Effective internal communication is essential for any organization to function efficiently and achieve its goals. It is the cornerstone of a positive company culture, employee engagement, and productivity. However, measuring the effectiveness of internal communications can be challenging. A topic often discussed in our internal comms workshops for Advatera members and which we also will discuss at the Internal Comms Forum in June 2023 in Vienna. Many factors influence the effectiveness of internal communications, such as the nature of the message, the medium used to convey it, the audience, and the context.
Here are some methods to measure the effectiveness of internal communications:
Surveys:
Surveys are a commonly used method to gather feedback from employees about the effectiveness of internal communications. Surveys can be conducted online or in-person and can provide valuable insights into employees’ perceptions of the quality, frequency, and relevance of internal communication. Here are some key considerations for designing and analyzing internal communication surveys:
- Define the purpose: Before designing a survey, it’s essential to define its purpose. The purpose of the survey will influence the types of questions asked, the target audience, and the metrics used to measure success. For example, the purpose of a survey could be to measure employee satisfaction with the internal communication channels or to gather feedback on specific messages or campaigns.
- Keep it anonymous: To encourage honest feedback, it’s important to keep surveys anonymous. Employees should feel free to express their opinions without fear of reprisal.
- Use closed-ended and open-ended questions: Closed-ended questions, such as multiple-choice questions or Likert scales, are easier to analyze than open-ended questions. However, open-ended questions can provide qualitative feedback and optimize potential. For example, for every answer where the current satisfaction is rated below average, an open-ended question can be added to gather more specific feedback on what can be improved.
- Analyze the results: Once you’ve collected survey responses, analyze the data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Consider the response rate, average scores, and any significant variations in responses by department or location.
Some key KPIs to track when using surveys to measure the effectiveness of internal communication include:
- Response rate: The percentage of employees who completed the survey. A high response rate is an indication that employees are engaged and interested in providing feedback.
- Net Promoter Score (NPS): NPS measures the likelihood that an employee would recommend the organization as a place to work. It can be used to assess overall employee satisfaction and engagement with the organization’s communication strategy.
- Average score: The average score for each question or section of the survey. This can help identify areas of strength and weakness in the communication strategy.
Qualitative interviews and focus groups can be particularly effective in uncovering the deeper needs and desires of employees that may not be articulated in a survey. By using explorative questions, you can help employees better understand the possibilities and potential of internal communication tools and channels, and gain valuable insights into how to improve your communication strategy. In combination with surveys, qualitative interviews and focus groups can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the needs and desires of employees and help you create a more effective and engaging internal communication strategy.
Focus Groups:
Focus groups can be an effective way to gain a deeper understanding of employee perceptions of internal communication. Focus groups bring together a small group of employees to discuss specific aspects of internal communications, such as messaging or channels. Here are some key considerations when conducting focus groups:
- Define the purpose: As with surveys, it’s essential to define the purpose of the focus group before conducting it. The purpose will influence the types of questions asked, the target audience, and the metrics used to measure success.
- Keep it small: Focus groups should be small, typically 6-10 employees. This makes it easier for everyone to participate and ensures that the discussion stays focused.
- Use a trained facilitator: A trained facilitator can help ensure that the discussion stays on track, that everyone has an opportunity to participate, and that insights are captured accurately.
- Analyze the results: Once you’ve conducted the focus group, analyze the data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Consider the key themes that emerged during the discussion and any notable differences of opinion between participants.
Some key KPIs to track when using focus groups to measure the effectiveness of internal communication include:
- Number of focus groups conducted: The number of focus groups conducted can provide an indication of how seriously the organization takes internal communication and how committed it is to improving it.
- Number of participants: The number of participants in each focus group can provide insights into how engaged employees are with internal communication.
- Key themes: The key themes that emerged from the focus group discussion can provide insights into areas for improvement in the communication strategy.
Reach and Engagement Metrics:
It’s important to track reach metrics in combination with engagement metrics to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of your internal communication strategy. While reach metrics can tell you how many employees are potentially seeing your messages, engagement metrics can tell you how well those messages are resonating with your audience and whether they are driving the desired actions or behaviors.
- Define the metrics: Before tracking engagement metrics, it’s important to define what metrics you will be tracking and why. For example, if you’re tracking email engagement, you may want to track open rates, click-through rates, and time spent reading the email.
- Use benchmarks: To measure the effectiveness of engagement metrics, it’s important to have benchmarks to compare against. You can use industry benchmarks or internal benchmarks based on previous campaigns or messages.
- Analyze the results: Once you’ve collected engagement metrics, analyze the data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Consider the overall engagement rates, any significant variations in engagement rates by department or location, and any notable differences between different types of internal communication channels.
Some key KPIs to track when using reach and engagement metrics to measure the effectiveness of internal communication include:
- Open rate: The percentage of employees who opened an internal email or message. A high open rate is an indication that the message was relevant and well-targeted.
- Click-through rate: The percentage of employees who clicked on a link in an internal email or message. A high click-through rate is an indication that the message was compelling and effective at driving action.
CTR = (Number of clicks / Number of impressions) x 100 - Unique Views: The number of unique individuals who viewed an internal communication message or article. This metric can provide insights into how many employees are engaging with your internal communication.
- Audience Reach: The percentage of your total audience who viewed an internal communication message or article. This metric can help you understand how well your communication strategy is reaching your intended audience.
- View Time: The amount of time viewers spend watching an internal video. This metric can help you understand how engaged employees are with your video content and whether the content is holding their attention.
- Social media engagement rate: The number of likes, comments, and shares on internal social media posts. A high engagement rate is an indication that the content was interesting and resonated with employees.
Feedback from Managers:
Managers play a crucial role in internal communication, as they are often the primary conduit of information to their teams. Gathering feedback from managers can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of internal communication. Here are some key considerations when gathering feedback from managers:
- Define the feedback process: Define the process for gathering feedback from managers, such as conducting one-on-one meetings, team meetings, or focus groups. The process should be easy to follow and well-communicated to managers.
- Ask specific questions: Ask managers specific questions about the effectiveness of internal communication, such as the quality and frequency of communication, the relevance of the messages, and the effectiveness of the channels used.
- Analyze the results: Once you’ve gathered feedback from managers, analyze the data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Consider the overall satisfaction levels of managers with internal communication and any significant variations in feedback by department or location.
Some key KPIs to track when using feedback from managers to measure the effectiveness of internal communication include:
- Manager satisfaction rate: The percentage of managers who are satisfied with the effectiveness of internal communication. A high satisfaction rate is an indication that the communication strategy is effective and well-received by managers.
- Manager feedback rate: The percentage of managers who provide feedback on the effectiveness of internal communication. A high feedback rate is an indication that managers are engaged and interested in improving internal communication.
Employee Retention:
Employee retention is a powerful metric to measure the effectiveness of internal communication. When employees feel informed, engaged, and connected to their organization, they are more likely to stay. Here are some key considerations when using employee retention to measure the effectiveness of internal communication:
- Define the time period: Define the time period over which you will measure employee retention. For example, you may measure retention over the past year or over the past quarter.
- Analyze the results: Once you’ve collected employee retention data, analyze the data to identify trends and areas for improvement. Consider any significant variations in retention rates by department or location.
Some key KPIs to track when using employee retention to measure the effectiveness of internal communication include:
- Overall retention rate: The percentage of employees who remain with the organization over a specific time period. A high retention rate is an indication that employees are engaged and committed to the organization.
- Retention rate by department: Analyzing retention rates by department can help identify which departments may have issues with internal communication and may require additional support.
- Cost of turnover: The cost of turnover can be a powerful metric to demonstrate the financial impact of effective internal communication. By calculating the cost of turnover (such as recruitment costs, lost productivity, and training costs), you can demonstrate the ROI of investing in internal communication.
- In conclusion, measuring the effectiveness of internal communication is crucial for any organization that wants to improve employee engagement and productivity. Using a combination of surveys, focus groups, engagement metrics, feedback from managers, and employee retention rates can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the internal communication strategy. By analyzing this data, organizations can identify areas for improvement and refine their internal communication strategy to better meet the needs of their employees and achieve their goals.
Improving Internal Communication and Employee Engagement
In conclusion, measuring the effectiveness of internal communications is critical to ensure that the organization is achieving its goals and employees are engaged and informed. A combination of surveys, focus groups, engagement metrics, feedback from managers, and employee retention rates can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your internal communication strategy. By analyzing this data, you can identify areas for improvement and refine your internal communication strategy to better meet the needs of your organization and employees.
