Business Communications internal

Internal business communication requires focus, openness and support from the top.

g communication image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com

Employees are a critical resource for any company, regardless of the company's size, industry or geographic location. Internal business communication is also critical. Employees need to understand what is expected of them, need to receive feedback about their performance and need to know how the business is doing and where it is headed. Employees also need to have the opportunity for input about decisions that affect their work and their future.

Employee Knowledge

While old-school managers may have kept employees somewhat in the dark, especially when it came to proprietary financial information or trade secrets, today openness is more the norm. Companies recognize that employees want to know about the business they work for, its products and services, how its doing financially and even its plans for the future. The more employees are kept informed, the better they are able to contribute to the success of the business.

Level of Employee Knowledge

Not all employees need the same amount of information or type of content. The need of the employees to know will depend on their job function, their position in the company and where they are located. While it may be easy to send a single message through a single communication channel to all employees, it is not likely to be effective. Internal business communications that are directed specifically to specific employee segments based on their needs is best.

Related Reading: Business Communications Colors

Opportunity for Input is Critical

Businesses do themselves a disservice when they fail to take advantage of the opportunity to receive feedback, ideas and input from employees. Employees who have the ability to influence decisions that affect their work and to offer ideas for product and process improvement are more loyal, committed and productive. And with more input, the business ideas are more diverse.

Trust Builds Slowly, Erodes Quickly

It can take a long time for a manager or business leader to establish trust with employees. Unfortunately, that trust can be lost in an instant if communication is not open, timely and inclusive. Business leaders that make a commitment to build strong relationships with employees are committed to being open and honest, even in difficult business situations.

The Tone is Set at the Top

When a manager sees their manager or business owner communicate openly and honestly, she will model that behavior. When an employee sees a supervisor communicate dishonestly or avoid communication, the employee is also likely to model that behavior. The tone for positive internal business communications is established and modeled from the top of the organization down through the front lines and, ultimately, to the company's prospects and customers.