What employees think about IC
In this episode, we explore the IC Index 2023, a new piece of research that explores employees’ preferences for internal communications and its link to employee engagement. Susanna Holton and Jen Sproul provided valuable insights into the methodology and findings of the study. The research revealed that topics such as the organisation’s purpose and mission, diversity and inclusion, and values and culture were polarising. Some employees felt they received too much information on these topics, while others felt they received too little. Interestingly, there was a correlation between receiving too little information on values and culture and lower engagement scores. Some of the key topics we discussed included:
- The Role of Internal Communications: Our discussions revealed that topics like the organisation’s purpose, diversity, and culture can be polarising. Striking the right balance in communication is key to driving engagement and advocacy.
- Reputation Management and Employee Advocacy: We explored how reputation management impacts recruitment and retention. Understanding the different groups within your workforce can help tailor strategies to meet their needs.
- The Challenge of Alignment: Having a consistent story and strategy understood by everyone is crucial. We discussed the need for multidirectional communication and alignment across functions.
- The Importance of Leadership Visibility: Our research shows that frequent CEO visibility is crucial for employee engagement. In a post-pandemic world, finding the right balance and adapting to the changing work environment is key.
- Finding the Right Mix: Trial and error play a significant role in finding the right blend of internal communication strategies. Understanding your audience and their needs is paramount.
We concluded the episode by summarising the five main recommendations from the research report: demonstrating impact, being clear on the target audience, focusing on the context of change, keeping communications short and fresh, and utilising different channels based on the desired outcome. As we continue to navigate the complexities of internal communications, it’s clear that understanding our audience, fostering trust, and promoting engagement are key to building a strong and resilient organisation.
The full report is available for download on the IOIC UK website and I encourage internal communicators to use the findings to spark conversations, conduct audits, and explore segmentation.
As always, we welcome your ideas for future episodes. Feel free to email us at info@thebigpicturepeople.co.uk or use the feedback form below.
Guest profiles
Susanna Holten leads the Ipsos Karian & Box team of internal communication, culture and behaviour change consultants and works closely with our broader creative team to constantly evolve and improve what they offer in the IC space – across research and measurement, strategy and advisory and campaigns and activation. Susanna supports clients across most sectors in building world-class IC functions, delivering strategies with impact and creative campaigns that win hearts and minds.
Jennifer Sproul has been Chief Executive at The Institute of Internal Communication since 2016. The IoIC is the only independent professional body solely dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of internal communication. Before that Jen worked at the Market Research Society in a variety of senior marketing and comms roles. Jen leads the IoIC in perhaps one of the most uncertain periods the profession and the business world have known. Jen is also the co-presenter on the IoIC’s own podcast “Internal Communication in the Raw”.
Useful links
Link to a relevant episode of the podcast: https://thebigpicturepeople.co.uk/blog/podcast/internal-comms-in-2022-s2-e30/
Episode links:
Jen’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifersproul31/
Susanna’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanna-holten/
The full IC Index 2023 is available for download on the IOIC UK website and I encourage internal communicators to use the findings to spark conversations, conduct audits, and explore segmentation.