Survey Looks at Use of Communications Tools to Build Engagement
A recent survey by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Research Foundation and Buck Consultants finds that the most common communication tools used to engage employees and foster productivity in organizations are email (83 percent) and an organization’s intranet (75 percent). The survey, IABC’s second “Employee Engagement Survey.” also found that nearly half of employers also communicate through Facebook, instant messaging, and Twitter.
The IABC/Buck Consultants survey connected with more than 900 corporate communications professionals throughout the country to determine how employers are communicating with employees to keep them engaged and productive. “This year’s respondents reported increases in the use of social media tools, and more of them say they have established internal and external policies for appropriate workplace use of social media,” says Robin McCasland, past chair of the IABC Research Foundation and president of Brain Biscuits Strategic Communication. “When managed effectively, social media can be a great addition to an existing employee engagement strategy.”
The survey found that increasing productivity (66 percent) and retaining top talent (65 percent) are the top goals employers cite for keeping employees engaged. Other top factors include increasing employee morale and creating a new culture of work environment. To download a copy of this year’s “Employee Engagement Survey,” click here.
