Rejigging Internal Communication

Let’s Talk : Rejigging Internal Communication

The Relevance of Internal Communication

“Communication is the real work of leadership.”?

— Nitin Nohria, Dean, Harvard Business School

Across many changes that the COVID pandemic has contributed to, one important change, or rather we should call it evolution, is the workspace flexibility. Organizations are embracing (still!) the remote working space and striving for a successful hybrid remote culture, which I always have been a vocal proponent of!?

Now, we see companies spending so much time and effort on connecting with their customers, communicating about their product, service, brand, etc, and yet, somehow they often forget to do the same with their work family.

Organizations, irrespective of their size must come up with ways to facilitate and encourage this internal communication not just in a hierarchy of leadership but also between peers.?

Internal Communication - Leadership Perspective

Employees look up to their leaders for direction, perspectives, updates, and most importantly a sense of security and belongingness.?

Of course, it can be challenging to connect and communicate individually with each team member, especially if you’re working remotely.

Some are in favor of periodic Google meets/Zoom calls, some prefer asynchronous communication through emails, voice messages, and Loom videos, and others simply need more frequent check-ins throughout the month.

People have found it complicated, and tricky. But I find it very simple. The golden rule is to up our empathy quotient and figure out what works best for your team.

Listen deeply and communicate clearly!

Here are some tips that we have implemented at our Digital Marketing Agency, @Studio4

#1 Simplicity & Relevance?

Employees, especially when we have millennials and Gen Z working on our teams, they are moving quickly between different technologies, tools, and mediums to gather information. So, you want your communications to hit the points quickly, directly, and without noise.

#2 Communication Mediums

Again, from personal experience, leaders who are emphatic about their employees’ choice of time and communication medium can extract a more productive routine. Clever use of technology works best.?

#3 Asking to Play it back!

This is another method that I use to make my communication with my team, crystal clear. On-call, while I explain a concept or a story to my team members, I ask them often to play it back to me then and there or privately to make sure that they have understood and to fill in any gaps.?

#4 Work Culture?

Since the beginning of our entrepreneurial journey and now at our digital communication studio, Studio4, we have tried to weave culture and values in our internal communications to foster a positive experience for our teams. Work culture is vital for a company’s success and one of the top things employees look for.

#5 Leading with Authenticity?

As leaders, we have always made an effort to connect with our employees not just at a professional level, but also at a personal level. That is why I believe having a natural voice is essential so we have that human connection with our teams. We follow the same approach in our work as well when we speak about communicating with our clients externally.

Why do we need Internal Communication??

Internal communication is important because it puts everyone on the same page.

As a team, we are marching towards the same goal. Any approach towards internal communications must not be done as an option, it needs to be at the very core of your organization as a whole. To have a united front externally, there needs to be education and understanding internally.

Sharing information clearly and consistently matters too!

As a leader, you cant simply send a CEO newsletter once a month, expect your teams to understand your vision and ideas and be done with it! You need to share with your teams and lean on your managers to explain whatever is not understood. People want to understand your ideas and your vision —and if you don’t share, they will fill in the blanks themselves.?

Conventional Vs Modern Communication?

We all have been witness to how digital means have superseded all other forms of communication, especially in business. I can’t remember the last time I hand-wrote a letter, rather than an email at work!

Since the invention of the telephone, till the evolution of mobile devices and now, smartphones coupled with the rapid adoption of the internet and mobile applications, communication has steadily evolved right in front of our eyes.?

It has accelerated the pace of business and widened the possibilities within the enterprise space. It’s allowed people to find their voice and express themselves through social media channels.?

The internet has connected and divided us like nothing before.

From simple one-way circular-centric communications to interactive, and leadership approachable communication, the concept has evolved extensively with time and technology.?

What Lies Ahead?

In today's digitally dominant business environment, there is no single communication channel that works equally well for all applications. Choosing the right communication platforms is necessary, but what is equally important is ensuring that these communication tools are integrated properly.

The best way to encourage better communication habits within your team is to set an example. You may not realize it yet, people are going to be looking to you as a leader when formulating their communication approaches.

A culture that makes transparent communication a strategic priority encourages your team members to communicate with authenticity and genuineness.?

Though the future of communications will be digitally driven, it must bring employees together with experiences that build emotional connections between people and their work and will be worth the investment.?

Shilpi Singh is a Leadership Coach. She has coached and mentored 1000 + executives with a specialization & passion in Coaching women leaders.

She runs a successful mentoring program LEAP with BeyonDiversity

Shilpi also runs her Digital Communication Studio, Studio4, and an experiential travel company, The Unhotel Company