How can you innovate internal communication?

Internal communication is the exchange of information, ideas, and feedback within an organization. It plays a vital role in building trust, engagement, and collaboration among employees and leaders. However, internal communication can also become stagnant, boring, or ineffective if it relies on outdated or one-way methods. How can you innovate internal communication and make it more dynamic, interactive, and impactful? Here are some tips to help you.

1 Use multiple channels

Don't limit yourself to just email, intranet, or newsletters. Explore different ways to communicate with your audience, such as podcasts, videos, webinars, blogs, or social media. These channels can help you deliver your message in a more engaging and personalized way, as well as reach different segments of your workforce. For example, you can use podcasts to share stories, insights, or interviews with leaders or experts. You can use videos to showcase projects, achievements, or best practices. You can use webinars to provide training, updates, or Q&A sessions. You can use blogs to share opinions, insights, or tips. You can use social media to create communities, conversations, or polls.

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David Keith James Baldwin
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Improving accessibility by ensuring all communication tools and platforms are mobile-friendly so employees can access information on the go. Developing a company app that consolidates all internal communication channels and provide content in multiple languages—if applicable—so that it is inclusive across geographies. Ensure all communication is also accessible to employees with disabilities (e.g., providing transcripts for videos, ALT text on photo images, etc).

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Drew Holland

Head of Internal Communication at GoCardless | Ex BBC, EE, Moonpig, Sainsbury’s, Thomson Reuters.
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There's a whole host of different channels you could use... but do it sensibly, in the context of who your audience is and where they are. Each might have preferences for a particular channel of communication, so it'll take time to learn and adapt. Be wary of just layering more and more tech or channels into the company — for everything you add, seriously consider removing something else. Information overload is real and you're competing with external channels too.

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2 Involve your employees

Don't just talk at your employees, talk with them. Invite them to participate in your internal communication and make it a two-way dialogue. You can do this by asking for feedback, suggestions, or questions. You can also create opportunities for them to contribute content, ideas, or stories. For example, you can ask them to share their experiences, challenges, or successes in a blog post, video, or podcast. You can also encourage them to comment, like, or share your content on social media or intranet. This way, you can make your employees feel valued, heard, and involved in your organization.

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Jennifer Blackman

Founder of The Listening Practice which is a mental wellness support service. It provides a space of unconditional positive regard.
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I worked with an organization that would host internal focus groups. The aim was monthly and sometimes quarterly was the best that could happen given scheduling issues. Employees always appreciated being asked for their opinion and suggestions, and management always gained new perspectives which often changed perspectives on how certain things were being done or should be done. An added benefit was an increase in trust and better flow of ideas in the immediate weeks following these engagements.

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Drew Holland

Head of Internal Communication at GoCardless | Ex BBC, EE, Moonpig, Sainsbury’s, Thomson Reuters.
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Two-communication methods are one of the best investments you can make. You get to hear directly from employees, but you can also facilitate trust and connection between—for example—senior leaders and the wider team. Create simple, accessible ways for this to happen, and both groups will gain valuable insight and leave better off.

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3 Experiment with new formats

Don't be afraid to try new things and be creative with your internal communication. You can experiment with different formats, styles, or tones to make your content more appealing and memorable. For example, you can use infographics, animations, or comics to illustrate data, facts, or processes. You can use quizzes, games, or challenges to test knowledge, skills, or behaviors. You can use humor, storytelling, or metaphors to make your message more relatable and fun. You can also use interactive elements, such as polls, surveys, or live chats to make your content more responsive and engaging.

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Serena Jweinat
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If you have the technical capabilities and bandwidth, consider personalizing internal communication messages based on employees' roles, preferences, and interests. Use segmentation to deliver targeted content that resonates with different teams and employees.

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Drew Holland

Head of Internal Communication at GoCardless | Ex BBC, EE, Moonpig, Sainsbury’s, Thomson Reuters.
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Don't be afraid to try new things, but don't get sucked into launching new channels, tools, or tactics just because you 'think' they're wanted or needed. Talk to the teams about what resonates with them, and use their insights to shape your approach. And, if you do mix things up, get a sense of whether it's working or not before fully committing.

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4 Align with your goals

Don't lose sight of the purpose and value of your internal communication. Make sure that your content and channels are aligned with your organizational goals, vision, and values. You can do this by defining your objectives, audience, and key messages. You can also measure your impact and results by using metrics, analytics, or feedback tools. For example, you can track how many people view, open, or click on your content. You can also ask for ratings, reviews, or testimonials from your employees. This way, you can evaluate your effectiveness and improvement areas and adjust your strategy accordingly.

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Drew Holland

Head of Internal Communication at GoCardless | Ex BBC, EE, Moonpig, Sainsbury’s, Thomson Reuters.
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Align to business goals throughout, and keep tabs on alignment through qualitative and quantitative methods. Your communications should help employees understand the actions required to move the needle and have a genuine impact on the progress of the company. And when that's happening, don't forget to celebrate it together!

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5 Learn from others

Don't isolate yourself from the external world and the best practices of other organizations. Learn from others who are innovating their internal communication and see what you can apply or adapt to your own context. You can do this by following industry trends, research, or case studies. You can also network with other internal communicators, join online communities, or attend events or webinars. For example, you can follow blogs, podcasts, or newsletters from experts or thought leaders in internal communication. You can also join groups, forums, or platforms where you can exchange ideas, tips, or resources with your peers.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Elisa Collados

External ¬ Internal Communication | Podcasts | Corporate culture | Project management | Learning | Banking
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Para mi, lo que mejores resultados da en Comunicación interna, es la creatividad y la capacidad para arriesgarse. Por ejemplo, hace unos años, se me ocurrió introducir una holofonía en un plan de comunicación sobre sostenibilidad. El resultado fue muy bueno y la comunicación cosecho muy buenas métricas. Creo que el éxito se debió principalmente al formato elegido. La holofonía es un formato nuevo, distinto, poco usado, por ende, genera muchas expectativas y sorpresas.

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Adeeba Hussain Chart.PR

Internal communications measurement and evaluation specialist | Connect impact to strategy, purpose and objectives | Create meaningful employee experience |
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One way is to consider having your employees at the heart of your storytelling and content creation. I believe there is no better way to bring your narrative to life than sharing the employees stories.

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Deepesh Bansal

Human Resource Administration and Co-ordinator, Media Operations Team Leader (Offline and Online)
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I suppose, one should also inculcate the feeling of oneness and togetherness. And that could be done by scheduling group meetings periodically, say quarterly, where people can speak freely without getting backlash for their views and opinions.

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How can you innovate internal communication?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use multiple channels

2 Involve your employees

3 Experiment with new formats

4 Align with your goals

5 Learn from others

6 Here’s what else to consider

Internal Communications

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How can you innovate internal communication?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use multiple channels

2 Involve your employees

3 Experiment with new formats

4 Align with your goals

5 Learn from others

6 Here’s what else to consider

Internal Communications

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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