Employees should know what is going on around the workplace. If you are tasked with improving employee communications, a newsletter is a simple, inexpensive way to reach everyone. Include company news and motivating, fun stories about employees. Make your newsletter interesting, and employees will look forward to reading it.
Step 1
Talk with managers and staff and ask what type of information they feel should be included in a company newsletter. Find out what information they believe is not being effectively communicated and how best to make the communication interactive to allow for two-way communication. Work with senior management to convey important official messages and set a tone that is in line with your company's missions and visions.
Step 2
Balance your newsletter with both information from management and lighter articles. Management information might include introductions of new clients and employees, company developments and achievements, new policies and company updates. More human-interest articles might include departmental and individual staff spotlights, recognition of staff, and pieces about local events with staff participation. Create an internal board that allows both managers and employees to contribute to your newsletter.
Step 3
Post the newsletter in multiple places. Print and post hard copies in community areas such as break rooms, bulletin boards and hallways. Leave a stack of newsletters in the break room for employees to take away. Also, post it electronically and e-mail copies to all employees.
Step 4
Stay on schedule with the newsletters. Plan a weekly or monthly distribution and don’t miss any issues. Your employees will come to expect the newsletter and begin to rely on it for current, informative and interesting information. Even if you don’t have much to write, send a newsletter anyway to show your commitment to employee communication. Keep the format consistent and distribute the newsletter consistently on the same date or day of the week.
Step 5
Add tools to your electronic newsletter such as comment forms, surveys and polls after several weeks of newsletters have been distributed. Ask if the newsletter has improved communications and if it is accessible, interesting and timely. Ask for suggested sections, articles, guest writers, and then take the feedback seriously. Tweak your newsletter based on comments and survey results.
