Achieving trust, credibility and especially engagement is the ultimate prize for employers, now more than ever. Communications and communicators play a key role in the engagement process. Great communication can engage employees if it cuts through the clutter to speak directly to them, and no one is better positioned than communicators to know how to connect effectively with employees.

The Communicator's Role

First, employers and communicators must recognize that employee engagement is a two-way street, and furthermore that engagement is a gift an employee gives to an organization—that can be freely given or withheld at any time. It is up to these leaders to accept responsibility for (as they will reap the benefits of) making it that way.

We all know how technology enables communication – email, voicemail, text message, instant message, Twitter . . . the list goes on. There are more than enough ways to communicate, and too often they add up to message overload for employees.

That’s why when something is important, nothing compares to face-to-face communication. When a leader needs to inspire people—or move them to action—the best way to do it is to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what they need to know.

I was talking with a client recently who was planning for her face-to-face performance review meetings with her staff.  With forms completed, she acknowledged she didn’t want to simply review the content of the forms. 

Instead, her intention was to have the most productive and positive dialogue possible.

DONT: IGNORE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW

If the annual performance review is a check-off-the-box activity, you’re missing a key opportunity to engage and motivate your employees.

Over the past few weekends, tens of thousands of college graduates have walked across the stage, shaken hands with the Dean, waved to teary-eyed parents and left college – diplomas in hand – ready to change the world.

I’ve received a number of excellent questions recently about my thoughts on social media and its impact on internal communications and business.  Some people have misunderstood why I call myself the “anti-social media guy” on the inside.  Let me clarify, and I’d appreciate your feedback.