Let’s face it – a well-connected workplace is a happy workplace. If you’re looking to create a buzzing, collaborative environment where ideas flow and togetherness is commonplace, then it’s time to get serious about internal communication. But don’t worry, “serious” doesn’t mean “boring”. CoCo has some tips and strategies to help you jazz up your communication game and bring your organisation’s performance to new heights.
Goals, Goals, Goals!
Before you start throwing communication confetti, set some goals and objectives for your strategy. Make sure your communication efforts groove with your organisation’s mission and values. And don’t forget to track your progress with some KPIs to ensure you’re hitting the mark. Here are a few KPIs that you can track to monitor the effectiveness of your internal communication efforts:
- Employee Engagement: Assess employee engagement levels by monitoring metrics like intranet usage, participation in internal events, and responsiveness to internal surveys. High engagement levels are often a good indicator of effective internal communication.
- Employee Satisfaction: Conduct regular employee satisfaction surveys to gauge how well your communication efforts are resonating with your team. Look for trends in satisfaction levels and address any issues that may arise.
- Feedback and Suggestions: Keep track of the number of employee feedback and suggestions submitted through various channels. This can help you evaluate if your employees feel comfortable and encouraged to voice their opinions and ideas.
- Open Rates and Click-Through Rates: For email and newsletter communications, monitor open rates and click-through rates to understand if your content is capturing your employees’ attention and if they are engaging with the information provided.
- Training and Development Participation: Keep an eye on the number of employees participating in communication training and development programs. This will help you identify any gaps in your internal communication strategy and offer targeted support where needed.
By tracking these KPIs and aligning them with your organisation’s goals and objectives, you can ensure that your internal communication efforts are on the right track and contributing to a more connected, collaborative, and high-performing workplace.
Pick Your Communication Dance Floor and Tech It Up a Notch
Don’t be a communication wallflower! Step into the spotlight and choose the right channels to make sure your messages strike a chord with your employees. Mixing it up with email, newsletters, instant messaging, and video calls will keep things fresh and lively. After all, variety is the spice of life! Here are examples of how you can creatively use different communication channels:
- Office Scavenger Hunt Emails: Bring some excitement to the workplace with a themed scavenger hunt and use email to send out riddles or clues. This fun approach not only adds a dash of intrigue to your employees’ inboxes but also promotes team bonding and collaboration as they work together to solve the riddles.
- Newsletter Trivia Contest: Spice up your company newsletter by including a trivia contest with fun facts related to your industry or organisation. Encourage employees to submit their answers and reward the winners with small prizes or shout-outs in the next newsletter edition. This interactive approach can boost engagement and foster a sense of community among team members.
- Video Call Show & Tell: Host a virtual show & tell session during team video calls, where employees can share a personal item, hobby, or story. This light-hearted activity helps employees get to know each other better, strengthening connections and fostering a more open and collaborative work environment.
By using different communication channels in fun and engaging ways, you’ll ensure your messages get the attention they deserve and keep your employees excited about staying connected. So, put on your dancing shoes and let your communication groove flow.
Train Your Communication Superstars
Managers and leaders are the communication superheroes of your organisation, swooping in to save the day with their stellar communication skills. Give them the training and resources they need to strengthen their superpowers, like active listening, empathy, and constructive feedback. By investing in their development, you’re creating a team of communication champions ready to tackle any challenge.
But why stop there? Help your employees become communication pros by offering training in active listening, empathy, and effective written and verbal communication. These workshops can be fun and interactive, featuring role-playing scenarios, group activities, and even communication-themed games. With the right skills, they’ll be unstoppable.
Imagine a workplace filled with communication superstars, all working together in perfect harmony. This dynamic team of skilled communicators can tackle any problem, collaborate seamlessly, and create an engaging work environment where everyone feels heard and valued. By investing in communication training for everyone, you’re setting the stage for a more connected, collaborative, and high-performing organisation. So, don your capes and masks, and let the communication superpowers shine!
High-Five for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Tear down those departmental walls and get everyone mingling! Encourage cross-functional collaboration by creating opportunities for employees from different departments to work together, exchange ideas, and learn from each other. This intermingling of talents and perspectives can result in a fantastic boost to creativity, innovation, and overall organisational success. Here’s how you can make it happen:
- Collaborative Workshops: Organise workshops where employees from various departments can come together to brainstorm, share knowledge, and solve problems. These workshops can focus on specific projects or broader company objectives, and can be designed to be fun and engaging, with icebreakers and team-building exercises to help everyone feel comfortable.
- Team-building Activities: Arrange team-building activities that encourage cross-functional collaboration, such as scavenger hunts, escape rooms, or community service projects. These activities can help employees from different departments get to know each other, build trust, and learn how to work together effectively.
- Joint Projects: Foster a culture where cross-functional project teams are encouraged and supported. These teams can tackle complex challenges that require diverse skills and perspectives, promoting collaboration and innovation across the organisation.
- Internal Networking Events: Host regular internal networking events, like lunch-and-learn sessions or themed coffee breaks, where employees from different departments can connect, share ideas, and learn from each other.
- Recognition Programmes: Applaud employees who contribute to cross-functional collaboration with recognition programmes or shout-outs during company meetings. Celebrate their efforts and make it clear that collaboration is a core value of your organisation.
By creating opportunities for cross-functional teamwork and recognising employees who contribute to collaboration, you’ll foster an environment where everyone feels connected, engaged, and inspired to work together for the greater good.
Keep the Communication Party Going
Internal communication isn’t a one-time gig – it’s an ongoing celebration of collaboration, engagement, and growth. Keep the momentum going with a continuous improvement mindset. Regularly evaluate your efforts, learn from your experiences, and watch your organisation thrive.
To keep the momentum going, consider incorporating regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and open forums to ensure that everyone stays in the loop and feels heard. And remember, communication is a two-way street, so encourage employees to share their thoughts and ideas on how to make internal communication even better.
With these tips and strategies, you’re now ready to transform your organisation into a well-connected, collaborative powerhouse. So, get out there and make some communication magic happen. And if you need a little extra support to get the party started, Collaborative Comms (CoCo) is here to help. Our team of experts can provide guidance, training, and resources to ensure your organisation’s internal communication strategy is as effective as possible.
