How you communicate with your employees is just as important as what you communicate. Keep these best practices in mind as you’re drafting your next internal communication.

Create a strategy

Before you can effectively communicate with your employees, you need to lay the groundwork for your communication strategy. Here are some key points to think about to help you get started:

  • What do you want employees to learn from the internal messaging?
  • What do you want employees to do in response to your message?
  • What are the best channels to distribute communication to your employees?
  • What key metrics will you track to determine success?
  • What additional communication tools will you use to push your communication initiatives?

Effective internal communication strategies are not “one size fits all.” Your company has its own internal comms needs, so your strategy should be tailored to meet those needs.

Don’t overload employees

Always think “less is more” when it comes to internal communication. Employees have access to tons of information at their fingertips, so you don’t want to overwhelm them with more company news. Get information to the right people by keeping your messages short and to the point, and only share information that is absolutely necessary. If you can, target the communication you do send so employees see only the messages that apply to them.

Encourage feedback

Forbes says it perfectly: “Your employees are your most dedicated brand champions.” And to help those champions continue to be a voice for your company, give them a voice within the company. Create an environment that allows employees the opportunity to provide feedback and share ideas — and then implement that feedback whenever possible. Giving employees a voice will help them feel invested in the wellbeing of the organization, benefitting both you and them.

Send a shoutout

A study by the APA found that employees who feel valued are more motivated and engaged at work. Let your employees know you value their work and contributions to the company by recognizing them in your internal communication or social media platforms. A simple shoutout can make all the difference in promoting engagement, increasing employees’ overall satisfaction and boosting company culture.