How to become an excellent Internal Communications Manager? – 10 tips
One of the most important business trends of recent years has been the growing importance of internal communications for organizations. Thus, the business has discovered something that HR professionals have probably always known. However, as the importance grows, so does the responsibility. It also results in an expanded role for the internal communications manager, who becomes an equal partner in the business from a support position. Here are 10 tips on how to be a leader in your field these days.
The new reality – new challenges
The evolution of the role of the Internal Communications Manager has been accelerated by the events of recent years. The need for efficient and effective communication with employees has become crucial for maintaining work continuity and increasing market competitiveness in uncertain times of crisis. Companies are paying closer attention to employees’ needs, including their well-being, which is becoming an important element in building their engagement. Multichannel, two-way communication plays a huge role in this process.
Internal Communications Managers are therefore expected to do more than before with no time to gradually expand their leadership competencies. However, this does not mean that they are not prepared for such a role. Sometimes, they just need a little support and a few tips. Here are 10 of them that will enable them to become excellent Internal Communications Leaders.
10 tips that will help you to become an excellent Internal Communications Manager
- Give up on mass mailing
Emails are the bane of our time. Preparing them is time-consuming and receiving too many of them clogs up mailboxes. Employees unnecessarily waste their valuable time trying to find something among them. If you send an email, you can be sure that a significant part of the recipients will simply ignore it. Besides, it’s hard to measure its reach and effectiveness. Use other modern and interactive communication channels.
- Use EX platforms on a larger scale than before
EX platforms are your ally and it is worth discovering all their strengths. And there are a lot of them: from an easy implementation process, and attractive, eye-catching design, through the ability to produce creative, engaging content, to personalization and detailed analytics.
- Create content strategies
Take a cue from the best content marketing specialists, who operate according to strict criteria. They know who they are targeting with messages, they create personas, and define goals and metrics to achieve them.
- Engage your audience
The best Internal Communications Managers know that effective communication works both ways. Don’t shy away from interacting with employees, encourage employee-generated content, and be open to feedback.
- Be prepared for a crisis before it comes
The situation in the company can sometimes be unpredictable or even chaotic. This can be influenced by the external situation or internal events. That’s why it’s a good idea to prepare an emergency action plan for your internal comms.
- Run internal campaigns
Each internal campaign should be a separate project, but consistent with the overall communication strategy. Defining goals, dissecting activities, tools, communication channels and indicators of success will make your work seen as effective and professional.
- Be empathetic
Today’s leaders, especially Internal Communications Managers, must be open to discussion and feedback. Empathize with your employees and approach their needs with respect and understanding.
- Write effectively
Creating good content is a skill that can be learned. Look up to marketing specialists and become an effective and creative copywriter, tell stories, and evoke emotions.
- Check what works for you
Analyze your activities and optimize them to make them even more effective. The best companies keep track of the effectiveness of their initiatives, but they are also not afraid of communication audits, seeing them as an opportunity to get honest and reliable feedback.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
A good Internal Communication Manager doesn’t do everything alone. Penny Cole, Group HR Director at Quilter plc said: “It’s all about leaving your ego at the door and finding the right people in the business to help get the job done.”
High expectations and responsibility, but at the same time greater prestige of the position – this is the trend Internal Communication Managers can expect in the coming years. Following these 10 principles, and being attentive to your role, can determine success and ever-improving performance in internal communications.