Internal communications best practice

People talking

Good internal communications involves regular and effective two-way communication with staff, and leads to increased morale and staff engagement.

Here are some tips on how to communicate well with staff:

  • Think of your audience and write your message appropriately, considering style, language and tone. 
  • Think about your key messages.
  • Communicate using more than one channel - there are many channels available to you both at a departmental and corporate level eg the University Magazine, York Extra, team briefings, drop-in sessions, email, departmental newsletters, etc. 
  • Communicate using channels that are most appropriate to your audience, eg if the staff you are contacting do not have regular access to a computer, do not rely on email as a way of communicating with them. Also consider that different categories of staff prefer to receive information in different ways.
  • Do not write in jargon or use acronyms without explaining them.
  • Conduct an internal communications audit within your department to find out how well communication is currently working, and to identify barriers to effective communication. Use the findings to inform your communications strategy.
  • Remember that good communication is a two-way process. Provide opportunities for staff to communicate their views to you.
  • Use headlines that explain briefly and accurately what the message is about.