Fast fact: In one short year, 60 percent of the workforce will be Millennial or Gen Z.
As millennials have taken over the workplace, employee communication has transitioned to decidedly more technical methods like text, Google chat, Slack and other digital forms. The messages being communicated have changed, too. We’re no longer just sharing when to meet or when a product launches. We’re crafting messages that make millennial employees feel heard and appreciated. That’s one reason a strategic internal communications plan is so important to staff retention.
Our internal communications team is very focused on engaging employees for our clients. But, since you can always learn something new, we recently attended a PRSA seminar to hear about what trends might be coming down the pike in 2019. Here are some key takeaways:
- More employee generated content: Employees know when the communications department is sharing a canned message or when their executives are just reading from a script. It’s important for employees to feel like these messages are authentic. One way to ensure authenticity is to have the message come from employees themselves. Bylined blog posts, podcasts hosted by non-marketing employees and videos from non-office workers are all ways to boost the “real feel” of your content.
- More two-way communication: Just as your staff wants the message to feel real, they also want to feel heard. Short surveys offer employees a chance to speak their minds on a relevant topic. Executives should be prepared to answer feedback with ways they are changing a policy or issue—or not.
- More video: With the rise of Instagram stories, it should come as no surprise that video is popular. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that integrating video has to be a big production—iPhone videos can be just as effective as conveying your message traditionally and appear more authentic.
- More podcasts: According to Nielson, 44 percent of the population listened to a podcast in 2018. More companies are using podcasts to reach workers in and out of the traditional office. Consider using a podcast to share messages from executives, introduce new benefits or provide training to employees.
Gallup’s State of the Workplace survey showed that 70 percent of employees admitted they aren’t engaged at work. Buck that trend, and engage your employees by resolving to incorporate one of these trends!
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Matt helps organizations protect and advance their reputations and bottom lines through strategic communications programs. Using creativity, planning and flawless execution, he works with a team to deliver compelling public relations campaigns that produce results and support clients’ business objectives.
As senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman specializes in building and maintaining relationships with the media and has an excellent track record of landing significant placements in print and broadcast media including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Money Magazine.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.
