Key ways your internal comms strategy can improve engagement

Internal communication is a critical backbone of any thriving organisation. It’s not just about delivering company updates, it’s about connecting, engaging, and uniting your team members under shared goals. When done effectively, good internal comms strategy can boost morale, align employees with an organisation’s mission, reduce staff turnover, and significantly increase productivity. However when neglected, it can lead to employee disengagement which in turn can result in quiet quitting, losing good talent, and stagnation of growth. 

Well structured internal comms can be clearly measured by the level of engagement that it inspires. This is why a considered and creative internal comms strategy is a crucial part of business growth. We’ll look at some key internal comms strategies and how video can optimise their implementation.  

Internal comms in the modern workplace

In years gone by internal communications tended to involve little more than a monthly newsletter and an office noticeboard. As technology evolved, many organisations put an intranet in place. In both cases, there was little strategy. Recent years have seen a boom in the understanding of how important different methods of internal comms are. More and more businesses seek to share more information, updates, and values with employees, fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and connected. 

Effective internal communication ensures that employees understand their roles, feel aligned with the company’s goals, and know where they fit within the larger picture. These factors are especially vital in today’s landscape of remote and hybrid work setups, where physical distance can cause emotional disconnection.

Employee disengagement

Before we look at ways to optimise the engagement of your teams, it’s worth understanding how and why disengagement occurs. There are a few common errors that managers make. Firstly there’s information overload, where employees are bombarded with irrelevant or excessive information which makes it difficult to focus on what’s truly important. Communication might rely on monotonous channels such as bland emails or uninspiring company newsletters which are routinely ignored. 

It’s also important to remember that engagement relies on two-way communication. When employees feel like their voices aren’t heard, they may become disinterested or alienated from organisational goals. If employees just feel like they’re being talked at, this is often a sign of poor company culture. People disengage when they don’t feel valued or aligned with the organisation’s values and culture. 

Enhancing internal comms strategies

To secure employee engagement, managers and HR professionals need to adopt creative and intentional strategies. While there are many tools available, video content remains one of the most effective mediums for deeply engaging internal communications. Here’s how to incorporate video and other key strategies into your internal comms plan.

1. Utilise video content

Video has an unrivalled ability to capture attention, making it a powerful tool for internal comms. It combines visual and auditory elements, which enhance viewer retention and emotional connection, both of which are critical for employee engagement. An audience retains 95% of a message when delivered via video, compared to only 10% when reading text. This is key when it comes to workplace messaging. 

2. Get creative with video form

Video is versatile. It can be created for announcements, training, team storytelling, or even morale boosting messages. These are a few suggestions for the different types of message that video can convey through a business. 

• Leadership updates: Replace dull emails with short video updates from the CEO or management. These personal messages can humanise leadership and make employees feel more connected. 
• Celebrating wins: Share video shout-outs for team or individual achievements to encourage motivation and recognition. 
• Explainer videos: Use animated or live demonstration videos to simplify complex policies and procedures. 
• Employee spotlights: Showcase team members sharing their stories. This might mean discussing their roles, unique interests, or work projects to foster peer-to-peer connection.

3. Connect with storytelling

Weaving storytelling into your internal content can make messages more relatable and memorable. Share success stories from real employees or teams to inspire others. Video storytelling is particularly effective, as it captures emotions and experiences visually and persuasively. Just make sure that your video quality is professional as otherwise your intent can be undermined. 

4. Social interaction through digital channels

Use your intranet, Slack channels, or social media platforms to share dynamic video content. Encourage employees to comment, react, and share feedback in real time as these interactions build a sense of community. Engagement doesn’t stop at the videos themselves, it thrives in the dialogue they inspire. 

5. Cultivate a strong company culture 

A positive company culture breeds both loyalty and alignment. Share video content that highlights your organisation’s mission, values, and vision, emphasising how your employees’ roles have purpose and meaning. Video montages from team-building days or workshops can reinforce a sense of belonging. 

6. Prioritise wellbeing initiatives 

Wellness content is a growing trend in internal comms. Create videos that discuss mental health resources, wellness tips, and work-life balance initiatives. Short, empathetic messages from leadership, encouraging self-care, go a long way in showing employees they are valued beyond just their contributions. 

7. Run inclusive meetings 

All hands meetings or town halls conducted both in person and via video are a key part of internal comms strategies for almost all large organisations now. Video attendance allows for visual engagement and accessibility for distant colleagues. Record these sessions so employees who couldn’t attend live can catch up later, ensuring nobody feels left out. 

8. Employee feedback 

Feedback should be central to your internal comms strategy. Conduct surveys or polls and use the responses to refine your efforts. Share findings through engaging infographic style content, showcasing how employees’ voices are shaping the organisation. 

Strategic video tips

The versatility and impact of video content make it a crucial tool in any internal communications strategy. To maximise its potential, keep the following in mind:

• Professional production values: While not every video requires high budget production, polished content makes the difference in how employees perceive your commitment to them. Foster a relationship with a video production house to deliver regular content that gets results. 
• Bite-sized content: Shorter videos of under three minutes work best for delivering key messages without overwhelming employees’ attention spans. A video producer can create a range of short content edited from longer pieces to maximise your use of filmed content. 
• Be inclusive: Add subtitles and audio described options to ensure accessibility for employees with hearing or visual impairments.

It’s clear that video can be used as a tool or an aid to deliver a significant part of successful internal comms strategies. Contact Ally & Mo to chat about how we can support your internal comms with perfectly pitched video.