Employee Engagement

5 Key Questions for Your Internal Communication Audit

If you’ve resolved to be a better communicator, you’re not alone. Whether it’s family or friends, colleagues or clients, communication is always a highly rated area for improvement. No surprises here: You can’t improve what you don’t understand! If you’re struggling with communication issues, start off the year with a communication audit. The same principles apply all communication situations, but we’ll stick to two types: internal (employee) and external (customer). Who needs an internal communication audit?? Globally, 21% of internal communicators acknowledged that they don’t use any form of formal planning. If your inboxes and calendars are overflowing, you probably saw that statistic coming! Compared to the resources and strategic planning dedicated to client-facing communication, internal processes are often a bit more ad hoc and reactive. An internal communication audit can take any number of forms (you have to start somewhere!) but an anonymous survey can be a good start. You need candid feedback to make real decisions — otherwise, it’s just an empty exercise that perpetuates the problem. No matter your style, be sure you’re addressing these key questions: 1. Are you getting the information you need — when you need it? This is a great place to start. You might set this up on an agreement rating scale or a multi-part grid question that includes multiple sub-questions. If you find out that all of your employees are getting the right information in a timely fashion, you may breathe a sigh of relief. Still, don’t stop there! 2. How […]