For any frontline employee, the daily working experience is often a delicate balancing act, with numerous challenges that go beyond the visible surface. This is precisely why all employees want is for you to create an internal communications experience that is not adding to this stress and pressure.
In this blog, we’ll dive into why internal communications professionals should focus on simplifying internal communication and the 6 key factors to keep in mind.
Why you should focus on simplifying internal communications for employees
The creation of various communications tools began with a fundamental goal: simplification. Making it easier to share files, updates, various news, and stay in touch with each other. From the introduction of email to the integration of chatbots and the utilization of mobile apps, the intent is clear — to streamline processes, boost efficiency, and elevate the overall employee experience.
For any frontline employee, the daily working experience is often a delicate balancing act, with numerous challenges that go beyond the visible surface. The cognitive load is considerable, as they are expected to absorb and retain a vast amount of information over time and unlike desk workers, they cannot simply look up this information at any time. The constant need to adapt to changes can be mentally exhausting, leaving them feeling overwhelmed.
Fast forward to the present, and the evolution of communication tools has taken a remarkable turn as a result of the multitude of technological advancements. Yet, as seemingly positive this might initially come across, in our pursuit of progress and efficiency, we have inadvertently introduced a new layer of complexity. What was initially designed to simplify communication and workflow has, in some cases, resulted in added intricacies.
The abundance of tools, platforms, and applications, while providing an array of functionalities, also presents challenges. Slack messages, Whatsapp, Facebook Groups, Instagram accounts, emails - our frontline employees now find themselves navigating through a maze of other communication options, leading to information overload and decreased operational clarity. The information overload is exacerbated by the fact that crucial documentation, training materials, and policies are dispersed across different platforms and not always easily accessible. It feels like navigating a labyrinth to find the right information, and this inefficiency only adds to the stress of the job…
So, what exactly do employees want?
It boils down to a few key factors: familiarity, consistency, clarity, context and purpose, accessibility, personalization. Let's take a look at what these imply:
- One place for everything: Access scheduling, payroll, and other essential tools effortlessly - all in one place, instead of trying to remember passwords for all tools separately. There is already enough to think about as is.
- Familiarity: Whether it's email, instant messaging platforms, the tools used for internal communication should be intuitive, easy to navigate and feel familiar. For example such as branded employee app that mimic the feel of social media platforms such as Facebook, yet reflect an organizations' brand.
- Consistency: Consistency is key when it comes to internal communication. Employees expect to receive consistent messaging across all channels and from all levels of the organization. No more discrepancies between the
- Clarity: Your employees will always favor simplified information that is needed, rather than being flooded with messages that, even if backed by the best of intentions, can very well end up being irrelevant.
- Accessibility: Your deskless workers might not have a company email address, yet most of them definitely use their mobile phones for leisure, so why not meet them where it’s familiar using an employee app?
- Personalization: With their working days often characterized by diverse and sometimes challenging customer interactions, managing operational issues, and handling unexpected situations, your employees expect to receive communications specific to their department and role to keep them informed. The more personal, the more relevant, the more meaningful.