Clear and compelling internal communications is critical to the success of any large organization. When it’s done well, internal communications programs can enhance employee engagement, align them to a purpose and help them feel a true sense of belonging, all of which are key to reaching business objectives, maintaining a positive company culture, and retaining employees.
But as the business world continues to rapidly evolve, the size, scope and complexity of many internal communications projects require more attention and greater niche expertise. This is where a specialized internal corporate communications consultant can step in to add tremendous value to your department (and the company).
Beyond being able to provide general strategic advice on enhancing your overall internal communications, here are some specific areas where engaging a consultant with specific expertise can prove to be an outstanding solution for corporate communications teams:
Change management CEOs depart. Companies are merged or acquired. Departments restructure. Long-standing organizational processes are updated. Tech platforms are replaced.
All of the above can cause employee anxieties or frustrations to spike.
Change is hard; but so is communicating change. It can be challenging to hit the right tone, use the right mediums at the right times while also nailing all the nuances involved with sharing big news or highly sensitive information with employees. An internal communications consultant focused on change management can help strategize and craft messages based on best practices and insights gained from their real-world experiences helping other organizations navigate complicated changes.
Relaunching a new company intranet site
As anyone who’s ever been remotely involved with the launch, upgrade or migration of an intranet site can attest … it’s a ton of work. The amount of strategic planning, coordination and collaboration is significant.
A consultant with expertise in this area can streamline the process and make sure the site ends up being a dynamic platform that drives engagement. A consultant can conduct a detailed audit of the existing intranet site, and also collect feedback from employees about its perceived relevance, functionality and usability.
Based on the research conducted and information gathered, they can propose new features and develop a strategy to enhance user experience and boost the site’s overall impact. From there, they can help guide your company through the entire process, collaborating closely with your team, IT, and external vendors to ensure the site’s navigation, functionality, content and design makes sense for the end user and achieves your goals.
Employee recognition programs Companies today can’t afford to overlook the power of showing appreciation to employees. Effectively managed employee recognition programs don’t just lift morale, they impact the bottom line by helping to improve retention. A consultant well-versed in optimizing employee recognition and awards initiatives can help identify the types of recognition that truly speaks to your company’s unique values and culture. Beyond defining award categories, consultants can manage promotional campaigns to increase employee participation. The consultant can also manage the nomination and selection processes, in addition to awards announcements.
External company honors and awards
Speaking of prizes, a specialized consultant can also help bolster your brand with the broader public. From an array of “best place to work” awards to “top executive” honors, there’s no shortage of recognition programs sponsored by business organizations, industry associations and media outlets. But many of these awards have in-depth applications that require gathering vast amounts of data, and weaving that information into a compelling narrative that will catch the eyes of judges. Applying for honors can be a time-intensive endeavor, but one that yields great publicity, while generating employee pride.
Executive coaching There are incredibly wise C-suite executives who are gifted when it comes to many facets of running a large department or organization, but, unfortunately, less skilled when communicating with employees. A consultant can help coach company leaders on the finer points of providing compelling and persuasive communications – whether it’s an all-company meeting, a presentation to fellow executives, or in one-to-one meetings with key stakeholders. Oftentimes, executives will be more receptive (or feel less threatened) by receiving communication help and feedback from someone outside the organization.
These are just a handful of areas where an internal communications consultant can provide insights and guidance. There are many more. For example, there are highly specialized consultants who can be brought in to manage communications around open enrollment, campaigns about annual employee surveys, or new DEI initiatives. The list goes on.
The key thing to remember is that as a corporate communications leader, you’re the conductor. Your internal communications team doesn’t need to handle every single internal communications project. And in some cases, they probably shouldn’t due to already overflowing workloads, skills gaps or diminishing opportunities to learn and develop from managing the project. For many initiatives, bringing in a specialized expert or fractional communications consultant is the best solution for the organization – and your team.
About Evo Communications
Evo Communications knows that strategic communications has the power to drive business results. That’s why we help you fill your temporary communications roles with highly qualified professionals who can onboard themselves and get to work right away!
We are a certified woman-owned virtual agency of independent corporate communicators. We work alone, in pairs or in curated teams to meet the specific needs of our clients. With foundations in Fortune 500 companies, we leverage our collective strengths to meet your needs, acting as a seamless extension of your team.
From supporting your entire corporate communications function, focusing on one specific area of need, and adding temporary bandwidth to your team, the Evo team is motivated to offer innovative solutions that drive results.