Effective internal communications have always been important. Communicating clearly with all internal stakeholders helps to promote core values, align everyone with organisational goals and ensure everyone is pulling in the same direction. 

The way in which we communicate with staff has changed drastically over the last three years, with the almost overnight switch to remote working in many industries requiring a fresh approach to better talking to workforces, and keeping them engaged wherever they're based. If you need some inspo on that front, then take a look at my article on 35 internal comms ideas here. 

But as the title to this post suggests, internal comms may have never been more important than they are right now. And there are three key reasons for this.

Clear internal comms during an economic crisis
External pressures and economic turmoil cause stress for everyone, and employees are no different. Staff working in industries that are most affected by changing business environments can become fearful for their positions, which can affect their performance, concentration, job security and even creativity. 

Regular and effective internal communications can help to allay these issues, and ensure everyone has as best possible sound of mind as to the security and long-term future of their employer. Let them know if the business is facing challenges, but be clear on how you're working to mitigate those challenges. Clearly communicate that every employee is valued and critical to the business, and whether or not medium to long-term goals have shifted to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. 

If done correctly, you can create an 'us against the world' mentality where all internal stakeholders pull together and work hard to ensure your business pulls through a tough situation. 

Staff retention when vacancies are at their highest 
There are a record number of job vacancies in the UK right now, and many recruiters are saying just how tough it is to fill job openings across industries. 

Great internal comms can help to mitigate one of the driving forces of the recent upheaval in the jobs market. By now, we're all familiar with the phrase 'great resignation', and employees post-pandemic have spent time re-assessing what's most important to them. Some are changing jobs to those that offer more flexibility. Others are leaving sectors entirely and won't plan on coming back, especially those who saw the most upheaval during the pandemic (health, hospitality, leisure and so on). 

Internal comms can support hiring teams by giving them less work to do. That's because good internal communications can reduce staff turnover by helping employees feel like they are part of, and contributing to, a wider business objective.

Engaging remote workers 
As noted above, the pandemic saw a long-muted shift towards remote and flexible working - the catalyst in a movement that was slowly growing within 'knowledge industries' for the past decade. 

With that came a challenge for internal HR teams. How do you replicate a company culture so dependent on in-office activities and peer proximity into an online realm?

Great internal comms has an important role to play here. Regular, creative and 'real' communications with all employees helps to ensure everyone still feels part of a wider whole, and are clear as to what the organisation is doing, how other departments are contributing and that everything is massively valued - even if you don't see them face to face as often as the C-suite would probably like!