In a climate of economic uncertainty and employee vulnerability, the internal communication process within any organisation becomes of paramount importance.

Internal communication is an essential component in enhancing staff morale, reducing employee attrition rates, and encouraging all parts of a business to work towards a common and achievable goal. The clarity and credibility of information within the workplace is vital; there is no room for ambiguity if you wish to train and maintain motivated, loyal and productive individuals.

While HR and marketing should champion and drive forward the issue of internal communication, the responsibility should be shared by chief executives, managing directors and team leaders alike. Creating and implementing this two-way dialogue between employers and employees creates professional transparency, thus avoiding an atmosphere of unsubstantiated rumours and destructive speculation. It also stimulates employee feedback on work-related issues, circulates relevant and constructive information, and encourages the sharing of ideas and opinions.

Once achieved, effective internal communication can serve as the life blood of an organisation. It can nurture a true sense of belonging, giving
employees a sense of direction when working towards shared — and clearly defined — goals, and motivate individuals to the level that they feel a shared responsibility for the growth and overall success of the company.

As Spring Group operates as an international recruitment firm, with an office framework reaching as far as Australia and the US, our overseas divisions often render face-to-face contact unachievable. For companies such as ourselves, an internal communication programme that centres around media such as emails, newsletters and the intranet is a tool that should be optimised to the utmost in order to generate clear and concise messages about the business as a whole. Failure to do so can result in damaging disillusionment if employees feel that they are not appreciated as an important element of their company’s goals, successes and wider business decisions.

Ineffectual communication within the workplace can lead to the erosion of trust and confidence in one’s employer; can generate conflict between staff at all levels of the business; can inspire disloyalty within unsettled individuals; and can ultimately send attrition rates soaring. What’s more, a To help your business adapt to market conditions and survive through the tough times, communication with your staff is key
company’s brand will suffer if its employees do not feel justified (or sufficiently knowledgeable) in acting as a champion or positive
representative of that brand.

This lack of a shared vision or an absence of clearly defined goals will, in time, lead to low morale, eventually resulting in low productivity. Without a structured system of internal communication, organisations allow third parties — such as the media — to determine which titbits of information are communicated to its employees, leaving them open to the effects of scare mongering and abstract rumours.

To achieve success within business, you need a wellinformed, highly motivated and fiercely loyal team behind you — and to achieve this,
communication is key!

Aidan Anglin
Managing director Professional Staffing, Spring Group