Internal communication refers to the exchange of information among the staff of various levels within an organization. Effective internal communication is essential in an organization since it ensures clarity for every staff in the company. Internal communication aims to ensure an effective flow of information between different departments in an organization and colleagues. Therefore, internal communication involves both up and down the management and includes interaction between the employees in the company. This paper will discuss the importance of internal communication within an organization.
Internal communication is essential within a company as it enhances employee engagement. Employee engagement is achieved by giving the appropriate conditions for all employees to optimize their output. Effective communication ensures the employees are committed to the company’s goals and values and are inspired to contribute towards the organization’s success (Men, Rita, and Stacks, p. 301-324). Internal communication can influence the employees’ physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects and, in turn, can change the level of employee engagement. Internal communication involves listening to employees at all levels, holding face-to-face communication, and having a two-way conversation, making the employees feel more engaged.
Good internal communication in an organization reduces conflicts. Conflicts are common in the workplace since the clash of ideas, misunderstandings, or even the feeling of lack of recognition can lead to disputes (Spaho, pp. 103-118). Hence, poor communication in an organization could lead to missed opportunities, deadlines, and misunderstandings. Conflicts are hard to avoid since everyone sees the world through their lenses and has perceptions established through experiences, individual culture, diversity, and values. However, the chances of having conflicts could be limited by allowing everyone to give their perspectives and openly air their issues. Therefore, internal communication is important in an organization, and all companies should deliberately foster a culture of communication to enhance respect, diversity, listening, and solving problems immediately.
Effective internal communication builds transparency in an organization which fosters trust. Internal communication ensures that the employees in an organization get first-hand information about the events in the company immediately from top-level management or their leaders and do not learn about them from a third person or external sources (Mishra et al., pp. 183-202). Most of the employees are interested in knowing how decisions are made in their organizations. Hence transparency should be enhanced in how the organization operates and the management makes the decisions. As a result, the employees would trust their leaders, and accountability is established in the company. Transparency is built when the flow of information from top-level managers to the employees is fast and enables all the company staff to be on the same page. Thus, the companies should ensure effective internal communication to achieve transparency that would yield a strong workplace culture.
Good internal communication ensures that employees of an organization are informed and updated. Internal communication attempts to keep the employees updated on any information that is necessary for them to know. Many employees are interested in knowing what is currently happening in their company. Many employees also work better when they have good information about what is going on in the company. At the same time, some develop a better relationships with their colleagues through good communication within the organization. Therefore, having good communication in the company would help keep employees aware of what is taking place in the organization and also allow them to know about any changes, such as the company policies and the work culture.
Good internal communication is essential during times of crisis as it eases management. Many companies experience crises in various situations, such as during acquisition, merging, pandemics, political situations, and macroeconomic crises. A crisis may force the company to lay off some of its workers or make an unpleasant decision, possibly leading to restructuring the company (Li et al., pp. 101984). A crisis negatively influences any business regardless of the company’s size; therefore, all the company’s stakeholders would need to know all the company’s details. Effective internal communication would be helpful in the management of such crises and limit the chances of misinformation that could be adverse to the company. Rumors could quickly spread and cause harm to the workplace, and the stakeholders might lose trust if internal communication is ineffective during a crisis. However, with the help of effective communication, an organization would continue to thrive even during a crisis.
Internal communication aids in the company’s external communication even though both are considered separate entities. Excellent internal communication ensures that the company’s employees are well informed; hence, they would act as brand advocates and share good information about the company (Lee et al., pp.61-82). Outside the company, the employees are influential since anything they say holds more weight because they are part of the company. The company is either positively or negatively affected by what the employees say. However, when internal communication is done well, the employees would have clear information on what is happening in the company and feel part of the organization. Since the employees would have a good feeling towards the company, they would say good things about the company, and hence they would be ambassadors of the organization.
Internal communication is significant in an organization since it ensures the efficient passage of information to every member. Internal communication should be given much attention as it ensures employee engagement, and engaged employees deliver better, helping the business grow. Internal communication is also essential in managing and preventing organizational conflicts and crises. Effective communication would prevent misunderstanding and ensure vital information is passed well, preventing conflicts that may arise. It manages crisis since all the stakeholders would know what is happening in the organization and counters any rumors that may negatively affect the organization.
