Your Company’s Internal Communication Issues Solved

Looking to increase the efficiency of communication in your office, but not quite sure how? You’re not alone. Though companies have altered their marketing communication strategies to take advantage of online platforms and social media sites, many struggle to adjust their internal communication methods to keep pace with the changing media landscape. The fact is, countless businesses of all sizes suffer from out-of-date workplace communication practices that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

One of the most prevalent complaints by professionals regarding communication in the office is being bogged down by emails, which can result in a number of workplace woes. For instance, it can create bottlenecks in communication between upper- and lower-level employees. Upper management may have trouble discerning high-priority emails from the mass, resulting in untimely responses to crucial matters or a lack of response altogether. Additionally, employees waste precious time following up with their coworkers—via another email, over the phone, or in person—and a vicious cycle ensues. Emails are also an impersonal communication channel, which may hurt workplace satisfaction in the long run.

There are a number of ways your company can amp up its internal communication strategy. While our CT marketing agency focuses primarily on businesses’ external use of social media, we recognize that using social technology to support your company internally can increase efficiency, collaboration, and employee morale in the office. Here are 3 platforms we recommend:

1. Yammer. Yammer is an enterprise social network—a social network that’s dedicated entirely to your particular business. Many have likened Yammer to a “Facebook for business” because of its interface. Yammer encourages internal collaboration through key features including groups for projects with specific coworkers, a detailed People Directory, file-sharing capabilities, and shared web-based documents. It serves as a single destination for a majority of internal communication needs. Transitioning your company’s employees onto Yammer could not only increase collaboration, but Yammer claims it will reduce emails too.

2. Microsoft Access Workflow. This system aggregates all of a company’s or team’s projects and tasks within a single platform and orders them by priority. Each Workflow item includes the name of the employee working on the project, providing a holistic view of your business’s projects and goals. As long as it is continually updated and checked, this tool should eliminate a great deal of daily email exchanges while enabling more efficient delegation and management of projects. There should also be a low learning curve, as the Workflow interface is similar to Microsoft Outlook.

3. Video Conferencing. Video is increasingly important as a communication channel, especially in companies that have remote employees or work with outside clients. Video conferencing is an inherently collaborative tool, adds a personal touch to work-related communication, and increases productivity by leaving less room for misinterpretation. Free options like Skype or Google Hangouts are effective and simple to incorporate into your company’s existing communication methods. Other options like Cisco WebEx and Citrix GoToMeeting act as all-around conferencing services, enabling employees to record meetings, upload files, and share screens.   

With the New Year underway, take a moment to think about revamping your company’s internal communication strategy – you’ll soon see the benefits!

For more social technology tips, visit the Clarity Quest Marketing blog. 

Author: +Chris Slocumb