AZBiz.com talks about the importance of consistent communication with your employees.
"In the past few months, we have all seen drastic shifts in both our economy and the way we do business on a daily basis.
When change occurs, it’s natural for employees to feel unease and doubt. It is imperative that employers communicate with employees to address a multitude of questions and concerns. Among other benefits, ongoing communication helps establish and maintain a sense of connection and community among employees – a ‘we’re in it together’ mentality."
Lauri Huff, a communications specialist with Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona, presents a list of four ways to improve and standardize communications with employees.
1. The sooner the better
"Communicate in a timely manner. As soon as possible, the internal communications team should meet with business leaders to determine what messaging needs to go out, to whom and over what time period. The sooner the messaging begins the better. Each day that goes by the door is opened for increased unease among employees. It’s important to remember that messages in these situations don’t always have to be negative. There may be positive news to convey as well."
2. Just the facts
"State the facts without promising a solution. Messages from leadership should outline what is taking place, how outside actions may affect the business and the employees, and what the business is doing overall to counteract the events. This isn’t the time to get creative with messaging — just put forward the facts."
3. Tackle front-line issues
"In times of economic stress, employees will contact the Human Resources department to discuss concerns. Human Resources should be on the front line for hearing the employee "hot topics" and learning which topics need to be addressed in messaging. In an economic crisis, employee fears can center on losing a house, job, or healthcare and other benefits. To ensure that all employee concerns are addressed, human resources representatives should be involved with message planning from the start."
4. Resources-a-plenty
"Tap into existing resources. Many businesses provide employees with a variety of resources to assist in stressful times. If on-site services aren’t available, you should promote outside assistance. Assistance can include stress management, creating work–life balance, how to plan for retirement, and treating co-workers with respect in times of stress. Placing employees in control of their physical and mental health will empower them to make choices that can alleviate their concerns.
Be consistent and diverse with your communication methods. Whether you use a mass e-mail or traditional mail, digital signage, or a flyer or a poster, messages should be updated as necessary."
Consistent communication is the cure for skeptical employees and an ever-shifting business environment. When businesses are communicating effectively, their chances at surviving and thriving in the current economic recession improve drastically.
