Why You Can’t Afford to Overlook Internal Communications
Have you ever thought about the number of messages you receive on a typical workday and what channels they come from? A normal day for me includes a mix of texts, emails, Slack messages, project management notifications, phone calls, Zoom calls, in-person meetings, news scanning, podcasts, social media scrolling, WhatsApp messages…and the list goes on.
SO, WHAT DOES A DAILY DOSE OF COMMUNICATION LOOK LIKE FOR THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE?
According to a study by DMR, the average office worker receives 121 emails per day.
Statista reports that the average person between ages 18-54 sends between 33 to 128 text messages per day.
A Booqed study estimates the average worker attends between 8-12 meetings per week.
In a fast-paced world where we’re constantly inundated with messages from the outside trying to break in, where should communication matter most to ensure your workday runs smoothly?
You shouldn’t have to look too far. Communication starts with your own team – your boss, direct reports, core team, or other colleagues who you collaborate with regularly. Strong internal communication is the lifeline of a healthy interconnected workplace no matter the industry or circumstance.
Too often, organizations place internal communications as an afterthought and operate in silos. As a result, roles are unclear and people make assumptions, drop balls and assign blame.
Many organizations instead prioritize external communication, focusing their efforts toward communicating with customers, potential clients, community stakeholders, media, civic leaders, or other external audiences. While communicating externally is vitally important and a core element of our profession, your first priority for delivering and receiving messages should start from within.
THE “WHY” BEHIND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Your teammates are your most visible and effective company ambassadors; they are the heartbeat of your organization and the glue of your culture who can help drive retention and boost your reputation. They can also help strengthen internal systems and processes to make the rest of your team’s life easier on a daily basis.
To maximize your team’s potential, they must feel invested in your mission, understand the vision and take ownership in their role to help you get there. This starts with engaging them early and often and giving clear expectations upfront on how you expect them to communicate with the team.
Internal communication looks different at every company. Large corporations typically have an in-house team focused solely on internal comms, while smaller organizations are likely to take a leaner approach where each team member wears multiple hats and naturally becomes their own internal communications specialist.
Regardless of size, experience or resources, the most effective leaders share core communications traits – an uncanny ability to illustrate a clear message, tailor it for the right audience, and adeptly “read the room” to know when to shift course. They also ensure all teammates know how to do this well. Beyond the “what,” it’s also important to understand the “how” behind effective internal communications.
At Peritus, we live and breathe the motto of “CTL” – Close the Loop. We follow this communications principle on account teams, with clients and internal department communications. Your team should never be left guessing what you’re working on and when you anticipate completing it. Set clear deadlines, anticipate roadblocks, adjust expectations, overcommunicate, and most importantly, close the loop.
OUR TAKEAWAY IS THIS
Whether delivering a company announcement, outlining quarterly objectives, sending a department-wide email, or leading weekly staff meetings, what you communicate and how you communicate internally matters. In our upcoming internal communications blog series over the next few weeks, here’s what you can expect:
Tangible considerations for when it’s time to develop or refine your company’s mission statement and core values, through the lens of a client success story
A tried and true checklist to live by – the 5 C’s of internal communications
Internal communications insight from leading industry experts