You’re talking but is anyone listening? Connecting and communicating with employees in a hyper-connected world

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-06-2017-0034
Published date09 October 2017
Pages211-215
Date09 October 2017
AuthorLisa Sterling
Subject MatterHR & organizational behaviour,Employee behaviour
You’re talking but is anyone listening?
Connecting and communicating with
employees in a hyper-connected world
Lisa Sterling
Lisa Sterling is Chief
People Officer at Ceridian
HCM, Inc., Bloomington,
Minnesota, USA.
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this case study is to outline the internal communication strategies, tools,
techniques and messages that can help organizations to foster transparent, deliberate communication
with employees.
Design/methodology/approach The author synthesizes three years of learnings and internal
research, including regular focus groups and surveys with employees at all levels, to identify the
specific steps organizations can take to achieve open and regular communication – and engage
employees across the organization.
Findings The case study explains key areas to connect and communicate with employees.
Practical implications The author believes that the lessons and tactics described in this case study
can be applied in all organizations.
Originality/value The case study provides a unique set of lessons and best practices the author has
uncovered firsthand which organizations can use to shape their own internal communications strategies
and boost employee engagement.
Keywords Human resource management, Employee engagement, Technology,
Talent management, Talent
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Communication is vital to success in relationships, as a citizen and especially in the
workplace. Frequent, deliberate, transparent communication helps organizations not only
keep their employees up to date, but also build trust and unearth new ideas or challenges
that need addressing. Effective communication enables further team collaboration and
enhances the overall employee experience.
Having said this, the core focus of all workplace communication should be transparency.
For Ceridian in particular, transparency is an intrinsic part of our culture. There are definitely
deliberate communication strategies and tactics we have in place to facilitate
communication, but at the basis of it all is an openness in the way we communicate and the
way we do things as an organization, and it is integrity and accountability that drive our
behavior.
Putting the people team in-charge of communication
For many organizations, internal communications falls under the marketing function. While
at first this may appear to be the right placement, I challenge you to ask yourself: who is
more focused on the people of the organization? Marketing has a big enough job in
creating brand awareness in the market and revenue opportunities. At Ceridian, we took a
DOI 10.1108/SHR-06-2017-0034 VOL. 16 NO. 5 2017, pp. 211-215, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1475-4398 STRATEGIC HR REVIEW PAGE 211

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