Internal Communications Tools

BASF started work on a corporate online business platform as early as 2008. Five years later, over 35,000 employees are using connect.BASF to build up their internal network, share knowledge and collaborate more efficiently across units.

For an online business network to create true value for an organization, there are multiple steps that need to be taken. Read the full article to find out more about their road to a successful enterprise social network:

- Forming the best team

- Establishing a corporate network

- Tackling challenges

- A wealth of online communities

- Direct, authentic and interactive communication

- On the way to Organization 2.0

"Employee communication is changing rapidly as new social media tools evolve and impact the workplace. Employees and other internal audiences are key ambassadors and reaching them today is both challenging and rewarding when done right.  Navigate the world of workplace communication and employee engagement including internal communications planning, best practices, tips and resources."

This infographic can help you better understand company and employee communications so you can better streamline communication in your own workplace.

What’s the best way of creating an internal communications strategy where one has never existed?

This article examines seven key areas to take into consideration when devising a plan for a business that is introducing internal communication for the first time, and recommends research and books to help you.

- Structure

- Culture

- Management style

- Power sources

- Change

- Sensemaking

- Individual differences

If your department doesn’t pass this 5-point checklist, don’t be surprised if morale is low.  Read the full article to find out more about:

1. Employees want to be treated like adults

2. Employees want a variety of communication vehicles

3. Employees want corporate communications tactics that mirror the real world

4. Employees want access to executives

5. Employees want to get information from their direct supervisors

Whether it’s an internal memo, a universal email to the staff or a letter to the troops that that you have written on behalf of a C-level executive, internal communications can spell the difference between whether your employees are on board with a new program or event, for example, or simply confused by the message and don’t know what to do with it.

Read the full article to find out more about these tips:

- Don’t write in corporate-speak

- Keep it short and sweet

- Don’t bog down the memo, email, etc. with statistics from a spreadsheet

- Try and infuse written communications with a little humor

- Give employees the opportunity to chime in on the contents of the memo and how well it was received

It’s not a secret that design has become a strategic weapon for external communications. Whether it’s an easy-to-use website or an engaging ad campaign, companies of all sizes understand that design can differentiate and create loyal customers. When it comes to employee communications, fewer examples of stand-out design tend to surface.  What if your internal communications efforts were so beautifully designed that they were worth sharing externally?

Read the full article to see two examples of:

- Channel 4's infographic showing how the company works

- Valve's handbook for new employees

Read the full article to find out more about these steps to developing a successful internal communications plan:

- Where are you?

- Looking for key information

- Analyze the business corporate culture

- You need a strategy

- Tools of investigation.

- Identification of main audiences.

- Identification of communications problems

- Setting communications goals.

- Setting messages

- Media selection

Is a senior leader expected to be in your office shortly? Keen to add value with internal communications and make the most of your leader's time? 

Planning leadership visits can be a scramble unless you set clear objectives, craft effective plans and define success measures.

Read the full article to find out more on these tips to conduct a successful leader visit at your organization:

- Clarify the purpose

- Shape the agenda

- Simplify the process

- Define your messages

- Maximize coverage

- Promote the leader

- Detail the visit

- Promoting the visit

- Have fun