Why cutting channels strengthens employee engagement.
Communicators can simplify their message channels without reducing their efficacy.
“Employees are overwhelmed. There’s chaos everywhere. But you can simplify your internal communications while increasing the effectiveness,” said Alyssa Oshiro, internal communications director for the National Wildlife Federation, during Ragan’s Virtual Bootcamp Conference.
Oshiro recommends three steps to be successful.
- Turn data into storytelling: The important first step is maintaining a robust data collection and metrics system, Oshiro said. Once that data is collected, communicators will have quantitative metrics that provide a clearer picture of employee behavior. “These are things like adoption metrics or engagement metrics,” Oshiro said. Qualitative data, meanwhile, shows more anecdotal or user-experience driven data. This can be gathered through employee surveys, focus groups or pulse checks. All types of qualitative data help tell a story, Oshiro said. This is imperative for the subsequent steps.
- Triage your feedback: Feedback may not always be what communicators expect. Some feedback might be submitted anonymously and may lack context. With all feedback, consider who it’s from first, Oshiro said. If this feedback is coming from the executive office, it needs to be addressed quickly and with actionable steps. “As communicators, we amplify executive decisions, but we’re not the sole stewards of this information.” Explain that some feedback decisions stem from leadership, she said. Then continue to look at feedback from other teams and identify what needs to be addressed next, with a strategic plan in place on why and how you’re addressing the issue at hand. Always let people know you hear them and you’re working to address concerns.
- Decide what not to do: Once data and feedback are collected, communicators can work to eliminate channels that aren’t serving the team, Oshiro said. “People are always going to have their preferences,” she said. Think about what you’re hoping to accomplish and then cut out the additional noise and chaos. This could be reducing the number of newsletters or emails while providing more information on an intranet, she said. “Suss out the tactic from the goal and understand the work that you’re doing is business-enabling,” Oshiro said. “The work that you’re doing is not just sending emails.”
To learn even more tips on communication channels strategies, head over to view this discussion and more at Ragan Training here.
Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at courtneyb@ragan.com.
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