Communication is the foundation of any organization. Without it, your cohesive corporate culture falls apart.
And let’s face it, we’ve all felt the pain of internal communication problems. E-mails can be impersonal, lack clarity, and easily be misinterpreted. Additionally, in-person meetings take up valuable time and resources, are difficult to schedule, and may not be efficient.
But there is another solution: video.
This isn’t to say video is the silver bullet to solve all communication problems. But it has its advantages.
Video is one of the most powerful and effective communication tools, and it’s gaining popularity as an internal communications tool. With video, you’re able to control the message with tone and body language, so it’s less likely to be misinterpreted. Video not only adds clarity to the words you’re saying, but it allows you to convey the message with the appropriate emotion.
Video also can be useful for breaking down silos between departments and divisions. By providing video updates on what different departments are working on, employees can see how everyone works together to achieve greater business goals. Additionally, employees feel more involved, and it fosters a sense of pride in their work and the organization.
But Is It Worth It?
I know what you’re thinking: “Making videos is expensive and takes a long time, so is it worth it?”
Absolutely. Creating videos does take time, but there are great tools on the market that make it fast and easy. Plus, we’re talking about content for internal stakeholders. It’s fine to dial down the production quality if key messages are effectively relayed. In fact, creating more informal videos may resonate better with younger generations in the workplace. It also helps eliminate any disconnect between employees and organizational leaders.
For example, video allows a C-suite executive to communicate his or her vision or provide a quarterly business update in a way that feels like a virtual one-on-one. Videos like this, especially ones that are informal, humanize the leadership team and allow personalities to shine through. It helps employees see the executive as a real person, and it can strengthen company culture and engagement.
The bottom line is, we all need to make a deliberate effort to become better communicators. I encourage integrating video as a component of your overall communications strategy. It’s engaging, efficient, and effective, and will help improve communication within your organization.
Have you started integrating video into your organization’s internal communications? I’d love to hear about your experience. If you’re not sure where to start with creating videos, check out my previous article “4 Tips to Get Started Creating Video” on http://www.trainingmag.com.
Matt Pierce is Learning & Video ambassador at TechSmith Corp., the go-to company for visual communication. TechSmith empowers people to create remarkable content to share knowledge and information. A graduate of Indiana University’s School of Education’s Department of Instructional Systems Technology, Pierce has more than 10 years of experience working in learning and development with a focus on visual instruction. He has directly managed the training, user assistance, video, and other teams for TechSmith.
