Winning Hearts & Minds!
“Without credible communications, and a lot of it, the hearts and minds of the troops are never captured” John Kotter - Harvard Business School
How do we, in today’s culture of ever decreasing employee loyalty, engage our staff, maximise their potential and ultimately nurture their loyalty to ensure a motivated and productive workforce?
The answer is simple - we engage them in the organisation, we offer them the opportunity to buy into the vision and equip them with the knowledge to confidently deliver their roles - investing and implementing a sound communication strategy.
It is now accepted that internal communication has an essential part to play within every business. It should form an integral part of the overall business strategy and be accorded the appropriate budgets and staff. Disengaged employees cost businesses billions of pounds each year through reduced productivity, absenteeism and recruitment.
A recent survey conducted by Watson Wyatt indicated “companies that communicate most effectively are 51% more likely to report turnover rates below those of their industry peers”.
- The average cost of replacing a member of staff is £4,800
- Disengaged employees cost the UK up to £48 billion per year
| Positive business impacts of communication: | |
|---|---|
| Employee retention | 44 % higher |
| Customer loyalty | 56 % higher |
| Productivity | 50 % higher |
| Profitability | 33 % higher |
Study by Laura Godwin, Psychologist, University of Oxford
Employees want to know what is happening; they want to be informed about major change or restructuring, corporate strategy and financial results; they want to know how these things affect them and most importantly they want an honest account.
The same survey stated 90% of respondents wanted to know the truth, regardless of what it might mean to the employer and their job.
No news or erratic communication promotes rumour and a decrease in productivity and motivation. Messages need to be delivered simultaneously to a target audience, and should be clear and consistent across all communication channels.
People are the most important asset in any business, and newsletters can be an effective vehicle for motivating, informing and showcasing their achievements. Employee newsletters and magazines are now universally recognised as an effective tool for internal communicators. They can provide employees with an opportunity to absorb the messages in their own space and time, to reflect upon the information and its impact upon them personally.
If you need to capture the hearts and minds of your troops, First Impression can help. For the past nine years First Impression has specialised in producing internal and external newsletters, providing a seamless end-to-end production on behalf of its clients, from initial concept, interviews, writing copy, design, print management through to despatch. Contact us now on 0870 204 8507
“Communication is the glue that holds an organisation together, and during major change, that glue becomes even more critical, allowing the smooth operation of the organisation and links all other processes of the organisation such as the strategic and business planning processes together.”
Deborah Barrett
Communications Bradford, Vol 7 issue 4
