5 Current Internal Communication Trends

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the art of internal communications. How your organization approaches it will depend on a number of factors: how big you are, what your industry is like, how many offices you have, where you do your business, your workplace culture and your internal communications objectives.

Your internal communications needs can change over time too. Or they can change from project to project.

These days there’s a lot of choice when it comes to communicating with employees: you can do so much more than newsletters, emails and intranet sites.

If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut and have been running the same internal communications campaigns using the same delivery channels for a long time, it might be time to look at other delivery methods.

These are some of the biggest trends in internal communications organizations are embracing around the world:

1. Video

Delivering information via video is an increasingly popular method of internal communication, and much easier to achieve than it was even several years ago thanks to improved internet speeds and advances in digital technology.

There are many ways you can use video, from producing pre-recorded material and placing it on your intranet site, embedding it in emails, newsletters or DeskAlerts through to live-streaming speeches, events and presentations, utilizing video conferencing, delivering webinars, virtual huddles and more.

2. Less email, more voice conversations

Email is the bane of many an office worker’s life. The burden of overflowing inboxes is a real issue for productivity and is actually a major blockage when it comes to the flow of information – it’s far too easy for important information to get buried and never seen.

A lot of emails don’t even need to be sent – especially when they involve conversations that go backwards and forwards. In these instances it would be quicker and easier to have a face-to-face chat with a colleague or pick up the phone and speak to them. Many companies are encouraging their employees to cut down on the email clutter by engaging with their co-workers directly.

3. Enterprise social networks

An anticipated 70 per cent of businesses are using enterprise social networks as an internal communications tool – up from 10 per cent around a decade ago. These work the same as other social networks, but are unique to your company, and allow staff to share information, ideas and collaborate using a social media interface.

4. Digital signage

Using screens to communicate messages throughout your workplace helps to reinforce your communications campaigns and key messages. You can use television screens or computer monitors to achieve this in busy areas within your workplace. Think of it as being like an electronic billboard inside your company. DeskAlerts has a feature that allows you to run these campaigns.

5. Constant feedback opportunities

Asking your employees their perspective can help to shape the culture of your company for the better. Using DeskAlerts, you can deliver regular surveys and polls to your staff, straight to their desktops which you can then measure and use to improve your organization’s culture.