3 ways to use language to inspire, inform and lead

Communications, Content Design, Most Read, News, Storytelling, Strategy, Video Production

something to consider

Do you remember the first person you told when you got engaged? How about when you landed a new job? Or became pregnant with your first child? Whenever we have big news to share, we usually start with our closest circles first. After all, you wouldn’t want your mom to find out she’s becoming a first time grandmother from social media, would you?

We all tend to follow this practice instinctively in our personal lives. So why are employees, our “closest circle,” so often an afterthought when we have important news to share?

Communicating with empathy through the right mix of channels and strategies can make employees more confident in leadership and less anxious about change. There are other benefits to consider. Internal communications can improve culture, engage staff, and increase productivity. After all, you’ve hired smart people. Arm them with information, to help them focus on doing their best, while also feeling “in the know,” well supported and heard.

This is more important than ever in a post-pandemic work environment.

+ Read More (1 minute)

Think about it. Last March, when we were just getting on a roller coaster no one asked to be on, there was a lot of confusion, anxiety and misinformation. Tie that in with work stoppages and new phrases like “essential employees vs. non-essential employees,” and it was all too much to bear. The combination of all of these factors created a very messy and confusing situation that required a coordinated and consistent response from business leaders. Internal communications systems were tested. A few passed with flying colors, a few failed miserably and most are still proceeding without a playbook.

While organizations may fall anywhere on the spectrum between fully-remote and back in the office, strong internal communications can help ensure your teams are informed, aligned, and engaged.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Communicate from the inside-out. Remember, any big news whether good or bad should be shared with your closest circles first. Make sure internal communications is a strategic component at the top of any major company announcement, launch, or roll-out. Employees who are engaged early are more likely to support or evangelize the impending change.
Keep a steady drum beat. Set a regular cadence for internal communications– whether a weekly newsletter, bi-weekly CEO video, monthly staff meeting, or all of the above. A consistent flow of information drives culture, eases concerns, and helps answer questions before they arise.
Focus on quality over quantity. The last thing employees need is yet another company email with little to offer. That may lead to an anticipatory “delete” every time they see an internal communication. If you only have enough content for one communication each month, that’s fine. Just make sure it’s meaningful. And don’t be afraid to ask your employees what they want to know. You might be surprised to learn the things you find important may not be important to them. Consider launching anonymous climate surveys or instigate one on one chats with your leaders. It’s amazing what you can learn, when you listen first.

There’s much more to consider, and we’re here to help.

Effective business leaders understand that engaged employees are their most valuable assets. Bounce works with businesses to maximize their potential (and connection to their organization) through writing, design and strategy.

Call on us, if you’d like to learn more. Then, you can breathe easier and call Mom to tell her the exciting news!

Bounce at Work

When a local community partner donated augmented reality and virtual reality equipment to our client, a local school district, Bounce helped celebrate the occasion.

We organized a press conference, involving community leaders, local government officials and district administration to share the news.

Since this was such a positive event, we recommended memorializing it through video. Bounce led every element of production; from storyboard concepts to messaging to final editing.

Together, we created an impactful video that helped position the district as student centric, innovative and connected to its local community. The result was a festive and informative video, touting how students could use this new tech for learning and exploration.

Take a minute to watch the video above.

spread the love

Thank you for your readership! It’s readers like you that keep us sharing new editions of BOUNCE Ahead each month. We appreciate you ❤️

Would you share this edition of BOUNCE Ahead with someone who would enjoy it?

BOUNCE AHEAD

BOUNCE onto some great ideas with our newsletter, BOUNCE Ahead.

Explore our perspective

Topics:

Share this article:

Credit for Prior Learning blog post image

The untapped revenue stream hiding in plain sight: Why Credit for Prior Learning is your program’s fastest path to growth

The experienced medical assistant scrolls through your nursing program requirements and closes her laptop. The IT manager with 15 years of experience looks at your cybersecurity program prerequisites and decides to wait until next year. The manufacturing supervisor interested in your operations management degree sees the list of foundational courses and thinks, “Why should I pay to learn what I already know?”Read More

The power of the finish line: How future-focused storytelling fuels student retention

At BOUNCE, we’ve observed that retention involves both practical support and career clarity. When learners struggle to picture who they’ll become after the program, it can be challenging to stay motivated when life’s demands compete for their attention.Read More

Trust BOUNCE to help you build a brand that engages all your audiences, from your employees to new customers and loyal clients.

Let’s make your brand BOUNCE!

We are a Minority- and Women- owned business enterprise certified with the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, New York State, and New York City.