3 Key Questions for Employee Communications
Today's communicator has more ways to enable conversation than ever before. We have surveys and polls, meetings and town halls, emails and company newsletters, intranets, and all of the exciting things "social" can deliver. As we approach the holiday season, communicators are no doubt building a wishlist of new tools they'd like to have for 2013.
While we all like things that are shiny and new, the reality is that every communicators toolkit should include a complement of both the latest and greatest as well as some old favorites. Effective communications programs must include the following:
- Both in-person and online communications.
- Messages that are tailored for the individual and the mass audience.
- Communications that are self-directed and pushed through a company channel.
But even more sobering is a lesson I learned this year from a very talented communicator. At the end of the day, what really matters most with the conversations you're facilitating with your employees are the answers to three simple questions.
- What do you want your employees to know?
- What do you want your employees to feel?
- What do you want your employees to do?
The communicator I mentioned addresses every project, program or problem by first answering these three fundamental questions. When she's done that, she then reaches for her toolkit.
Baker Hughes took a very similar take as they endeavored to drive enrollment in their employee stock purchase program.
