The principles of effective internal communications

Internal Communications
Creating effective internal communications

© Kenton Larsen | Twitter: @Kentonlarsen | Blog: www.kentonlarsen.com | Podcast: Media Nerds
The context in which
individuals and
organizations function.
Organizational climate/culture
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■ Environmental factors
■ Values (policies)
■ Behavior
■ Structure
■ Leadership (heroes, role models, mentors)
■ Employee perception
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■ Products/services
■ History
■ Core values
■ Competitors
■ People
■ Vision
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Employee communications
Part of the PR function devoted to:
■ Identifying
■ Maintaining
■ Establishing
mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and
its internal publics.
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Role of employee communications
■ Attract, select, indoctrinate employees.
■ Provide instruction, rules, news.
■ Publicize achievements.
■ Exchange information.
■ Increase employees’ effectiveness.
■ Solicit and encourage input.
■ Satisfy employees’ desire to be informed and involved.
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Communication tools
■ Posters, memos, newsletters, magazines, bulletins, etc.
■ Speeches, meetings, grapevine, guest speakers,
videoconferences, etc.
■ Displays, presentations, videos, etc.
■ Social media, email, intranet, YouTube, etc.
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The IRP rule
■ Demonstrate an interest in employees.
■ Respond to employee concerns.
■ Provide opportunities for employee participation in
decision making.
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Interest • Respond • Participation

Guidelines
■ Candid, two-way flow of info.
■ Must be:
• A priority
• Planned, sustained
• Relevant, understandable to employees
■ And avoid:
• Propaganda
• Rigid tone
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Guidelines
▪ Don’t try to be all things to all people –
know your audience, service the needs
of your organization.
▪ Newsletter:
• 50 per cent organizational info
• 20 per cent employee info
• 20 per cent non-company info
• 10 per cent small talk
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Guidelines
■ Promote awareness and understanding of goals.
■ Interpret management policies.
■ Meet employees’ info needs.
■ Facilitate two-way communication.
■ Encourage productivity.
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Symptoms of poor employee communications
■ Absenteeism
■ Theft
■ Inefficiencies
■ Higher production costs
■ Low morale
■ Strikes
■ High turnover
■ Accidents
■ Rumors
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Barriers to effective employee communications
■ Failure to recognize importance of communications
■ Failure to communicate hard issues candidly
■ Failure to trust employees with information
■ Resistance to change
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Barriers to effective employee communications
■ Unclear corporate image.
■ Negative organizational climates.
■ Lack of mutual trust.
■ No employee communication
policy.
■ Employee communications flow
one way.
■ “Towing the company line” in
communications.
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The ideal situation
■ Confidence and trust between employee/employer.
■ Candid information.
■ Satisfied sense of status and participation.
■ Low stress.
■ Healthy environment.
■ Success for the organization.
■ Optimism for the future.
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Your Role:
▪ Establish relationship between
employees and organization.
▪ Build and transmit
organizational culture.
▪ Interpret management policies.
▪ Help build employee
awareness.
▪ Provide means for “upward”
communication.
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The principles of effective internal communications

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