How to communicate with your teams in times of emergency

We’re living in uncertain times. Companies are rethinking their current strategies, managing information, sending urgent external communications while they have to deal with employees that are working remotely. One thing is sure: communication is key in any type of emergency.

Still trying to discover how you can improve your internal communications and unlock the secret to added value with a social & collaborative intranet? Keep reading

This may be the perfect time to consider using your intranet as your game-changer or starting to look for an intranet as LumApps. 

Use your intranet to facilitate the communication required at the height of an emergency situation and keep your employees informed about the latest company updates. But how? What are quick wins? 

Short-Term: First Internal Communication Touchpoints

Leverage your Intranet

Aligning all teams is crucial when the business needs crisis management. Emergency communication needs to start with internal communications.

Here’re some must do’s regarding the first internal communications touchpoints:

• Keep the messaging clear and concise for these first steps in internal outreach.  It’s important that you keep your messaging concise and relevant, your instructions clear and direct, and your tone calm and confident.
• Define the Crisis Squad. You need to have the management team as a default in the crisis team with the CEO, PR Manager. It would be great to also have social media managers and web managers in place too. They are on the frontline. Align the intranet crew with the organisational direction and anticipate what is coming. 
• Having the right spokespeople running the show is imperative to successful crisis management. They lead the communication. For employees it’s important to have a clear point of contact  in case of emergency or follow-up questions.
• Plan your messages and short-term actions in advance as much as possible.

1. Critical alerts

Critical alerts are notifications that appear even when your iPhone or pc is in “Do Not Disturb “-mode or silenced. These notifications contain crucial information about emergencies.

You use them to push employees to read any information before they can pursue other activities. 

 

2. Regular one-time alerts

If you want to communicate to the entire business, you can create a visible banner on the intranet home page. You can support this general message with specific critical alerts that you can send by using intranet notifications and/or mobile push notifications.

 

3. Post articles

When you have to delve into more details about the crisis and reassure employees. The post can cover the “Why”, “What” and “How”. 

 

Leverage your Mobile Application

Make sure that your intranet is responsive and available on mobile devices. The mobile intranet is the best way to communicate, connect, align, and engage with your people on-the-go. And, if you’re someone who has a busy personal life with an intense job, it’s comforting to know that your phone will notify you so you make sure you see what you to need.