In this article, we reveal the red flags (or danger zones) within Internal Communication, which indicate that we are not doing something right and how we can correct it.
The importance of identifying problems
Sometimes, we are sure that something is not working. No matter how many internal communication actions we take, the areas are not aligned, the teams are not cohesive, the culture does not penetrate, or there are short circuits that are difficult to unblock.
Below we tell you which are the five red flags that can allow us to review and change the internal communication strategy to make it truly efficient.
Red Flag #1: Rumors
Informal conversations, commonly referred to as “radio hallway,” begin to feed so that they tend to take hold.
It is very damaging to the stability of the company and the health of the IC. No one knows how far this collective imaginary can escalate, which in most cases has little to do with reality.
To determine what gave rise to these rumors and how to deactivate them, we suggest you make a diagnosis to set real objectives within your Internal Communication strategic plan.
Red Flag #2: Confusing messages
Is the information from the different areas contradictory? Is there a diversity of formats and styles when communicating to the teams? Do people receive messages from different senders, and do they contradict each other?
If this situation occurs, it is necessary to establish an internal communication strategy that spills over to all areas, with a plan that organizes everything vital for the company to communicate.
The strategy will define initiatives, projects, and actions framed in a chronogram, appointing people in charge and allocating resources, and avoid the disorder caused by not having one.
Red Flag #3: Internal differences
In the same way that when the leadership is not in place, mismanagement, disorganization, and even anarchy can appear, the fact of not having an Internal Communication area can cause the different areas to disagree when it comes to communicating.
These internal differences occur when different areas share projects or initiatives that need to be communicated.
The good news is that this situation can be solved by establishing an Internal Communication area that plans and organizes the messages!
At Oxean, we are experts in building teams to accompany your organization in designing a strategy, its development, and implementation by creating an in-house area specialized in IC.
Red Flag #4: No impact
It doesn’t matter if it’s a statement from the CEO or an internal survey. Nothing you communicate has the expected impact—a lack of involvement and interest from the people who are part of your company. It means you are in another IC danger zone: every action does not have the expected impact and response.
Here you need a plan. There is no point in launching isolated IC actions that seek to arouse interest without continuity.
The messages you are disseminating compete with work, e-mails, internal memos, and WhatsApp from the areas. A plan allows you to determine channels, formats, and a schedule to capture interest and calls to action.
Red flag #5: Truncated messages
If you notice that messages are not reaching your collaborators, you should review channels and formats.
In this network flag, there can be several situations:
- Your channels are obsolete: people no longer access an intranet because it does not work well or an e-mail box that nobody uses anymore, for example.
- Some areas do not have access to channels: this is often the case when there are operations people in areas where they do not usually have wifi or a good connection.
- Old formats: memos, physical bulletin boards. New generations need new formats with styles linked to new technologies and social networks, such as motion graphics shorts, and social media boards, among others
Knowing and profiling your collaborators will allow you to establish the best channels and formats that meet their expectations and needs.
