Internal Communication

Internal communications, also known as employee relations, includes all communication within an organization. Internal communications may be oral or written, face to face or virtual, one-on-one or in a small group.

Effective internal communication - which can be said to be "downward, upward, and horizontal" - is a vital means of addressing organizational concerns. Good internal communication helps to establish formal roles and responsibilities for employees. Listening to employees (an integral part of two-way communication) enables management to identify strengths and weaknesses, which helps in the process of decision making, and fosters esprit du corps.

Internal communications helps employees to understand the organization's vision, values, and culture. Furthermore, internal communication, when implemented effectively, can be crucial in a time of crisis, providing employees with not only a strategy to handle a crisis, but the facts surrounding such an event. As arguably some of the most invested individuals in an organization, trusted and valued employees can prove to be excellent partners when addressing a crisis. By maintaining open lines of communication between management and employees, effective internal communications can enhance stronger relationships throughout all levels of the organization.
Excellent internal communications cannot simply be implemented and left alone; the process must be ever-changing and adaptable for success.

Some of the features of Internal communication are,
Transparent and timely (when details have been confirmed and approved, messages should be presented to employees before any external public);
Clear;
Concise;
Informative;
Independent.

Some of the channels of Internal Communication adopted by the companies are,
Intranet,
A regular Town Hall (an informal session where employees can listen to and talk with the organizational representative such as a managing director, CEO, etc),
Conference calls,
Internal newsletters,
E-mail,
Message boards,
Print materials and Virtual meetings.

Common Causes of Problems in Internal Communications.

1. Attitude of ‘If I know it, then everyone must know it’, practiced by top management.
2. Assumption of ‘I told everyone, or some people, or...?’.
3. Negligence on the part of peers quoting like, ‘Our problems are too big to have to listen to each other!’

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_communications
http://www.managementhelp.org/mrktng/org_cmm.htm