Exam theory: Internal
communication
(Lecture 1)
What is internal communication?
It is the term used to describe an organisations managed communication system, where
employees are regarded as an internal public or stakeholder group.
What does an internal communication function do?
- ensures the organisation meets its legal obligations to talk to employees
- supports major change
- promotes collaboration and a sense of community in the workplace
- promotes external advocacy (gets employees to tell the outside world about their
organisation)
- encourages good employees to stay
- ensures employees know what is expected of them and how to achieve it
What is employee engagement?
‘An attitude, a psychological or motivational state or a personality trait’. Outcomes may be
employees saying positive things about their organisation internally and externally, staying
or committing to being a member of the team even if there are other opportunities
elsewhere, and working harder, putting in extra time, energy and effort.
Why are communicators interested in employee engagement?
Because it is a mix of attitudes (feeling positive or proud), behaviours (recommending the
company as a place to work or working harder) and outcomes (better organizational
performance). These all can be strongly influenced by communications.
What is the intrinsic motivational theory?
That motivations come from an individuals desires for self-determination:
Autonomy (The urge to be in charge of our own lives)
Mastery (The desire to keep improviing the way we do something we care about)
and Purpose (The drive to have a greater reason for doing what we do)
, Why is two-way communication important?
- Few pieces of information are understood on the first time, so if it is one way and an
order, it is likely the person needs to clarify the information. Complex factors are likely to
affect message comprehension, including a good deal of filtering according to effort,
motivation and interest.
When planning internal communication, what are the three questions you should
ask?
1. What should people DO as a result of our communication (Conative)
2. What should people feel or believe as a result of our communication? (Affective)
3. What should people know as a result of our communication? (Cognitive)
According to Tench and Yeomans, there are two leadership communication styles,
what are these?
1. Transformational leadership – leaders provide compelling visions and plans to their
followers and ensure that listening and dialogue on these plans takes place in order to
achieve their objectives. This has been criticized for its over-emphasis on leaders and for
not listening to and involving employees in decision making.
2. Communicative leadership – A leader consciously places emphasis on communication
and empowerment.
What is policy?
A policy is what should be going on within a company and how they want to do things. You
may compare WIGO (what is going on) with WSBGO (what should be going on).
What is unwritten policy?
The unspoken rules (the morals, the habits, the customs, ‘how we work around here’)
What is organization policy?
- Mission
- Vision
- Objectives
*Not every organization will have this written out.
What is communication policy?
House style books (typography), personnel magazines, year reports (what they have
achieved)
communication
(Lecture 1)
What is internal communication?
It is the term used to describe an organisations managed communication system, where
employees are regarded as an internal public or stakeholder group.
What does an internal communication function do?
- ensures the organisation meets its legal obligations to talk to employees
- supports major change
- promotes collaboration and a sense of community in the workplace
- promotes external advocacy (gets employees to tell the outside world about their
organisation)
- encourages good employees to stay
- ensures employees know what is expected of them and how to achieve it
What is employee engagement?
‘An attitude, a psychological or motivational state or a personality trait’. Outcomes may be
employees saying positive things about their organisation internally and externally, staying
or committing to being a member of the team even if there are other opportunities
elsewhere, and working harder, putting in extra time, energy and effort.
Why are communicators interested in employee engagement?
Because it is a mix of attitudes (feeling positive or proud), behaviours (recommending the
company as a place to work or working harder) and outcomes (better organizational
performance). These all can be strongly influenced by communications.
What is the intrinsic motivational theory?
That motivations come from an individuals desires for self-determination:
Autonomy (The urge to be in charge of our own lives)
Mastery (The desire to keep improviing the way we do something we care about)
and Purpose (The drive to have a greater reason for doing what we do)
, Why is two-way communication important?
- Few pieces of information are understood on the first time, so if it is one way and an
order, it is likely the person needs to clarify the information. Complex factors are likely to
affect message comprehension, including a good deal of filtering according to effort,
motivation and interest.
When planning internal communication, what are the three questions you should
ask?
1. What should people DO as a result of our communication (Conative)
2. What should people feel or believe as a result of our communication? (Affective)
3. What should people know as a result of our communication? (Cognitive)
According to Tench and Yeomans, there are two leadership communication styles,
what are these?
1. Transformational leadership – leaders provide compelling visions and plans to their
followers and ensure that listening and dialogue on these plans takes place in order to
achieve their objectives. This has been criticized for its over-emphasis on leaders and for
not listening to and involving employees in decision making.
2. Communicative leadership – A leader consciously places emphasis on communication
and empowerment.
What is policy?
A policy is what should be going on within a company and how they want to do things. You
may compare WIGO (what is going on) with WSBGO (what should be going on).
What is unwritten policy?
The unspoken rules (the morals, the habits, the customs, ‘how we work around here’)
What is organization policy?
- Mission
- Vision
- Objectives
*Not every organization will have this written out.
What is communication policy?
House style books (typography), personnel magazines, year reports (what they have
achieved)
