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Think again: why do we do employee communication?   PDF  Print  E-mail 

Some of us know in our bones that communicating with employees is the right thing to do. Maybe you've never put the reason into words.

Over the past 25 years, as employee communication has become a defined discipline, various communicators and researchers have tried to craft the one overarching statement that describes how employee communication contributes to organizational effectiveness. Which statement comes closest to describing the purpose and value of employee communication for you?

Vote for your favorite choice below, and see how others have voted. Then, comment on the topic and read what others have said.


Why do we do employee communication?
To inform employees about job and business issues so that they understand and are committed to their work and company.
To build relationships with employees through honest communication so they trust and believe management.
To persuade people to act in a way that meets goals, clarifying how employees contribute to achieving company goals.
To increase employees’ satisfaction with their jobs and the company through information sharing, which will increase productivity.
To tap into and advocate employee opinions, which in turn helps shape management’s messages to be more effective.
To influence the communication climate by creating positive messages and media that reinforce openness, accuracy and tolerance for different opinions.
To explain where the organization is heading and help employees make sense of the situation.
To manage information flow – to improve media, lessen information overload, encourage feedback and manage the grapevine.
To build a sense of community among employees so that their interactions give meaning to their work and appreciation for the company.
To educate employees so they can knowledgeably participate in decision making.
  


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Comments:

  Hi Sheri, It was nice to see a friendly face in CW, and even nicer to see that they had the good sense to make you a Fellow. Congratulations. Connie is an old friend, too--do you have an email address for him? Good to see you\'re still leading the way. --Cheers. . .Cliff
Posted by Cliff McGoon, Whose homepage is http://cliffmcgoon.com on July 3, 2007 at 3:49

  I agree with Sheri - all of the above is the best answer. I guess it depends on the company situation at the time. A company in crisis might need one thing, while a company celebrating success might need another.
Posted by Lisa Owens, Whose homepage is http://www.regval.com on March 17, 2004 at 5:19

  Is it a trick question? Shouldn’t the answer be “all of the above”? Maybe, but it seldom is. One or two are more likely to motivate you. One or two likely reflect the culture at your company. If you’re lucky, you are motivated to communicate for the reasons that are important in your company’s culture. -- Sheri Rosen
Posted by Sheri Rosen, on March 16, 2004 at 5:20

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