Corporate Communication Is Changing Heres What You Need to Know

Corporate Communication Is Changing Heres What You Need to Know Do you work for a company where internal communication is lacking? Or maybe yur company communicates effectively with employees and internal and external stakeholders, but theres room for improvement.According to Salesforce, a staggering 86% of corporate executives, employees, and educators blame ineffective internal and external communications as a primary reason for failures in the workplace. Effective strategic communication can help a business improve employee and investor relations and create products and services that resonate with those in the public you serve.Creating cultures where employees experience work-life harmony and diversity is celebrated is a must in 2018. This is what you need to do to execute an effective corporate communication strategy that helps contribute to a positive corporate identity and allows you to stay ahead as an employee, manager, or entrepreneur.Business Communication in 2018Here are corporate communication strategy trends youre likely to see1. Following the lead of the FrenchEmails take up way too much work time. According to Attentiv, a software company focused on collaboration, the average worker spends 28% of the work week reading and sending emailles. Plus, 96% of workers said that unnecessary emails waste their time. As well as seeing a future decline in email communication, perhaps we will eventually follow the French. Did you know that in 2017 the French passed a law requiring companies with mora than 50 employees to establish hours when no emails are sent or answered? Protecting private time, prioritizing our sleep, and managing our energy are all critical steps to stopping and preventing burnoutas well as improving business communication.2. In-person meetingsWhile more and more of us are working remotely, face-to-face meetings are still a necessary aspect of organizational communication. Oxford Economics USA has found that the rate of converting prospe cts to actual customers pretty much doubles with face-to-face meetings. Face-to-face interactions can reduce miscommunication, increase understanding and empathy, and maintain a healthy kollektiv spirit.3. Games as organizational communicationWhen Deloitte introduced its leadership training game Badgeville, it saw the average time to complete the curriculum reduced by 50% and a 46% leap in return visitors to the site. Employees were highly engaged. We will see more and more companies taking advantage of the psychological and practical benefits that games as an internal communication strategy provide.4. Apps and GIFsThe Society of Human Resource Managers has said that visual communication in the workplace will ramp up to mirror the consumer apps we use every day. To connect and reach a workforce that consists largely of millennials and Generation Z, managers need to create messages that are brief, precise, and ideally sent via a channel other than email, such as social media or apps. Making sure that you have an internal communications channel where individuals can share and comment on media like videos is a great move. Microsofts partnership with GIPHYthe worlds largest source of animated GIFs indicates that they are making GIPHY an integral part of its enterprise messaging offerings. GIFs are more visually engaging and memorable than regular photo images. They can also make complex topics much easier to understand, and theyre faster and cheaper than video. Just as people use GIFs to communicate their reactions to something, companies can too. Its a great way to engage a target audience of younger employees.5. More podcastsPodcasts came on the scene in the mid-2000s. They are a great way to provide valuable information and are highly engaging. Forty-two million Americans listen to podcasts weekly, according to Statistica, which is five times the number of those who go to the movies. Crazy, right? Podcasts are also a great way to provide important content to emp loyees on the go.We can all relate to the struggle of trying to find the best time to schedule a meeting or a large team conference call with a global team. You typically get some employees who are the farthest away from HQ having to dial in when they should be sleeping. Podcasts improve employee relations by allowing people to consume content and gain the knowledge they need when its most convenient for them. And if external stakeholders need to know whats going on, you can create a separate podcast or loop them into an existing one.Remember, youre working with humans.Thinking back to my post-high school business studies class, Maslows hierarchy of needs comes to mind. We all have these simple physiological needs we want to feel safe, a sense of belonging, accomplishment, to be liked, and to live our purpose. Dont forget the human side of strategic communication it will always be trendy. Authentic, meaningful communicationand corporate communicators who care about their employeesdr ive action and commitment.Arent you excited about these corporate communication trends? I know I am. Anything that helps our communities thrive with productive and engaged workers is a win-win.--Rachel Montanez is a career coach and career development speaker. Check out her website here.