Internal communication has a significant impact on company productivity. It enhances team cohesion, collaboration, and the sense of belonging to the company. The result: a significant increase in employee productivity and motivation, as well as a reduction in turnover and internal conflicts! But it must be effective… Discover how to implement it in this article!
Why adopt internal communication in your company? (and how to do it effectively)
To improve team cohesion, boost productivity and reduce turnover, internal communication is THE solution. Find out more below!
#1: Improve team cohesion, collaboration, and the sense of belonging to the company
You dream of a united team, where colleagues support each other and enjoy working together? Internal communication is key: it helps to establish the company’s strategy and the goals to be achieved, a “shared vision,” with clarity. All employees move forward together in the same direction, with each team member knowing exactly what their role is in the project.
But for this to work, employees must genuinely want to work together… You will need to improve team cohesion. Here are some ideas for possible actions:
-
Organize regular meetings with all team members: this will strengthen the bonds between colleagues (in addition to sharing important information and ensuring nothing is missed!)
-
Implement digital collaborative tools: you can use Teams, Trello, or Slack for clear communication that facilitates project management (or also develop your own tools or intranet).
-
Offer various activities: did you know that 50% of improvements in workplace communication are due to positive social interactions outside the office [https://www.team-building-paca.fr/statistiques-prouvent-importance-team-building]? So, to help your employees get to know each other outside the professional setting, offer them sports classes, cooking workshops, or others.
-
Offer meals and drinks (with different options to suit everyone): this shows that the company cares about the well-being of employees, while encouraging discussions during breaks.
-
Organize seminars and team-building events: ski trips, escape games, murder mystery parties, wine tastings… There are many possible activities!
Combined with clear internal communication, these different initiatives will promote better team cohesion. Bonds will be formed, the team dynamic will strengthen… It may even spark innovative ideas!
These actions are even more necessary if you offer remote work within your company. 75% of employees would like to continue working from home at least once a week [https://blog.be-up-developpement.com/la-cohesion-dequipe-et-teletravail-cest-possible/]. However, this can lead to feelings of isolation for some, which, as you may have guessed, results in decreased motivation and productivity. Implementing these initiatives is therefore essential!
#2: Increase employee productivity and motivation
Did you know that 1 in 2 employees believes that their management does not communicate enough internally? 20% even claim they do not have the necessary information for their work [https://www.opinion-way.com/fr/inside-by-opinionway/come-inside/communication-interne/282-sondage-inside-opinionway-la-communication-interne-des-temps-modernes-par-lucile-ceci.html].
The issue is that poor internal communication leads to wasted time and energy. Poor work quality, loss of trust, deteriorating work atmosphere, delays on projects… But also, financial loss (the financial impact of ineffective communication is estimated at €9,100 per year per employee! [https://www.decision-achats.fr/Thematique/rh-1234/Breves/L-impact-financier-d-une-communication-inefficace-316604.htm]). The harmful effects are numerous: it is therefore essential to take action!
To do this, put the employee at the center of internal communication:
-
Understand that communication is now multidirectional (avoid the lack of transparency that reduces engagement);
-
Conduct surveys regularly (salary is not the only motivator!) and take your employees' feedback into account;
-
Recognize their contributions, highlight their actions (both individual and collective), and give them the opportunity to get more involved (suggestion boxes, welcoming new arrivals, etc.).
By implementing effective internal communication, you can increase the productivity and motivation of your employees. Fulfilled employees are 31% more productive: happy employees are also 2 times less likely to be sick, 6 times less absent, 9 times more loyal, and 55% more creative [https://content.jamespot.com/plezi_file/65952d36d59cbc2cdf7132bd/ebook-jamespot-collaboration-efficace-comment-impliquer-collaborateurs-productifs-2024.pdf]. So, what are you waiting for to take action?
#3: Reduce turnover and internal conflicts
Turnover has doubled in 20 years, with nearly 520,000 resignations per quarter in 2022 [https://dares.travail-emploi.gouv.fr/publication/la-france-vit-elle-une-grande-demission]. The issue is that it is very costly for businesses (the average cost of replacing an employee represents between 6 to 9 months of salary!). And that’s without considering the impact on operational efficiency, service quality, and staff morale… A real vicious cycle could start.
Fortunately, effective internal communication can help you reduce employee turnover in your company. As we’ve seen: it helps improve team cohesion and collaboration, and promotes a sense of belonging and motivation. The result: your employees feel truly valued and understood. Therefore, they are much less likely to seek new opportunities (and you retain your talent!).
So to prevent your employees from going under, take the initiative:
-
Conduct anonymous surveys with all employees to detect problems before they escalate into conflicts;
-
Set up a suggestion box (physical or virtual), allowing employees to anonymously submit their suggestions to improve the work environment;
-
Organize a monthly meeting (in person or via video call) to discuss the survey results and actions taken;
-
Hold regular information meetings to inform employees of any new initiatives and involve them in the success of the company;
-
Set up an internal newsletter (weekly or monthly) to share the company’s successes, challenges, and goals, and highlight the achievements of different teams;
-
Encourage employees to participate in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects to raise awareness on topics such as the environment, gender equality, or disability, for example.
The result: a more harmonious work environment, which reduces turnover and limits the emergence of internal conflicts.
In short: effective internal communication is essential to improve team cohesion, collaboration, and the sense of belonging to the company. When well executed, it leads to a significant increase in employee productivity and motivation! But to ensure its success, don’t forget to measure it through key performance indicators (KPIs) (survey participation rates, turnover rates, participation in internal programs, etc.). Monitor them regularly and adjust your strategy based on the results!
