How are internal communications changing for mobile workers?
Internal communications is becoming an increasingly difficult area to manage for corporate affairs executives. Not only are the potential avenues for reaching out to staff increasing in number, there are also profound changes affecting the way that employees operate. One of these is how work is now moving out of the office, as employees take…
Internal communications is becoming an increasingly difficult area to manage for corporate affairs executives. Not only are the potential avenues for reaching out to staff increasing in number, there are also profound changes affecting the way that employees operate.
One of these is how work is now moving out of the office, as employees take their responsibilities on the road or into their homes. The effects of this trend are already becoming clear, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics finding that 13 per cent of workers have the option of working from home.
While these trends represent a positive development for employees looking to improve their productivity, there are still risks involved, especially around corporate communications. Failing to keep remote workers interested with internal communications can lead to disengagement and harm the external perception of your company.
So how can companies improve their internal communications towards employees that are increasingly mobile and located outside of the office?
The first step is to set clear guidelines for flexible working, especially when it comes to being reachable and responding to corporate announcements. Setting these expectations is going to be vital for ensuring that a remote working policy is successful in the future.
At the same time, consider using the same technologies that have enabled remote working and apply these to your internal communications.
Both cloud computing and mobile devices have been instrumental in providing a flexible working environment. These developments also offer an opportunity for companies to use this technology to achieve greater connections with employees who are outside the office.
Finally, the method of communication will differ depending on the type of flexible work a company offers. If workers are choosing their own hours, this will be a very different challenge compared to those who are working regularly from home. Matching a communication strategy to these challenges will be essential for making the most of a flexible workplace.
Setting up processes and mechanisms which can reach workers, no matter where they are is going to be an increasingly important company activity and a new challenge for communication professionals.
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