With the rise of multinational corporations, flexible work arrangements, and firms operating across timezones, the risks of a disconnected workforce have never been higher. A lack of effective communication within organisations not only brings down productivity, but causes disengagement.
According to a new study by cloud-based network solutions firm Kollective, a lack of coherent communication channels, limited feedback from managers, and virtually no face-time with the senior management team are isolating workers – especially younger ones used to living in a hyper-connected world.
The study found these outdated communication channels still prevalent among US and UK firms:
- 76% still rely on mass emails for announcements
- 68% use office posters, with 35% still relying on written documents
- 69% have yet to adopt an HR intranet or web portal for employee updates
According to Kollective, an overreliance on informal and unofficial channels not only blurs the line between rumor and fact, but can also leave workers feeling demotivated, undervalued and less committed to the future of their organizations.
Torsten Raak, SVP of experience marketing at Schneider Electric said his firm has made video communication, through platforms like YouTube and Facebook Live, the new default for large-scale communication with employees.
“By moving to a digital forum, we have been able to bring the management team and our employees closer together and eliminate weeks of seemingly unproductive time spent distilling our corporate strategy and messaging across the company,” he said.
If businesses are going to unite their fragmented workforces and overcome the issue of employee engagement, they must work with IT departments to improve these internal networks and communication infrastructures, the report stated.
The group points to the adoption of Skype, Facebook Live, Facetime, and Instagram Video as the best means to align corporate communication with the new platforms through which employees consume information in their own lives.
If firms fail to adapt with their workforce, they will continue to lag behind competition, both in terms of their productivity and their ability to recruit and retain the best employees.
Related stories:
How emojis are making your workplace :(
Do not disturb – South Korea to ban work-related texts after office hours
