Creating an internal communication strategy is one of the best things a company can do to drive productivity and attract, retain and engage the best talent. Here are six trends you might want to include in your plan for 2022.
Visible leadership
These days, employees don't just want to "see" their leaders—they want to see their leaders getting involved in the action and role modeling company values. Share plenty of examples of your leaders doing this at town halls or in your company blog, newsletter or intranet and you'll help keep them both visible and connected.
Modern marketing techniques
Today's employees want relevant and inspiring stories that are presented to them in an engaging way. Just like in modern marketing, to provide your audience with more of the content they're interested in, you’ll need to monitor trends, run polls, test and seek feedback through regular surveys. You’ll also need to ensure your internal writers are storytelling experts, so sign them up to a great course or find them a mentor with a natural flair for spinning a good yarn. Last but not least, use simple yet beautiful layouts and imagery. Try asking your in-house designer for some examples and templates, buy prebuilt templates online or contact your EDM platform provider for a quote.
A permanent focus on employee wellbeing
Employee wellbeing has been a hot topic in internal communications for several years, but never has it been more critical than during the pandemic. A focus on employee wellbeing is here to stay because it plays a vital role in the success and productivity of an organisation. But it goes even further than that—research actually shows that employees who believe their internal communications are good are much more confident, happy and engaged. So, internal communicators, keep pushing those positive messages and keep pushing those health and wellbeing articles—they make a huge difference!
Accessible communications
Limited access to education, speaking a language other than English, being blind, low-sighted or deaf, or having a mental illness can all impact how well someone digests communications. Many organisations are launching accessibility guidelines, which set out how to present information in an inclusive way. These guidelines typically cover what language to use, recommended font sizes, images and colours, and how best to apply video captions. For tips on how to make your digital communications accessible, visit the Centre for Accessibility or the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Inclusive language
Using inclusive language can make employees feel respected and included, so make sure your internal writers stay up to speed on our ever-changing lexicon.
Data and analytics
The battle for attention wages on! Getting staff to read internal communications when they’re already busy is no easy task. So, use readership and engagement reporting from digital channels to understand what works and what doesn’t. Keep drilling down into your data to understand what are the best messages to send, when are the right times to send them and what are the most effective channels.
So, those are my hot trends for internal communications in 2022! Have you got an internal communications trend you'd like to share? Please leave it in the comment box below!
About Victoria
Victoria believes that great communication has the power to change the world. She's passionate about helping organisations to lift their profiles, inspire action and achieve remarkable results by crafting and delivering their stories and messages in a clear, compelling and persuasive way. If you've got a question about how to produce high-quality communication plans or content, you can contact Victoria here or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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