If youre struggling to make your internal communication fast and efficient, then you may be taking the wrong approach. Thankfully, with all of the data you now have at your fingertips, you can make educated choices and implement detailed strategies that lead to effortless communication.
3 Data-Driven Ways to Enhance Internal Communication
While you may not spend time thinking about the connection between data and communication strategies, the relationship does exist. Lets take a quick look at three specific data-driven ways you can enhance your companys internal communication with relative ease.
1. Have a Plan for Mass Communication
If your business depends on supply chain efficiency to consistently produce products and meet demand, then you know just how important it is to keep things moving at a steady pace. But what happens when a warehouse or factory employee calls in sick?
For factories and manufacturing plants, the effect of call-offs can be serious, DialMyCalls explains. A factory floor is designed to operate with certain people at certain points in production to ensure that your goods are being produced at the quality you expect. One missing link in that chain could close down the entire production line.
How do you ensure that call-offs and unforeseen scheduling issues dont set your business back? Well, you can start with an API-based mass communications tool that quickly communicates shift openings to employees in a timely manner (ideally via SMS).
2. Improve Both Horizontal and Vertical Communications
There are a lot of companies that are good at either horizontal or vertical communication, but very few that are proficient at both. If you want seamless collaboration where everyone feels like theyre being heard, then you need a strategy that improves both.
To streamline internal communications, the right tools matter, says Rich Kneece, CEO of Massachusetts Technology Corporation. Slack, HipChat and other Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services improve peer-to-peer communicationsor horizontal communications. With programs that connect workers at all levelsor vertical communicationseach individual is empowered with a voice on issues or topics that matter to him or her.
3. Identify KPIs
Having an internal communication strategy isnt enough. If you want to be successful, you need to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that allow you to measure the efficacy of your internal communications.
Specifically, communications expert Emma Hanley believes businesses must look at internal communications from three different angles: granular, organizational, and industry benchmarks.
When you take this overarching look at internal communication, suddenly you arent blinded by one specific KPI or metric. Youre able to see the entire picture, cross-referencing one data point against another to understand whats really happening. This prevents you from making foolish decisions based on shallow research. As a result, you make choices for the better of the company and not one specific initiative or department.
Prioritize Internal Communication
Whats the number one killer of relationships? It isnt infidelity, dishonesty, selfishness, or any of the other surface level issues that appear to cause breakups, splits, and divorces its a lack of communication. In just about every instance, you can trace the end of a relationship back to a lack of communication.
Well, to an extent, the same holds true for businesses. When organizations begin to deteriorate, its generally rooted in poor internal communication. And while healthy communication may not keep a company from going under, it can certainly provide the boost needed to identify issues and move things in a positive direction.
The good news is that, with data at the heart of internal communication, businesses can make great strides and develop a sense of stability that only comes from a clear understanding of whats happening underneath the surface.
