Good internal communications a ‘must-have’ for any and all businesses

In their latest monthly column, Helena Young, Communications and PR Executive of MIH Solutions, explains the benefits of an effective internal communications strategy

When done well, internal communication provides a competitive advantage for any business

SOME organisations consider internal communications to be a support service only, or a ‘luxury’ add-on to daily activities.

However, when done well, internal communication provides a competitive advantage for any business.

Whether it’s about helping to facilitate employee engagement and motivation, or instilling values and winning hearts and minds, a strategic internal communications approach is a must-have.

Here are four ways your organisation could benefit.

n Leadership Alignment and Accessibility: An internal communications team can facilitate alignment between senior leadership and employees by translating strategic objectives into clear and relatable messages. Internal communications specialists can deliver leadership communication training sessions to help managers effectively convey their vision, values and expectations to their people.

Regular and reliable vehicles, such as executive blogs or video messages, can help to foster transparency and accessibility in leadership communications.

n Change Management Communication: When undergoing mergers, acquisitions or other organisational upheaval, an internal communications team can develop comprehensive plans that clarify the reasons behind change.

They can also think through the impact on those affected and help them to navigate the change proactively. By ensuring transparent and consistent communication throughout the process, your business will address employee concerns effectively, helping to reduce uncertainty and resistance. n Employee Engagement Initiatives: Internal communications teams can support initiatives to boost employee engagement, such as establishing departmental or company-wide forums and feedback mechanisms which build relationships between leadership teams and employees.

The output from employee engagement can create compelling content, like a “you said, we did” feature for internal newsletters, intranet portals and social media platforms. Research suggests this can help to boost overall employee wellbeing and motivation, which in turn will improve company culture.

n Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration: Through internal communications you can promote content that highlights good practice, celebrating success stories and cross-departmental initiatives that encourage learning and innovation within your business.

You can also trial virtual or in-person events like workshops or skillsharing sessions to encourage networking and collaboration among employees.

Research shows that businesses which successfully engage their workforce see a positive impact on employee retention.

At MIH Solutions, we offer comprehensive communications and engagement services tailored to

support the individual needs of your organisation.

Whether you’re looking to secure shared buy-in to achieve goals or influence behaviour to change results, our team of experts is here to help you craft a high-impact internal communications strategy for future success.