With people gradually returning to the office, organizations need to focus on internal communication to give their employees clarity and instill confidence. Many employees who have been isolated for the last year may be anxious about what’s waiting for them when they come back to the office.
Organizations must put a premium on transparency and communication if they want productivity. In a recent Hartford Business Journal/PwC “Return to Work” survey, 18% of Connecticut employees said the number one factor that would make them feel more confident in their ability to do their job is to have “more transparent internal and external communications.”
Research the Situation
Conducting internal surveys to understand employees’ concerns and views on returning to the office environment will give organizations a picture of what needs to be communicated and how to do it effectively.
By understanding employees’ priorities, organizations can be proactive in addressing issues and perhaps even shape future policies and procedures around returning to the workplace.
Keep the Lines of Communication Open
Even when employees are back to the office, the workplace may still not look the same. With more people potentially splitting time between the office and remote settings, the traditional chain of communication could be disrupted.
As an article in Ragan Communications puts it, “Employees need to know where to get information, who to talk to regarding their specific needs/situation, and know that their needs regarding safety are being addressed.”
In other words, don’t let internal communication drop off once there’s some resemblance of normalcy.
Plan to Evolve
This is new for everyone, so organizations should plan on evolving and finding ways to improve internal communication in this new age. Consistently soliciting feedback from employees and trying new approaches is paramount to finding what will work for each organization.
Ultimately, organizations need to develop a mindset that communications will play a crucial role in a smooth transition back to normalcy.