How to involve top management in internal communication?

Effective, regular, dynamic and inclusive internal communication is essential for the proper functioning of the company and the commitment of the teams. While it is important to engage employees and operational managers in your company’s communication, it is also very beneficial to involve top managers.

 

Why involve top management in the internal communication of your company?

First of all, let’s go back to the role of the strategic manager, or top manager.

The latter coordinates the transversal actions of the company’s various departments. He is responsible for transmitting, to local managers, Strategic orientations and the directives of the hierarchy. He supervises the smooth running of missions and the achievement of objectives, transmits the values, the culture of the company, the strategic issues, etc.

The top manager therefore has a strategic role, unlike the middle manager who has an operational mission with the teams.

While the local manager is naturally involved in internal communication, this is not always the case for top managers.

However, involving the company’s top management in its communication is beneficial in many ways.

Thanks to his strategic managerial posture, the top manager will be able, by getting involved in communication, to detect opportunities and flaws more easily and areas for improvement. He will also have access to real-time information and will be able to make decisions aligned with the reality on the ground.

Including the top manager in communication is also a great way to inspire and motivate teams: it will strengthen employee engagement, the sense of belonging and capture everyone’s attention.

Finally, this managerial practice will ensure rigorous global monitoring.

Involving senior managers in your corporate communication is also a good way to deploy a horizontal management style and participatory. This management method, which breaks down the silo system, is a powerful lever for increasing collective intelligence, promoting innovation and creativity, but also for improving well-being at work and strengthen team cohesion.

It should be added that with the development of teleworking, it is essential that each level of the company actively participates in exchanges on internal digital communication channels.

 

How to involve your top managers in internal communication?

Define internal communication objectives

To encourage the involvement of top management in internal communication, it is first important to clarify the objectives and challenges of this communication.

Maybe it’s a question of motivating, valuing or congratulating the teams? To strengthen the company’s culture? To inform, promote or train? Improve operational efficiency and speed up processes?

Defining the objectives and challenges will make it possible to make top managers aware of the importance of their commitment to communication and to clarify their role in these exchanges.

By actively participating in the company’s internal communication, the top manager will be able to:

• Transmit directives, delegate and manage projects more easily,
• Help teams achieve goals faster,
• Sharing the company’s economic performance, news, successes, challenges…
• To share areas for improvement and any pitfalls encountered,
• Communicating on the company’s strategy, the future of the brand, the common vision…
• Value, congratulate and encourage local employees and managers.

Choosing the right internal communication channels

Another fundamental element is to choose the right communication channels used internally. Digital tools that are easy to use, dynamic and attractive are to be preferred.

To encourage the engagement of top managers and employees in communication, it is also possible to set up an internal newsletter to share company news; a notice board; an instant messaging tool; an intranet software; a suggestion box; meetings; stand up meetings; corporate social networks…

 

Encourage close and regular communication

For it to be effective, internal communication must be carried out by the hierarchy in a regular and inclusive way. This is a prerequisite for encouraging teams to participate and create a real bond of proximity.

Involving top management in internal communication will create real cohesion between the different levels and departments of the company and break the silo operation. It’s a way to strengthen ties and create a climate of trust that can inspire a whole new corporate culture.