In the intricate fabric of business, dysfunction in internal communication processes can sometimes become a difficult hurdle to overcome, ultimately disturbing the balance among workers. Often, we face the challenge of organizations where vital information, usually the driving force behind the corporate machinery, does not flow efficiently, neither at different levels, interdepartmentally, nor among the people who need to access and share this information.
This endemic issue, unfortunately, hinders progress, undermines efficacy, and weakens the foundations of collaboration among the professionals within the company. The solution, however, is close at hand: to utilize internal communication and put it at the service of the company’s global interests. .
From this perspective, internal communication is the catalyst that opens the flow of knowledge and experience that employees possess. This ensures that every corner of the company is soaked with pertinent information, avoiding repetition of processes, falling into errors others have already made, or missing opportunities due to ignorance of the performance others have achieved before.
Internal communication is, therefore, the link or bridge that connects different areas and their respective professionals. It helps to transform isolation – often generated by the desire to appropriate knowledge as an internal competitive advantage – into a balanced exchange of ideas and strategies. When executed correctly, it becomes the very essence that drives organizational success.
Keys to “Unblocking” Communication
To achieve better functioning of idea exchange, there are four key aspects to consider for internal communication to be an enabler and not a hindrance:
1. Transparency: The Autopilot of Success
Transparency is the currency of trust in the business world. Providing clear and complete information at all levels of the organization is crucial, especially if we want to achieve coordination and aligned results. Opacity only sows distrust and opens the door to speculation.
2. Technological Platforms: Focusing on Adequate Infrastructure
Adopting efficient technological tools facilitates the instant diffusion of information, at least if such technology addresses specific problems. Collaborative platforms, multifunctional intranets, and mobile applications stand as strategic allies for dynamic internal communication. It is essential to assess what professionals need and consider whether the tools they already have are being used inadequately, are insufficient, or could be overlapped with others that might be integrated later.
3. Multidirectional Channels: Breaking Down Hierarchical Barriers
Establishing bidirectional channels, where information flows from top to bottom and bottom to top, helps to break down hierarchical barriers. Promoting dialogue at all levels, not just among executive profiles, intermediate levels, or specialists, fosters a culture of open communication. Transversality is always a good ally and worth applying.
4. Relevant Content: The Drive of the Commitment Engine
Information must be relevant and tailored to the needs of each team. Tedious or irrelevant content is the number one enemy of attention and commitment. The former leads to disconnection, and the latter to the perception that the company is incapable of understanding what is important to its employees.
We can recall, as an example of poor and unfluid internal communication, the case of the Yahoo! memorandum on teleworking. In 2013, its then CEO, Marissa Mayer, shared a document to reinforce the prohibition of remote work. Something that today we might not understand as reasonable was also not well received by the entire organization at that time. Mayer believed that the development of corporate culture could only be done from presence, and chose to communicate her unilateral decision through a cold, non-transversal, and opaque channel, where the threat prevailed (employees could be relocated or resign their positions). In addition, it sparked a reputational crisis in the media, but also led to a necessary debate. Here, good management of internal communication could have helped to change the direction of events and their impact, both internally and externally.
Unraveling the knots in internal communication processes is essential for corporate progress. Adopting a proactive mindset towards transparency, leveraging technology, and fostering multidirectional dialogue are crucial steps towards building an organizational culture where communication flows, irrigating the terrain of corporate success.
