it’s hard to connect a team who are based remotely. Free up some time before a meeting for people to join early and discuss what is happening in their work, lives etc. Don’t go straight into the meeting.

Lead by example

For me, this is the most important. I hear and see people who tell people to behave and follow certain guidelines but do not do it themselves. This is the catalyst for internal communications downfall. If you can’t do it yourself, how can you ask others to follow the guidelines?

Regarding the impact of improved internal communication on productivity, there is evidence to suggest that it can lead to higher productivity levels. Effective internal communication can enhance clarity, reduce misunderstandings, and align employees towards common goals. Clear communication channels also enable faster decision-making, problem-solving, and coordination among teams. However, the specific impact may vary depending on the organization and its unique circumstances.

It is important for senior leaders to assess the specific challenges faced by their organisation and tailor communication strategies accordingly. Regular feedback mechanisms, surveys, and employee engagement initiatives can help identify areas