Companies are revamping their business practices, transforming their organization, and revising their employee value proposition to keep pace with change. But employees are often left wondering what this means for them and how they fit in – leading to workplace rumors, anxiety and uncertainty.  Keeping employees engaged amidst the turbulence is a critical challenge for most organizations.

As a seasoned internal communicator, I’ve always believed that companies with effective communication have higher levels of employee satisfaction – giving them a leg up on their competition in so many ways.  However, in today’s changing business climate, effective communication is no longer just a nicety – I’d dare say it’s the lifeblood of a successful organization.

A well-executed communication plan reinforces the organization’s vision, connects employees to the business, links rewards to performance, fosters process improvement, facilitates change and drives business results by changing employee behavior. No matter how you look at it, communication is an important part of the business landscape and cannot be taken for granted.

Effective communication takes a long-term approach – it’s not just a “one and done” campaign. To have an impact, the process begins with helping employees understand the “big picture” -- in a frank and straightforward manner.  Ongoing communication should respect the intelligence of your audience and demonstrate your commitment. The results are clear – measurable through improved engagement, increased productivity, higher retention and so, so much more.

Thanks to Jane Wojcik who contributed this post as our guest blogger! Jane is an independent internal communication/change management consultant with more than 20 years consulting for Fortune 1000 companies, including 18 years with a major global consulting firm. She is available on a project-basis and can be reached at jane.wojcik@yahoo.com.