Different Types of Internal Communication

As workplaces go digital and become less condensed it has been more difficult to effectively communicate with your employees. There is a lot of innovation right now in the internal communication space that aims to help you communicate more effectively with your employees across all digital channels. But what types of internal communications are there and how can you improve your communication efforts with your employees? This page will serve as a complete guide to the types of internal communication out there.

What types of Internal Communication are there?

There are four types of internal communication. These include:

1. One-way Communication

One-way communication is the most basic type of communication. It is typically used to relay information from management to employees or from employees to customers. This type of communication is not very effective at fostering two-way dialogue or building relationships.

2. Two-way Communication

Two-way communication is a more effective type of communication that allows for back-and-forth dialogue between employees and management. This type of communication can help build relationships and trust between employees and management.

3. Group Communication

Group communication is a type of communication that occurs between a group of employees. This type of communication can help build teamwork and collaboration within a team.

4. Digital Communication

Digital communication is a type of communication that occurs through digital channels such as email, instant messaging, and social media. Digital communication is becoming increasingly important as workplaces become more digital. Any of these other types of internal communication can take place on a digital channel. As mentioned, with the rise of remote workplaces, like here at Lumavate, the rest of this page will focus on the different channels of digital communication.

Different forms of Internal Communication

Now we will try to cover all the different modes of communicating with your employees.

Intranet

An intranet is a private network that is only accessible to employees of an organization. An intranet can be used to share files, communicate, and collaborate with other employees. Many organizations use an intranet as their primary form of communication and collaboration. There are a couple of reasons that an intranet may not be the best fit for smaller companies, the first being the cost of setting one up and maintaining it can be expensive. It requires dedicated employee hours to maintain which can become expensive if it is not a necessary tool. Some lower-cost options can get you a similar result, but intranets are popular amongst corporations for a reason.

Mobile App

A mobile app is a great way to keep employees engaged and connected to your organization. A mobile app can be used to push notifications, share news and updates, and even track time off and vacation requests. Many organizations are using mobile apps as a way to improve communication and collaboration between employees. A mobile app has the same level of visibility as the intranet without the same infrastructure for sharing large amounts of data. There are even digital experience platforms that help you build employee apps without needing to write a single line of code. These apps are great for spread-out companies with many employees out in the field. You can even build some pretty cool functionality on top of the app to make your employees' lives even easier. If this sounds like a good option for you, book a demo with Lumavate today to discuss.

Email

Email is still one of the most popular forms of communication in the workplace. It is a great way to send information to a large group of people at once. Email can be used to share news, updates, and even attachments. Many organizations use email as their primary form of communication because it is easy to use and everyone has access to it. However, email can be very impersonal and it is not a great way to build relationships. With so many other tools available, email feels like a method of communication that can be replaced by a more effective alternative.

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is a newer form of communication that is becoming more popular in the workplace. Instant messaging allows for real-time communication between employees. This can be a great way to build relationships and trust between employees. Many instant messaging platforms also allow for video chat, which can be a great way to stay connected with remote employees. Platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams have become very popular in remote workplaces. These platforms also become great resources for the company as a way to share and store important information. These tools are also great for improving cohesion and collaboration across departments with the ability to make customized groups with different purposes and functions.

Social Media

Social media is a great way to connect with employees and build relationships. Social media can be used to share news, updates, and even photos. Many organizations use social media as a way to improve communication and collaboration between employees. Social media is also a great way to connect with remote employees. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are popular amongst organizations. While groups of this nature can be a good way to connect with employees, some employees may feel like it is overstepping. Just because an employee is friends with you on social media, doesn’t mean they want to see work-related posts in their feed. If you do decide to use social media as a way to communicate with employees, it is important to respect their privacy and only share information that they have agreed to receive. If you are a larger company it is probably better to stick with platforms like LinkedIn where employees feel more comfortable engaing.

Video Conferencing

Video conferencing is a great way to connect with employees and build relationships. Video conferencing can be used to share news, updates, and even photos. Many organizations use video conferencing as a way to improve communication and collaboration between employees. Video conferencing is also a great way to connect with remote employees. Platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts are popular amongst organizations. Make sure that you use this tool effectively when it is necessary. It can be a great tool for conversation and collaboration but if you call your employees for every small thing, they may not appreciate the tool as much. Another consideration is how many employees would be attending a specific meeting. Video conferences with too many people can feel intimidating, if you want to spur communication you can split larger groups into smaller ones if the platform allows it, if not it may be more effective as a one-way video that gets sent to employees separately.

Digital Signage

Digital signage is a great way to share news and updates with employees. Digital signage can be used to display messages, announcements, and even images. Many organizations use digital signage as a way to improve communication and collaboration between employees. Digital signage is also a great way to connect with remote employees. Platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams have become very popular in remote workplaces. These platforms also become great resources for the company as a way to share and store important information.

Project Management Software

Project management software is a great way to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and progress. Project management software can be used to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress. Many organizations use project management software as a way to improve communication and collaboration between employees. Project management software is also a great way to connect with remote employees. Platforms like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp are popular amongst organizations. The only problem with these platforms is that for them to work effectively you must invest a considerable amount of planning into the workflows or else it will be difficult for any one to use the platform effectively. To combat this, take the time to learn and understand the platform before using it with employees, this will make it much easier for you to get everyone on board and using it productively.

Text Messaging

Text messaging is a great way to connect with employees and build relationships. Text messaging can be used to share news, updates, and even photos. Many organizations use text messaging as a way to improve communication and collaboration between employees. Text messaging is also a great way to connect with remote employees. Platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat are popular amongst organizations. Or you could use a platform like Lumavate that allows you to send employees messages directly from an internal communications app. Using messaging is a fine line, however. On one hand, messaging has much higher open and engagement rates than other tools like email, on the other hand, messaging can come across as too informal or annoying if the content isn't relevant.

There are many different types of internal communication, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. It is important to choose the right type of communication for your organization based on your needs.

How to choose the right form of internal communication for me?

The chances are you are already using one or more of these channels to communicate with your employees. If you are, what are you currently using? You need to ask yourself if it is effective on its own. If it is, then you are all set, just refine your strategy a little bit and you should be smooth sailing. But chances are, you could be communicating better with your employees. This means that you should use one or more of the tools above to streamline communication and increase engagement amongst your employees.

Need to increase two-way communication?

If you need to increase two-way communication, you should consider using a platform like Slack or Microsoft Teams. These platforms allow for quick and easy communication between employees. You can also use these platforms to store important information and share files.

Want to improve collaboration?

If you want to improve collaboration, you should consider using a platform like Asana or Trello. These platforms allow employees to work together on projects and tasks. You can also use these platforms to store important information and share files. You could even use video conferencing platforms on top of these to have group meetings to improve group cohesion. Then you could use collaboration tools like Google Jamboard or Modal that allow you to brainstorm or edit custom documents in real-time.

Want your employees to be more engaged?

If you want your employees to be more engaged, you should consider using a platform like Lumavate. Lumavate allows you to create custom internal communications apps for your employees. These apps can be used to share news, updates, and even photos. You can also use Lumavate to create custom surveys and polls to get feedback from your employees.

How Lumavate can help you master internal communications

To this point, we've discussed all the ways you can communicate with your employees. With Lumavate you get a platform that can give you complete control over your communication with your employees. You can start by developing an app for all of your employees. With Lumavate it is easy to build one master app for your entire organization and then personalized experiences for different groups of employees within days. These apps allow you to keep your employees engaged and give them important information directly through the app. If you are a company with many employees in the field, you can even build powerful tools that they can have access to anywhere they are. What's even more helpful is that you can use the Lumavate messaging function to send text messages directly to your employees through the platform. This can be a great way to get their attention to important events or updates.

Internal communication is an important part of any organization. By using the right tools, you can increase engagement, collaboration, and two-way communication. With Lumavate, you can build a custom app for your organization that will allow you to do all of this and more.