Outward looking internal comms

The outside world has an impact on your people. How do your internal comms acknowledge that?

What comes to mind when you think about internal communications?

You’re probably thinking: making sure people get key messages about policies and procedures. Or the information they need to do their jobs safely and well. Maybe keeping up to date with developments in the organisation. That kind of thing.

And that’s absolutely correct – but it’s not the whole story.

Because your comms aren’t just a tool for delivering information. They’re also a way to create connections, build a community and generate a positive company culture.

Why does that matter? Because when you have a strong company culture, your people play an active role in your company. They feel part of something bigger, and bring their best selves to work every day. They don’t phone it in.

That’s never been more important than it is right now. Because there’s a lot going on in the world outside your organisation. Inflation’s at 10% and rising. Interest rates just went up for the sixth time in a row. Petrol and diesel have hit ￡2 a gallon. The price of a weekly shop keeps getting bigger. Energy crisis, global warming, Brexit, war… and all this on the back of a pandemic that’s still causing major problems around the world.

It has an impact.

We can’t help but bring that stuff into work. I see it every day – people struggling to focus on their job because they’re worried about feeding their family. Small things that slip while news comes in about another hike in energy prices.

It’s not your job to resolve those problems for people. But it is your job to make sure they have a working environment where they feel supported, appreciated and cared for. Part of that means communication without pressure. It’s about making it simpler to absorb the information we need to get across, so people have one less thing to worry about.

That’s where our five values come in.

1. Helping people get confident in their roles, giving them ownership of their work and encouraging them to act as leaders in their working communities so they can help colleagues if they’re struggling.
2. Get curious about what’s going on outside your own sphere. Ask your people if they’re getting what they need from you. If not, how can you change that? Their opinions and ideas will help create a successful comms strategy.
3. Get creative with your messaging so it stands out. Be clear and consistent and offer easy access via the right medium. When it’s easy to absorb information it’s also easy to act on it, and to help others understand and act on it too.
4. Help people get connected with your business. Have a clear vision, mission and purpose that goes beyond profit. Keep it simple, meaningful and believable – make it something people will want to be part of.
5. Finally get committed to creating a positive work culture. It won’t happen overnight. You’ll need to make an ongoing effort and create something that adapts and evolves with your company. Be in it for the long game. ?

Ultimately, the role of internal communications is to build connections between you and your people. It’s about creating a community that reaches from top tier management to trainees just starting their career. A community that’s able to offer support to those struggling with external factors that might influence their work. And that is, in turn, supported by clear, considered, visible and relevant communications.?

Dee McNaught, Head of People Strategy & Change at We Are Brass Tacks.

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