FEIEA internal communication landscape survey reveals eight ‘do now’ recommendations

FEIEA’s European Internal Communication (IC) Landscape Survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of internal communication within organizations across Europe.

With responses from 207 IC professionals across 13 countries, and following on from the pre-pandemic 2017 report, this research which was managed by Italian association, ASCAI, offers valuable insights into the trends and dynamics shaping the field of internal communication today.

Key findings:

1. Job Satisfaction
There’s a generally high level of job satisfaction among internal communication professionals. Key factors contributing to job satisfaction include varied and interesting tasks, overall job satisfaction, positive feedback from employees and recognition from senior management.
Despite these positive aspects, there are areas for improvement though, particularly regarding work-life balance and career opportunities.
2. Internal Communication Effectiveness
The survey measured factors such as employee satisfaction/engagement, intranet usage, financial/personnel costs for projects, employee attitude and behaviour change, and channel effectiveness. The data showed that organizations with a strong focus on transparent and two-way communication had higher levels of employee engagement.
Meanwhile, several barriers hinder effective monitoring of IC effectiveness including the top barrier of ‘the organization does not have the right tools’ and closely followed by ‘the metrics are too difficult to get’ and ‘the organization does not understand what to measure’.
3. Work-life Balance
After the pandemic, which redefined connections between employees and their companies, work-life balance has assumed a pivotal role in peoples’ mindset and their attitude towards the workplace. IC can do much to facilitate this relationship and support companies and their stakeholders in achieving objectives. Creating a pleasant work atmosphere with a good work-life balance and involving and participating employees were identified as the most important factors.
4. The role of business leaders
Business leaders are important to unite and create cohesive workgroups, to share a clear vision, and in effectively delegating and coordinating diverse teams.
These are the areas in which IC professionals with their strategic thinking and tactical approach can support business leaders most.

Report recommendations for communication professionals

Based on the survey findings and additional insights from Italian association, ASCAI, these are the key recommendations:

1. Leverage Technology: Utilize advanced technologies to enhance communication strategies and measure effectiveness accurately.
2. Promote Work-Life Balance: Implement policies and communication models that support work-life balance and respect employees’ life priorities.
3. Foster Inclusive Culture: Ensure communication strategies are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of the workforce.
4. Enhance Employee Involvement: Create opportunities for active employee involvement and participation in decision-making processes.
5. Support Mental Health: Integrate mental health and well-being resources into internal communication channels.
6. Adapt to Hybrid Models: Develop strategies to maintain effective communication in remote and hybrid working environments.
7. Quantitative and Qualitative Metrics: Balance quantitative measurements with qualitative insights to gain a comprehensive understanding of IC effectiveness.
8. Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update communication strategies to align with organizational goals and employee needs.

For a copy of the full report, contact info@feiea.org