Essential for large companies, internal communication tools are also strategic in small and medium-sized businesses. For good reason: internal communication connects services and creates bridges between the various establishments. In order to optimize the transmission of information and the commitment of all employees, here are internal communication tools used by many companies and by all of their employees.
What are the goals of internal communication?
The goals of internal communication go well beyond the simple transmission of information to all employees. Good internal communication is a tool for cohesion within the company : it allows a better organization of the various departments, improves the well-being of employees and, ultimately, plays on your brand image.
It conveys your values
By conveying your messages to your entire team, you also transmit the values of the company. You give a unique vision to each employee and to newcomers. Indeed, successful internal communication determines the quality of relationships within the company.
It creates a collective identity
This is one of the main objectives of internal communication tools: create cohesion between your employees and a team spirit. This communication strategy brings together the different layers of the company and generates a climate of trust by improving the dialogue between your employees. In this way, teams collaborate better and feel committed to the same goal, i.e. the success of their business.
It conveys your business strategy
Effective internal communication is the ideal tool to share your goals. You easily convey your business strategy and, if necessary, the choice of directions taken to all your employees. It is also a two-way medium, since it also gives your employees the opportunity to be heard. In this way, you will be in a position to identify possible tensions more easily and therefore to apprehend potential conflicts.
It reinforces your employer brand
Internal communication tools are a powerful lever to retain your talents and attract your future recruits. An employee who is proud of his company will be the first to convey a positive image of your brand. So, good internal communication is a way to improve external communication. Your employees will become your best ambassadors abroad, especially on social networks, allowing your reputation to develop positively.
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8 internal communication tools to unite your teams
Indispensable in business, internal communication makes it easier to convey information to all of your employees. Discover 8 internal communication tools that are most used today.
🎯 The digital and gamified seminar
It is often difficult to maintain the traditional and expensive annual seminar, leading to the appearance of more frequent and shorter formats of seminars, workshops, etc. In the form of participatory webinars, live YouTube or simple meetings on Slack or Zoom, they are the new places of exchange where strategic concerns are shared with all employees. These formats remain effective for sharing a vision and indicating the direction to take!
A digital, gamified meeting or videoconference are among the internal communication tools that require the most organization, but they are very unifying, especially if your employees are not on site.
Fun or informational, these virtual meetings are an opportunity toopen the dialogue And ofdiscuss ongoing projects Or sensitive topics.
🎙️ Internal podcasts
We have felt it coming in our private lives for a few years now: audio is making a big comeback! Podcasts are increasingly taking precedence over professional webinars.
Internal podcasts are an original way to boost your internal communication. Highly appreciated by your employees, podcasts have the advantage of being shared on mobile, and therefore of being available at any time. Do not hesitate to maintain an authentic character with a podcast” homemade ”: it will allow you tohumanize your relationships with your teams and will be an opportunity to give them a voice! However, before you start creating podcasts, always keep your goals in mind if you want to perpetuate this atypical distribution channel.
💻 The Intranet
The Intranet is often a preferred tool in medium and large companies. Its organization is quite difficult to set up and it is still very expensive. As a general rule, it is mainly used to bring together the various productivity tools or the useful information, such as official documentation or even the procedures to follow. It has the advantage of being accessible by a personal code: thus, each of your employees has a space of their own and that they can consult at their leisure.
Often, the tool incorporates Intranet, Digital Workplace, and Corporate Social Network. More and more complete, they are more complex to set up and also more expensive. His biggest challenge? To be really adopted by employees.
Sometimes suffering from a slightly outdated image, it is revolutionized by Facebook Workplace, whose use is skyrocketing (7 million users in May 2021). The real revolution is that it can also equip nomadic and less connected workers: in workshops, factories, in the field...
However, you can transform this tool into a modern and unifying solution by creating a corporate social network on your platform.
🖥️ Digital signage
Digital signage is one of the most unifying internal communication tools. A real bridge between the physical world and the digital world: the digital tool will allow you to broadcast videos or content to all of your employees. The screens can be made available to local management, services, managers, or even volunteer employees, to ensure optimal local communication. Communication on screens is adapted according to the strategic objectives of the company.
Also note that interactive display can make it possible to gamify but also to provide feedback; for example with connected buttons. Thanks to this simple and intuitive support, you easily communicate on an unlimited number of multi-site screens that you control and manage from a dedicated interface.
Digital signage requires little organization, but offers you multiple opportunities:
- Inform all your employees in real time (even non-connected field teams) of their performances as well as the objectives to be achieved and thus improve the productivity of the company;
- Modernizing your brand image using connected and innovative internal communication tools;
- Generate the interest of your teams by broadcasting fun information such as news reports or the weather, while keeping their attention for more formal messages.
⌨️ The internal newsletter
Already established for many years, the internal newsletter is unbeatable. According to a study Bananatag, the internal newsletter has good results: 79% open rate and 15% click rate. The study states that the smaller the mailing lists, the better these engagement rates are. Indeed, by segmenting your audiences, you personalize the messages, making them more relevant to your target audience.
The newsletter is simple and effective... but only for a connected population! It also has the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to set up. Monthly or weekly, it allows you to Circulate information to all employees regularly. Indeed, it should be noted that to be optimal, the newsletter must be addressed to all employees, including management.
Among the internal communication tools, the newsletter is the perfect solution for strengthen cohesion between your employees by going beyond company news. A portrait of one of your employees on video or an innovative project put into images, are examples of richer content to enhance your newsletters.
📰 The internal journal
More extensive than a newsletter, more inclusive than its digital version, the internal newspaper is one of the the most corporate internal communication tools. In digital or paper versions, the corporate journal is an opportunity to give your teams a voice, while promoting corporate culture. It is the ideal communication tool for federate and inform all staff. For example, you can discuss strategic decisions by senior management, external communications operations and economic results, but also the organization of internal or external events. The potential limit: it doesn't allow interactions.
💡 The idea box
The idea box is one of the oldest internal communication tools, but which is still generating a lot of enthusiasm. Entirely anonymous, it allows your employees to express themselves in complete confidentiality, thus encouraging them to be more transparent. Not only she Enhance your image as a manager concerned about the problems encountered within the company, but it is a means of become aware of the concerns of your employees.
❔ Survey tools
Surveys are still among simple and effective internal communication tools. You can set up survey tools on business projects, for activities or around the organization of the company. Whatever your objective, the survey is a means of communication that has the advantage of centralize the answers of your teams. Every voice is taken into account, so you reinforce their sense of belonging to the group.
Create an ecosystem by combining different internal communication tools
All of these internal communication tools will strengthen the cohesion of your teams internally while promoting the company's image externally. It is a highly effective collaborative strategy that will allow you to unite your employees around a common project: the life of the company!
CSR, a strong theme to be addressed in 2024
The world is changing, and so is business. Social and environmental responsibility (CSR) is becoming a major challenge for consumers, for employees and for the management of companies of all sizes. You can rely on internal communication tools to initiate or strengthen a CSR strategy within your organization: Use webinars, podcasts or digital signage to disseminate best practices; Use the idea box to create momentum and multiply initiatives; Make resources and information available on the company's intranet; etc.
Synergies between the various tools
The implementation of a high-performance communication strategy is based on a synergy between the various internal communication tools at your disposal: Digital signage or a newsletter can summarize the key points raised during a webinar; The best suggestions put into the idea box are valued in the newsletter or by digital signage, are mentioned in a webinar or are the subject of a dedicated survey; The internal newsletter or the intranet can host a link to a podcast or The rebroadcast of a webinar; etc. Digital signage is a tool that integrates perfectly with internal communication plans and complements your existing tools. Indeed, screens can be used to promote the latest newsletter or the latest internal newspaper to encourage people to consult them. It is also essential for creating traffic, reminding survey deadlines or specific internal events. It is thus a tool that is completely complementary to your current internal communication tools.
Cenareo combines an intuitive digital signage solution with solid cutting-edge expertise that simplifies the management of large screen fleets and improves the user experience, maximizes the impact of communication and accelerates digital transformation. The solution, which is quick to deploy, stimulates the creativity of our customers, increases their productivity, and allows for both local and global management to accelerate the return on investment of their project.
