More than half of the U.S. population has been ordered to stay home and roughly 2.5 billion people worldwide are impacted by a partial or total lockdown, curfew or some restriction on their movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.* It’s no surprise that emotions are running high and confusion is permeating every organization – from corporate and retail employees to C-suite executives and owners of businesses of all types and sizes.
Communications plays a critical role in times of uncertainty, especially when people are socially distanced and with new information coming at them so rapidly. Regular touchpoints are important to both provide information and boost moods and morale. If your organization hasn’t already developed a plan for regularly communicating with employees about the current situation, here are some important factors to keep in mind:
- Establish a clear source of truth for your employees. Share important information gathered from a cross-functional team in a way that is factual, yet honest, human and relatable.
- Over-communicate and put employees first. Communicate more frequently than you think is necessary, encourage dialogue between employees and the organization, and include feedback mechanisms.
- Be proactive. Don’t wait to respond until something has happened or you know all the answers. At the same time, be ready to react instantly if misinformation starts to spread.
- Use a variety of communications vehicles. Ensure you reach as many employees as possible by distributing your messages via email, the intranet, a livestream and other ways unique to your organization.
- Mix things up! All your communications shouldn’t be about COVID-19. Keep your staff engaged by sharing positive corporate news, employee spotlights and charitable initiatives.
Want to discuss how to make your existing employee communications better or brainstorm new ideas? Connect with us to learn how we can help.
*Source: CNN
