“We are a small business; we don’t really need internal communications''. It’s easy in a technology centric business world to overlook the importance of internal communication. Businesses spend valuable time formulating their brand voice and strategy to disseminate externally. But for longevity and growth, a savvy leader knows that even a smaller business can benefit from communicating with your brand’s core: your team. From onboarding new employees to newsletters and even a simple Facebook group, giving your inner circle a means of conversating is all about building internal brand loyalty; you have great people and remember, it's easier (and more cost-effective) to retain their talents than to re-hire.
Constructing a strong brand also includes your team believing in your shared vision. They need to invest in your mission, core values and goals, from the ground up—this helps create your company culture; think flashback to a Jerry Maguire montage.
Giving your team a way to engage, especially in this new virtual landscape, fosters a positive workplace dynamic. The focus is developing an internal communication strategy that reinforces the company’s mindshare, celebrates your team and is a must-read not a must-delete. Your culture and vibe should guide your internal communications because a thoughtful IC strategy can breathe life into your workplace when done well.
Remember Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs from school? These requirements in a professional environment, when met, foster higher productivity, motivation, and job fulfillment. Will internal communication make everyone happy all the time? Of course not, but it is a launch point to value your brand at its home. You're giving your employees a voice, recognition and buy-in to your brand by simply including them in the conversation.
Now, if you have someone who is excited about the curation of weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly content to share or want to temper an online community, that’s a decent start. But many companies outsource this task to keep it consistently on-brand, incorporate pertinent industry announcements and moderate the conversation. Internal communication is building trust-based brand moments with your people that will flow outward to their interactions with your buyers. Win, win.
Consider the value of keeping your internal communications plan strong and employees connected. We want your team to represent your brand, your business, in a way that says: “I love the mornings! I clap my hands every morning and say, ‘This is gonna be a great day!” (Thanks, Dicky Fox)…
Ready to discover how Say Yes can integrate purposeful internal communications to your marketing plan? Visit us and bring your marketing to the next level today.