Workplace communications can be fraught with difficulties. Office politics, personality clashes, and other factors can mean that communications can sometimes break down. When communication breaks down, it can have negative effects on productivity and efficiency for teams and the business as a whole. What can you do to avoid potential issues? How do you ensure that communications remain as positive as possible and that staff remain on good terms and work towards common goals?

Among the various methods of communication in the workplace, emails play a pivotal role in keeping members of your organization and teams informed on important updates. That’s why the ability to convey messages effectively through emails is a valuable skill. For one, effective workplace communication is the cornerstone for collaboration, clarity, and cohesive team dynamics.

Good communication skills are NOT the same as people’s skills. Sometimes, these two types of skills don’t go hand in hand. An employee might be able to express their ideas and opinions clearly and properly but still fail to form connections with colleagues. No matter how brilliant this employee might be, the lack of interpersonal skills can stunt their growth. Worse, failure to communicate within the workplace can also impact business growth and may cause imposter syndrome among employees.

Communication is a powerful lever for building understanding, trust, and collaboration among individuals from different backgrounds.

This article was originally published on Jan. 19, 2021, and was updated on Nov. 21, 2023. As an internal communicator, you know the value internal comms brings to the table. But can you prove that value to decision makers in your organization — the folks who hold the budget for IC software, tools and services like a modern intranet?

There was a time when transportation technology focussed almost solely on speed. Bullet trains and Concorde airplanes were the high standards of travel innovation, and the notion that faster was better reigned supreme. Nowadays, new goals are taking precedence in the transportation sector. Accessibility, sustainability, and efficiency are hot topics, while journey planning, tracking, safety, and security sit high on the priority list for both operators and consumers.

Change management is a scary topic — especially when it involves transforming culture. But, you shouldn’t shy away from opportunities to champion change within your organization. We recently had the opportunity to discuss transforming culture with Brian Brockman, VP of Communications for US and Canada at Nissan. In the interview, we unpack several interesting topics and lessons Brian learned while working on the Nissan Next initiative.

It’s no secret that the cornerstone of good business practices and processes lies in effective interdisciplinary communication. You want employees from different departments and with varied levels of expertise and experience to be able to engage with one another on a level playing field, rather than there being an imbalance in every interaction.

This article was originally published on Oct. 11, 2021, and was updated on Oct. 6, 2023. A key component in thriving organizations is strong communication between all levels of employees. When a team is on the same page, clear about their objectives and mission, and regularly informed about company changes, they will reach their goals faster and with fewer obstacles. This is why having the right internal communications manager is essential for large and growing organizations.

Internal communications transcend the boundaries of emails and newsletters. Internal communicators become strategic allies when grounded with a solid foundation and guided principles — a communications charter.