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Communication
How effective communication leads to
increased engagement
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................. 2
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................ 3
INDUSTRY................................................................................................................................................... 8
BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS............................................................................................................................ 12
GENERATIONS........................................................................................................................................... 15
FINAL THOUGHTS....................................................................................................................................... 24
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
Executive Summary
Over the years, Benify has worked with many companies in many generations prefer to receive communication and the differences
different industries across the world, each with their own benefit between industries.
offerings, reward strategies, missions and values. One thing they
all share in common, however, is a need to engage and motivate To make it easier, we’ve divided the book into four sections. We hope
their employees through effective and efficient communication. that our tips and insights give you new ideas on how to effectively
It’s through communication that companies connect with their communicate with your employees, and perhaps even set a new
employees, and employees are, of course, essential to every strategy for your internal communication.
business.
Once you’ve learned how to communicate more efficiently and more
When it comes to communicating with employees, there’s no such effectively with your workforce, your workplace will become healthier
thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. The way a company should and happier.
communicate with its employers depends on a number of things,
including what generation its employees are and whether their Happy reading!
employees are desk-based or work in a field or factory.
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INTRODUCTION
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
4 4
COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
Print
Newsletter, Business
Environmental magazines, Flyers
Wall Messaging,
Displays
Digital
Video, Blog, Social Media,
App, Email, Podcast, E-Letter,
Intranet
*Adapted from CMBell’s 17 Top
In-Person Presentations
Internal Communication Channels
Infographic2 Leaders, Live Forums
6 6 and Meetings
COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
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INDUSTRY
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
Measuring Effectiveness
A Forbes article titled Best Practices for Effective Internal Many successful global companies including Coca-Cola and
Communications9, suggests that, since employees are a Bayer Corporation have introduced employee brand advocacy
company’s most important asset, the same level of priority programs where employees become brand ambassadors
should be given to measure the effectiveness of internal of the company. Think: what information do you want your
communications as PR Executives give to PR and external employees to share and on what channels?
communications efforts.
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
Every company has challenges to some degree about how to best present information to employees so that
it engages them. There are, however, a few simple tips which can help any company improve its internal
communications:
Targeted Communication
Every generation has its own communication
preferences including preference of channel.
Just like traditional marketing creates
audiences to target its campaigns, use targeted
communication for your internal communication.
For example, you may decide to use email,
Less Is More
push and text messages for different groups of Don’t overuse or abuse your
employees and then target your message by communication channels. Send
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
11
BLUE-COLLAR
WORKERS
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
14 14
GENERATIONS
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
With a multigenerational workforce comes a wide range of values, expectations, and behaviours. Recent
studies on how to engage a multi-generational workforce show two growing trends: the need for companies
to engage their entire workforce, and the increased use of new technologies for communication.
HR and internal communication leaders are faced with the challenge of effectively communicating to each
generation. In a Forbes article discussing some of the challenges of generational diversity, Jeanne Meister
suggests a number of steps for managers to communicate with millennials. “Consider the medium; When The Technology Gap in
training, don’t rely on outdated modes of delivery to develop your employees. Instead, focus on how Corporate Communications
Millennials access new knowledge in their personal lives.11” study of 300 of HR and
With the average adult spending an average of 3.15 hours per day on their mobile phone, not including voice
Communications professionals12
calls13, understandably the modern workplace is focusing more and more on social reveals that 86% of people said
and mobile technologies. Since a multigenerational workforce means different a mobile app would be more
communication preferences, managers must develop new internal effective than the tools they
communication strategies to overcome this obstacle. currently use. By embracing
Employers shouldn’t try to change employees’ communication
technology such as using
preferences but focus instead on changing their own communication mobile apps, which are easily
methods to follow the changing trends in technology and accessible, intuitive, and simple
communication. to use, internal communication
teams can better connect with
their diverse workforce.
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
COMMUNICATION As shared in an article by Millennium Printing called What Did You Say? Communicating Across Generations14, Paul Storfer,
President of HR Technologies, states that every generation has a different definition of the term ‘communication skills’. To
PREFERENCES a Baby Boomer, communication refers to speaking and formal writing ability, while to Millennials or Generation Z, it means
e-mails and text messages.
AND THE Millennium Printing provides a breakdown of each generation’s communication and workplace preferences14:
GENERATIONS IN
THE WORKPLACE BABYBOOMERS: GENERATION X:
This generation has a top-down, They want information “on-demand”
process-oriented approach, where and that which is shared to be relevant
everyone knows what needs to to their work. Gen X seeks an engaging
happen. They prefer office space work environment that fosters a feeling
with acoustic privacy with plenty of of belonging, enables the ability to
quality meeting spaces. connect with others and that is safe,
secure, and welcoming.
MILLENNIALS: GENERATION Z:
They seek an interactive and The new generation on the block
engaging workplace and have a need like messages kept short and sweet,
to understand what’s going on, why preferably via SnapChat. They are very
decisions are made, and they want interactive, value transparency and
to be involved. appreciate regular employer feedback.
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
COMMUNICATION Each generation has its own preferences for receiving and taking-in information as well as their own preferred communication
methods and channels. The above-mentioned Millennium Printing article advises the following14:
STYLE AND
BABYBOOMERS: GENERATION X:
CHANNEL Though they’ve embraced the internet and Gen X grew up with personal computers, are
PREFERENCES
smartphones, Baby Boomers still prefer independent and self-motivated, with a less formal
in-person interactions. Baby Boomers are approach to communication than Baby Boomers.
relationship and team-oriented, taking the time This generation rely heavily on e-mail and use the
to build rapport and show personal interest. internet extensively to conduct research. They
Keep presentations casual and conversational value directness, so, when giving presentations,
and allow time for questions. To set up in- say what you need or expect. Gen X expect their
person meetings, use phone or e-mail. Baby involvement and actions to produce benefits and
Boomers still also enjoy direct mail and printed will quickly leave if that’s not the case.
materials.
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IDEAS AND
INSPIRATION
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
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Communication is often about change. Consequently, internal communication
is a field that requires constant revaluation and rethinking. As you’ve read in
this e-book, with Generation Z entering the game, it’s increasingly important to
remain in control of the messages you send, keep brand promises, empower
middle management, and increase transparency. Considering this, what ideas
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
TRENDS AND IDEAS 1.Faster and shorter. The trend in messaging points towards brevity. A Pew Research
THAT WILL IMPROVE Center study16 reveals that people under the age of 35 “feel the need for instant gratification”
and “feel the loss of patience.” Today, speed in the workplace has increased and people
YOUR INTERNAL
are less willing to wait for websites to load, videos to buffer, and colleagues to respond to
messages.
COMMUNICATION 2. Company culture. Young businesses — especially start-ups — are placing more value
on company policies and culture. Why? Because their workforce demands it. Gen Z and
Millennials are looking for companies that align with their values. HR leaders consider
culture and engagement their number one challenge according to a recent study by the
Deloitte University Press17. Consequently, today, the bond between internal communication
and these core values are growing stronger. Therefore, it’s not only important to include
core values in your internal communication strategy but highlight how to best execute them.
At Benify, our core values are the following: think ahead, exceed expectations and show love.
3. Working from anywhere but the office. Employees of all generations value and
appreciate flexibility in their jobs. This includes scheduling and office setups, as well
as physical work location. The challenge for employers will be to find the best ways to
communicate with remote workers, not only to keep them in the loop but to integrate
them into the company culture.
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
11 4. Video. The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, did you know that
one minute of video content is, in fact, worth 1.8 million words, or the equivalent of 3,600 pages
5. Content from and for your employees. Millennials and Gen Z demand authenticity. When
YOUR INTERNAL searching for a potential employer, they’re more likely to trust the words of employees working at
the company than the company’s marketing department. Therefore, involve your employees in
COMMUNICATION your company’s content marketing strategy by having them create and share their own company-
related content on their social channels. Making your employees your content marketers adds a
peer-to-peer element to the top-down culture in communications, resulting in greater authenticity.
6. Horizontal communication. While peer pressure might force you to watch Game of Thrones,
peer-to-peer communication can have a productive and powerful influence on the way your
employees work. Peers provide constant feedback and encourage further collaboration – both
are central aspects of driving employee communication and teamwork. Horizontal communication
also helps spread knowledge within an organisation.
7. Reach. Use all the tools and channels available to reach and engage each and every one
of your employees regardless of whether they’re based in the office, in a store, out in a field, or
working from home. One survey showed that 71% of employees spend over two hours a week
accessing company information on their smartphone18. Think: emails, push notifications, text
messages, employee portal messages, and social media channels. Look for technical solutions
that can help you deliver and target your messages from a single dashboard or platform.
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
11 8. Gamification. Today, more and more employers are introducing gamification as a way to
engage their employees and increase their productivity. Gamification satisfies our need for
COMMUNICATION participation, engagement and satisfaction. Live metrics will only continue to grow in
importance over the next few years, enabling companies to measure more precisely than
ever before.
11. Emojis. Ah, emojis! We all use them, but are they appropriate for business
communication? The answer ranges in opinion; some say the use of emojis is
unprofessional, while others say they are extremely useful and effective. While emojis might
not be suitable for your sales deck, they do have their purpose and value, which can add
another touch, tone and angle to your communications.
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FINAL
THOUGHTS
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COMMUNICATION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I INTRODUCTION I INDUSTRY I BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS I GENERATIONS I IDEAS & INSPIRATION I FINAL THOUGHTS
Mobile Workforce The future of work looks set to be shaped by a range of exciting
innovations including automation technologies, artificial intelligence,
and other mobile-fuelled experiences. These advancements in
The global workforce is becoming increasingly mobile. By 2022,
technology have completely reinvented the employee experience and
up to 1.87 billion of employees are expected to be mobile – a
looks likely to evolve even further.
staggering 42.5% of the global workforce20. Already today, 60%
of employees use apps for work-related activity21.
As consumers, we expect personalised technologies. One survey
revealed that 59% of people think that their organisation has been too
Mobile technology has made employee communication, slow at delivering apps for the workforce21. We want communication
benefits management, conferencing, document sharing, and
which is instant, relevant and actionable in a swipe. As employees,
time and expense reporting all possible.
we’re no different. To survive and thrive in this digital era, employers
must provide consumer-grade digital experiences.
The challenge for employers is to provide
a consistent employee experience
regardless of device and regardless of
their employees’ whereabouts.
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We're in The Top 10 Best Places to Work
In addition to being certified by Great Place To Work® in March 2019,
Benify was also identified as one of the best places to work in Sweden
and included in the Great Place To Work® Institute’s esteemed list for
2019, ranking in the top 10 for large organisations.
“High levels of engagement creates success. This is a fact known to us at Great Place to Work ® and to our clients who invest their
resources, energy and their time on their workplace culture. Being named Sweden's Best Workplace is the ultimate proof that
Benify has succeeded! "
Happier Stronger
Attract and
employees employer
retain talent
brand
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The World’s Most Personalised Engagement Platform
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Sources
1
https://insights.staffbase.com/blog/why-internal-communications-is-more-important-than-ever
2
https://www.cmbell.com/blog/2017/4/26/internal-communication-infographic
3
http://desklessworkforce2018.com/
4
https://blogs.hrminfo.eu/2017/02/07/why-internal-communication-is-the-key-driver-of-employee-engagement/?s=Dave%20Ulrich
5
https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/communication-affects-productivity-statistics-27004.html
6
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236483/enhances-benefits-employee-engagement.aspx
7
https://www.business2community.com/strategy/roi-employee-engagement-7-stats-need-know-01573138
8
https://www.ark-group.com/sites/default/files/product-key-contents/ARK2184%20-%20Strategic%20Internal%20Communications_Part%20report.pdf
9
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2016/08/12/best-practices-for-effective-internal-communications/#456bbc8e7292
10
https://www.resultsmap.com/the-2-reasons-internal-communications-is-different-in-the-public-sector/
11
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2013/06/04/the-boomer-millennial-workplace-clash-is-it-real/#48b5fda123ca
12
https://www.socialchorus.com/technology-gap-in-corporate-communications/
13
https://geomarketing.com/us-mobile-usage-in-2017-stats-you-need-to-know
14
https://www.mpcprinting.com/single-post/2016/11/08/What-Did-You-Say-Communicating-Across-Generations
15
https://insights.staffbase.com/blog-de/interne-kommunikation-2017-trends-und-was-sie-tun-k%C3%B6nnen
16
https://www.pewinternet.org/2012/02/29/millennials-will-benefit-and-suffer-due-to-their-hyperconnected-lives
17
https://www2.deloitte.com/insights/us/en/focus/human-capital-trends/2015/employee-engagement-culture-human-capital-trends-2015.html
18
https://fliplet.com/blog/mobile-statistics-2016/
19
https://staffbase.com/blog/11-ideas-how-to-rethink-internal-communication
20
https://www.strategyanalytics.com/access-services/enterprise/mobile-workforce/market-data/report-detail/global-mobile-workforce-forecast-update-2016-2022
21
http://www.digitalstrategyconsulting.com/intelligence/2014/05/apps_boost_worker_productivity_34.php
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