As we navigate the changing landscape of the global workforce, internal communications professionals face a unique challenge — cultivating trust and fostering engagement among the expanding deskless employee segment. This task carries considerable weight, considering that deskless workers represent a staggering 80% of the global workforce.
Despite their significant contribution, deskless employees consistently report feeling detached, undervalued, and mistrusted. This sentiment comes to life in a recent Edelman report, underscoring a 15% trust gap between these workers and their office-based colleagues.
So, where do we begin? How can we bridge this trust gap effectively?
Data-Driven Communication Strategies: Context and Frequency
Work is not a place but an activity. Especially for deskless employees, who rarely inhabit traditional workspaces. Out of sight should not mean out of mind. This dynamic demographic 90% of whom ascribe job satisfaction to well-structured, regular communication, prefer personal, timely, and contextual touchpoints.
Companies prioritizing such a mobile-first communication strategy have witnessed an impressively high impact – an 18% increase in employee engagement. Incorporating systems designed to bring this philosophy to life – like a mobile app or a digital workplace can streamline communication, enabling your deskless employees to stay informed, involved, and motivated.
Emphasizing Feedback and Collaboration: Hear Their Voices
Engagement isn't mere interactivity. It's also about feeling heard, valued, and part of a larger mission. In fact, an enormous proportion of employees, 87%, champion their involvement in providing feedback and 86% believe in the power of collaborative decision-making processes to elevate their work experience.
Cultivate channels for open dialogue; these could take shape as virtual forums, anonymous feedback tools, or robust social networks within the organization.
Enhancing Leadership Visibility: The Power of Connection
A whopping 96% of non-executive employees yearn for more authentic connections with their CEOs and senior leaders. What better way to bridge this gap than through purposeful immersion? Leadership engagement in on-the-floor activities, shadowing programs, or other interactive sessions could truly make a difference.
Addressing Employee Concerns: Living the Values
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) form the three pillars most contemporary organizations strive towards. It's even more crucial to infuse these values in your internal communications when 61% of employees look for workplaces that reflect their personal values. So, ensure that your messages, initiatives, and actions align with your stated DE&I policies and communicate this commitment clearly and consistently.
By leveraging these data-driven insights, you can shatter the barriers, bridging the trust and engagement gap between your organization and deskless employees.
Deepen your reach and employee connections with adaptable communication tools like those offered by Sparrow Connected. Like a reliable friend eager to guide you through the complexities of internal communications, Sparrow is here to offer you workable solutions.
Embark on this exciting journey towards comprehensive internal communication by booking a demo today. Let's together transform the future of workplace engagement for your deskless teams.
What’s Next:
