Internal communications in the workplace has undergone tremendous changes. Technology, remote working, globalization, and flat structures have led businesses to rethink how they communicate with their employees. In these slides, we discuss, what internal communications is, how to put an effective internal comms plan in place, and the latest trends, standards, benefits, and challenges.

1. BUILD AN INTERNAL CULTURE OF ENGAGEMENT AND FOCUS
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

2. Internal communications in the workplace has undergone enormous change. Technology, remote working, globalization
and flat structures have led business owners to rethink how they communicate with staff.
Internal Communications (IC) is keeping employees informed and connected to your business. It’s about ensuring
decisions, programs, policies, goals, and company vision are shared with staff. It’s about giving staff a platform
for their ideas and feedback.
Internal communications flows in all directions and in multiple forms. And while some companies will have unique
communication requirements, many share almost identical communication tasks. These often include Human
Resources updates, leadership news, operational communications and inter-team collaboration.
Done well, internal communications fosters employee loyalty, belonging, and a shared sense of purpose.
Employees feel valued. They understand where they fit and how they can contribute. Staff retention improves,
as does overall business performance. Done poorly, staff feel disconnected, mistakes are made and projects fail.
Lack of direction increases risk and staff turnover.
WHAT IS INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS?

3. 11 REASONS
WHY INTERNAL
COMMUNICATIONS
IS IMPORTANT

4. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS KEEP
PEOPLE IN THE LOOP
To ensure your people are rowing in the same direction, information must
be communicated across the entire business in a consistent way.
A well-thought-out internal communications strategy allows you to
build support for exciting new products, milestones, and initiatives. It
provides a single source of truth (which stops internal confusion). And it
reinforces internal culture aligned to your business strategy.
In light of the new hybrid world of remote-and-on-site working, businesses
are trying harder than ever before to improve communications. Messages
must have cut-through and clarity. Consequently, communicators are
rethinking how best to connect with staff, to keep them close to and
interested in the business.
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5. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
ACHIEVES COMPANY-WIDE GOALS
Good internal communications will drive the right outcomes for your business.
Employees want to understand what their role is, how this contributes to the big
picture, and ultimately what that big picture is.
Done right, your staff will reach their potential as they will genuinely feel valued
and engaged.
Clear goal-setting from the top will ripple through to every department and
team member. This helps staff to discern which tasks to prioritize and improve
their productivity.
Consider too that almost 100 percent of employees believe that
communication influences all tasks daily.
That’s why communication that supports the overarching goals will ensure
the right work gets done.
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6. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
PROMOTES CAMARADARIE
Everybody wins if they feel part of a good team. Multi-way communication
between staff, managers, and interdepartmental colleagues helps
everybody feel like their input matters.
It can also prevent company knowledge from becoming siloed and
untapped. This is more important nowadays with remote working widely in
place. Keeping information flowing to home-based workers is essential for
staff to feel connected and cared for.
Communicating progress helps maintain momentum to get projects across the
line. And importantly, nurtures a true team spirit for ongoing success.
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7. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
ENHANCES THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
Research suggests that employees spend on average 2.5 hours a day searching for
information. This leaves staff feeling frustrated and ineffective.
Employee experience differs from employee engagement: the former is how an
employee ‘feels’ as a result of every interaction with their employer (location, tools,
meetings) whereas employee engagement is how an employee ‘responds’ to their
employer (participation, social, tasks).
Good internal communications can enhance the employee experience by helping
staff feel connected with the important stuff. Making it easy to find information is a
start. Inviting staff to share their feedback and ideas on proposals and decisions
will foster a sense of worth.
The modern-day intranet has come a long way since its inception,
featuring many social sharing features to truly impact the
employee experience.
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8. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
ENGAGES STAFF
Once upon a time, internal communications was thought to mean ‘emails from the CEO’.
Thankfully, that’s all changed.
Technology has paved the way for effective multi-way communication giving everyone
a chance to participate.
Forums, blogs and chat channels are just some of the internal communication modules that
enable lateral conversations – and increases engagement. While likes, comments and shares
are popular tactics that show interest and readership.
Furthermore, there’s increasing evidence that younger generations
expect (and thrive in) a lateral, collaborative workplace.
Engaged employees are more likely to express opinions and
participate in work conversations, leading to fresh ideas and
a greater chance of success.
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9. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
PROMOTES CULTURE
Creating the perfect workplace culture can be a tough nut to crack. It’s the sum of many
parts, least of which is how the company’s values, mission and goals are articulated and
interpreted.
Setting the right tone, providing relatable examples, showing progress, and using
multi-channel communication formats all help grow a strong culture that staff feel part
of. A multi-touch internal communications approach ensures all personality types are
covered.
Providing staff with communication tools that will help them
collaborate with their peers and managers in a way that suits
them – whether they’re an extrovert, introvert, or in-between
– breaks down barriers and gives everyone an equal voice.
Quizzes, surveys, instant messaging groups, discussion forums
– these are just a few of the tools that can feed a healthy
culture and make everyone feel involved.
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10. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
STOPS TIME-SUCKING RUMORS
Humans love a grapevine. But as we all know, this type of informal
communication can be full of holes and inaccuracies – and almost
impossible to reign in once it starts. Grapevines are caused by under-
communication.
What’s changed now though is that people turn to other ‘information’
sources (think: social media) – it’s human nature to delve for answers,
and form one’s own conclusion.
Particularly during uncertain times, staff will crave information. In the
absence of accurate updates, staff may become anxious and less
productive, and start to speculate.
A proactive internal communications program that pre-empts staff
worries will ensure there’s a single source of truth.
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11. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
RETAINS HIGH CALIBER STAFF
Research suggests the top three reasons why people do not like (and
subsequently quit) their jobs are communication-related: constant
change that’s inadequately communicated; a lack of direction from
management; and poor communications overall.
Losing staff can be a major blow to the bottom line. In a recently
published Retention Report of 34,000 respondents, it costs 33 percent of
an employee’s annual salary to hire a replacement.
So it makes good financial sense to address these communication
challenges and suppress the brain drain from your business. Share
important information with staff and let them play a more active role in
the decision-making process.
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12. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
IMPROVES REPUTATION
A well-oiled communication program can quickly deal with the inevitable
hiccups that come with running a business.
For example, a poor customer review on a high profile social media site can
be extremely damaging if left untended. But if the correct communication
processes are in place, the problem can be rapidly investigated, resolved,
and explained back to the customer.
Remember that better communication and internal processes cut down
on mistakes or gaps occurring in the first place.
Additionally, if staff feel in the dark and therefore
disengaged, they’re more inclined to bad-mouth their
employer to anyone who’ll listen: family, friends, and
even customers.
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13. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
MAINTAIN CALM DURING CRISIS
When a crisis strikes, there is immediate pressure for leaders to communicate. People want
information and guidance.
How companies communicated with their staff during the incomparable Covid-19 crisis is one for
the history books. There were some exceptional leaders who stepped up to the executive
communication challenge, choosing truth and openness. They delivered their comms at pace and
with candor, not shying away from those ‘difficult-to-have’ conversations.
These leaders earned the support and respect of their teams. Push-back was minimal as people
understood the background to decisions and adapted to the required changes.
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14. INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
INCREASES REVENUE
A recent Gallup study revealed striking evidence that underlined just how
much dollar difference good internal communications can make.
Employees who are engaged have a 41 percent reduction in absenteeism
and a 17 percent increase in productivity. These workers are also more
likely to stay with their employers. Furthermore, highly engaged teams
achieve a 10 percent increase in customer ratings and a 20 percent
increase in sales!
Creating an ‘all-ideas-welcome’ atmosphere creates fertile ground for
free-thinking and innovation. This, in turn, is likely to drive business
growth and ultimately increase revenue.
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15. CONTENT
THE CHANGING FACE OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Too much technology, distributed teams, and an unrelenting pace of progress has created a chaotic setting
for many workers. Important information gets lost amongst the noise. And employers feel no-one is reading
their carefully-crafted corporate communications.
Meanwhile, it’s estimated that by 2022, 133 million new jobs may be generated from the adoption of robotics
and algorithms, while 75 million jobs may be displaced, according to a report from the World Economic
Forum.
With teams less likely to be sitting under the same roof, a growing cohort of remote and/or freelance workers,
the traditional town-hall meeting is not so easy.
There is growing appreciation that successful internal communications today is hard work.
Employee communications are no longer the monthly “all-staff email” from the CEO. There’s no silver bullet.
No set and forget. It’s an ongoing process that continuously needs effort, time and resources.
With employee engagement at an all-time low, there’s never been more drive to solve the communication
challenge. Today, the focus is on providing a positive employee experience; a large part of that is giving
the right information, at the right time, targeted to the right individual.

16. TODAY’S INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES
Shrinking Attention Spans
Experts believe the human brain’s attention
span has shifted from 12 seconds to 8
seconds in the past 20 years
Information Overload
The average knowledge worker is
Expected to process the equivalent
of 174 newspapers each day!
Restricted Access
Approximately 80% of the global work workforce
is deskless (think retail and manufacturing staff,
nurses, drivers and emergency services) limiting
the channels to reach staff
Distraction
Staff encounter noisy, open-plan
environments and are surrounded
by devices constantly pinging
for their attention
Blurred Lines
Personal and professional content
cross over as employees typically use
the same mobile device to access
work and private content 24/7
Distributed Workforce
The gig economy, a world-wide pandemic
and advances in tech, has seen an increase
in remote workers, which can lead to
employees feeling isolated

17. CONTENT
WHAT DO EMPLOYEES WANT?
Most employees crave information about where they work – after all, it’s where they spend the majority of their time. As such,
they’re curious about the inner workings of a company, from business strategy and company goals, to training
opportunities and what’s being pushed out across social media.
They have a deep, personal interest in many of the decisions at stake. It’s why they value the opportunity to feedback, debate and
discuss. It’s essential to let them share their voice.
Traditional communication methods still carry weight, but technology is breaking new ground that’s empowering staff to get
involved in the conversation like never before.
In order for staff to do their job well, they expect:
• Fast, easy access to accurate information in just a few clicks
• Visually-rich, interactive and easy-to-follow digital experiences
• Instant messaging functionality with colleagues
• Flat structures and therefore access to all staff – including the CEO
• Two-way communication – so that employees can listen and be heard
• Gamification – such as quizzes and leaderboards, recognition, and rewards
Consider too that employees have different communication styles and learning preferences – such as visual, auditory,
reading/writing and kinesthetic – all of which need to be catered for. There is so much to be gained from internal communication
tools capable of meeting these preferences, that businesses are failing their staff if they do not take action.

18. CONTENT
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS?
Today, everyone has a role to play. Communications is not the one-way, top-down street it once was.
All employees should be sharing ideas, collaborating with colleagues and providing feedback to help
the company succeed.
However, every team needs leadership.
And the strategic vision of this leadership needs sharing. In larger companies, this lies with the C-Suite,
responsible for guiding culture, growing the employer brand, and ensuring staff are kept informed.
On behalf of management, the creation and execution of such messaging often sits with an internal
communications team or a public relations team. These are skilled at writing and producing creative
content.
In smaller companies, it may be the CEO or the human resources
executive responsible for internal communications.
In both cases effective internal communications is done best
when it’s an interdisciplinary effort including the CEO and the
C-suite; departmental managers; and all employees.

19. CONTENT
KEY BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
Company Culture Employee Experience Knowledge United
Better ways to inform, update, and
celebrate achievements
Motivate, engage, inspire, involve staff to
feel part of something special
Facilitate unified working, remove silos
and share knowledge throughout
Employee Engagement Change Management Innovation
Staff understand the big picture, the
meaning of their work, and the value they
add
Clear, reliable, unambiguous
communications minimizes confusion
and garners internal support
Great ideas can come from anywhere –
not just the boardroom – if staff have the
right channels to make suggestions
Employee Retention Compliance Reduce Email Volumes
Studies show that retention levels could
be 44% higher through effective IC
Employers have a responsibility to ensure
staff are trained on legislation
Co-ordinated, fresh-format messaging
saves the bloated, largely unread inbox

20. CONTENT
WHAT IS AN INTERNAL COMMUNICATION PLAN?
An internal communications plan provides a roadmap to ensure staff are informed about important
company information.
Without this, it is easy to become distracted from the core goals and almost impossible to defend its value.
A plan helps to focus on specific areas that need addressing. This may comprise of: company goals,
company updates, kpis, leadership communications, new initiatives, staff news, crisis communications,
marketing campaigns, culture communications, company performance and more.
Essentially, it should include the following:
• Analysis of the current state of the business, and its future plans
• What the internal communications plan will accomplish organizationally
• Who the audience is
• What the messages are, broken down by key topics
• How messages will be shared, using a range of tools, tactics, and channels
• Timing and duration of when messages will be sent
• Performance analysis to identify what’s getting cut through and what’s not

21. HOW CAN IC BUILD WORKPLACE CULTURE?
A company’s culture is what makes it unique.
Almost everything else can be copied by a competitor. Developing that uniqueness can attract and retain talent, win
customers, and grow the business.
How staff interpret each company message will affect workplace culture.
A poorly written email, an insensitive remark on the company intranet, or radio silence on an important topic can
damage internal culture.
That’s why a key purpose of an internal communications strategy is to manifest a healthy culture.
This can be achieved with the right tone, messaging, delivery, and format. But it doesn’t stop there.
Culture is also interpreted in the company news that’s shared – and what’s omitted – the truthfulness and
transparency of a company, what its values are, and why that matters.
Communicating your values and culture must be continuous. And this doesn’t have to be boring! For example, creating
short and quirky staff videos showing fun ways of exemplifying your company culture could resonate well.
Appointing representatives with good communication skills will do wonders for creating a thriving company culture.

22. CONTENT
GOOD INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AT TIMES OF CRISIS
Pandemics, extreme weather, economic recessions … life doesn’t always go to plan. Businesses are
impacted. Difficult – and sometimes fast – decisions have to be made. This is when effective
communication is needed the most.
Don’t wait until an emergency or unexpected incident strikes before putting a crisis communications plan.
In the hour of need, it’s essential to have the right communication channels – poised with pre-populated,
emergency content – ready to go. This saves time and error during an already challenging time.
Communications around redundancies and structural changes must also be handled with care.
The morale of all staff – along with the company’s reputation – is on a knife’s edge.
Transparency, consistency and compassion form internal communications best practices
when it comes to explaining tough calls.
The more open and communicative and organization is – particularly around sensitive topics
or difficult news – the more united its workforce becomes.

23. RAISING INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
STANDARDS TO MEET STAFF EXPECTATIONS
Technology apps pervade every aspect of modern living. Social media posts, instant messaging,
podcasts, webinars, and live-streams are exciting formats in which we consume content.
It’s no surprise that employees expect a feature-rich, engaging digital experience in
their professional lives, similar to what they’ve become accustomed to in their private lives.
In other words, workplace technology has been consumerized.
The responsibility lies with the employer to ensure staff are equipped with
everything they need to perform their roles efficiently, safely, and to the
Best of their ability.
This directly impacts the service and experience staff deliver to clients.
The modern-day intranet encapsulates multiple internal communication
tools all under one roof.

24. Fundamental to the successful implementation of an
internal communications strategy is having the right
technology today.
MyHub’s cloud-based intranet is designed specifically
for small-to-medium-sized organizations. It’s fully
scalable, designed to support your company’s growth.
And fully customizable, to honor your exact needs.
Designed specifically for those focused on internal
communications, MyHub requires no coding skills or IT
experience. It is simple to set up and fun to use!
Being cloud-hosted also means you’re future-proofing
your investment: you get to benefit from our latest new
features and enhancements as soon as they’re
released.
Book a demo today or sign up for a 14-day free trial.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE
TO KEEP YOUR STAFF INFORMED