Internal communications includes the interchange of ideas and information among employees, managers and owners within a company or government agency. Inter-departmental communications include emails, memos and instructions. Today, an instructional or informational video by CMS could play a large role in the successful communications within your organization.
IPv6 (Internet Protocol) -The Sequel from Anne Schwab on Vimeo.
An internal communications video produced by CMS announces corporate policy, relays instructions on a new process, or motivates employees. An effective internal communications video:
- Informs: tells people about a new direction or corporate policy:
- Demonstrates: offers explanations and a friendlier approach to the new corporate policy;
- Persuades: runs interference between new policy and employee resistance;
- Motivates: encourages employee buy-in;
- Convinces: shows the pros and cons of a position to encourage a change of view point;
- Involves: energizes employees to take action and participate in the conversation;
Internet 2 from Anne Schwab on Vimeo.
According to political scientist and communications theorist Harold Lasswell, internal communications fall into four categories: PRINT, including magazines, newsletters, brochures; FACE-TO-FACE, including team meetings, conferences, round-table discussions, town meetings; WORKSPACE, including notice boards, plasma and LCD screens and window decals.
The last category in Lasswell’s breakdown is: ELECTRONIC, communications accessed through the computer, telephone, television or other devices. Video communications, for example, are transmitted by email, Intranet, video, webcasts and DVDs. And include: all-team meetings; training and e-learning; CEO messaging; safety training and video newsletters.
According to David Jackel, partner at Boston-based corporate video production company Shave Media says that employees will opt to watch a short video over reading a long document. Jackel says, “Video is a powerful tool for internal communications because it allows companies to engage with their entire organization through uniform messaging that is much more compelling than an email. Recipients of internal communications videos are more likely to fully absorb the intended message than they would through more traditional media.”
Employees download corporate online videos to their computers and TVs, and stream the videos to smartphones, tablets, and iPads, so only videos by CMS with high production value will keep the employee audience engaged and entertained.