Internal communication is one of the most important pillars in any organization. If it is not effective, it can have a harmful impact on the relationships between the people in the company at every level. Find out more about why it is so important and what its main components are.
What is internal communication?
Internal communication is the effective communication of information among the internal stakeholders of an organization, i.e., personnel, managers, leaders, among others.
When we talk about internal communication, it’s important for companies to understand that this communication link is composed of different factors, relationships, actions, and behaviors that will determine whether internal communication is effective (i.e., it’s working) or whether it needs work.
Why is it important to conduct an assessment of internal communication?
When communication among the members of an organization is effective, the result is a pleasant work environment and strong organizational culture, which has a direct impact on motivation and enthusiasm, which are reflected in higher productivity rates.
On the contrary, if internal communication is ineffective or breaks down, employees will be unengaged or unmotivated; absenteeism and turnover will be high; and there will be a poor work environment, among other consequences that we cover in our article “Work environment.”
Key Aspects of Internal Communication:
If you detect factors at play in your company that are contributing to your employees feeling unmotivated or unsatisfied with their work environment, you need to address them, which is something you can do through internal communication.
Understanding the key components of internal communication is critical:
Employee relationships in the workplace:
fluid and effective internal communication can strengthen employees’ personal connections with managers, leaders, and their coworkers, which will lead to increased employee engagement and performance. When employees are unable to form good relationships in the workplace, the consequences include high personnel turnover and low productivity, among others.
- Attitudes and actions of managers and leaders:
there are more often than not different work groups that are constantly collaborating with a leader, and that the latter must relay the group’s achievements to the company’s senior management. If the attitudes of these senior managers are positive and deemed satisfactory (and fair) by the other employees, motivation and enthusiasm will be reflected in the productivity of the work teams.
- Verbal communication:
spoken or written communication between employees and management at all levels. If verbal communication is not effective, the result will be a poor working environment for employees due to inefficient internal communication. This is why it is extremely important that each actor within the company has the skills to communicate properly and fluidly with other employees.
- Non-verbal communication:
actions and gestures made when people interact or speak with one another. If non-verbal communication leads to a misunderstanding, the dialogue between the different stakeholders in the company will break down.
