9 useful reads on internal communication

Effective internal communication can improve employee performance by as much as 22%. This is precisely why it is extremely important that we continuously measure corporate communication. After all, it also gives us feedback on the direction in which we should adjust our communication in order to be more effective. Improving communication, however, often requires self-education, which we can even gain by reading suitable content and books. In this article I recommend 10+ books for your attention. Every one of them can help raise corporate communication to a higher level.

1. "The New Rules of Marketing and PR" -
David Meerman Scott

The book is already in its eighth edition and is continuously updated. This makes it a truly modern guide for marketing and PR professionals, but also for everyone else who works with communication. The eighth edition devotes particular attention to social media and mobile communication, as well as to how business communication has evolved through technological progress.

Through practical, real-world examples, the book shows how it is worth shaping your marketing and communication strategy in today's modern world. How can social media be used in a way that serves the company's interests? Why do we need to measure the results of our communication? And why do we need to create content that our audience is genuinely interested in?

2. "The Internal Communications Handbook" -
Steve Manning

The book gives a comprehensive picture of establishing a corporate internal communication strategy. Its latest edition, moreover, touches on topics such as employee engagement, crisis communication, and the effect of technological progress on internal communication.

In his book, Steve Manning places enormous emphasis on aligning internal communication with the company's overall strategy and culture. He gives practical advice on how to establish transparent and effective communication with employees.

3. "The Seven Cs of Communication" -
Richard L. Weaver II

The book presents the seven fundamental elements of communication, which are: clarity, correctness, concreteness, coherence, conciseness, continuity and completion. According to Richard L. Weaver II, the condition of effective communication is that we meet all seven of these communication elements at once.

The book also helps us develop our speech strategy, so that we capture and keep our audience's attention. It also provides guidance on how to argue persuasively, or which tools to use to shape behaviour. Such a tool is, for example, creating and sending reminders or summaries.

4. "The Communications Handbook" -
Joep P. Cornelissen

The book is about the business and institutional communication environment, touching on topics such as communication theory, strategies, communication channels and tools. Through practical examples and exercises, as well as case studies, the book develops readers' communication skills.

Joep P. Cornelissen emphasises that effective communication is also essential for building corporate reputation and employer branding. And for this, establishing the right communication strategy is important. So the book also provides a kind of framework for developing effective communication strategies.

5. "The Communication Crisis in America, and
How to Fix It" - Christina Butler

The book focuses on the current American communication crisis, and primarily makes practical suggestions for addressing it. Christina Butler identifies the lack of critical thinking and communication that appeals excessively to emotions as the factors responsible for the emergence of the communication crisis. The book's author advocates argument-based communication in order to build trust, as well as ethical marketing and PR communication.

Although the book presents the American situation, this can be interesting and valuable information for us too. Reading the book can help develop critical thinking and communication suited to our business, in which arguments and emotionally appealing words are in balance.

6. "The New Employee Handbook" -
Chris Dyer

The book provides a comprehensive guide for businesses on how to create a productive and pleasant company culture where employees are engaged. The book also shares practical advice on how to attract and retain talent. An essential condition for this is a strong and healthy company culture. According to Chris Dyer, a good company culture not only helps with retaining and recruiting the workforce, but also improves the company's performance, which in turn is the key to the company's success.

The book gives tips on how to build company culture based on trust, transparency and accountability. It also emphasises that a work environment has to be created where staff feel valued. Furthermore, the book gives practical suggestions on how to establish an effective internal communication strategy, how to support collaboration and teamwork, and how to make use of technology to improve our communication (e.g. internal communication chatbot applications similar to CHEQ).

7. The Message: The Communication Skills Book" -
Mathew McKay and Martha Davis

The book provides useful guidance on developing both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. The book contains tasks and exercises that can improve personal and professional interpersonal relationships. In addition, it helps establish a communication strategy suited to the audience (colleagues, clients, etc.).

It is recommended reading for every professional who works with communication.

8. "The Social Employee" -
Cheryl Burgess and Mark Burgess

The book shows how the power of social media can be used,

• to strengthen a positive employer image 
• to retain talent and attract it

Practical advice and case studies await the book's reader. In addition, the book supports establishing social-media usage policies that encourage employees to be ambassadors of the company on the social network. At the same time, the book also covers how to effectively manage and use social media in crisis situations.

9. "Leadership Communication" - Deborah Barrett and Marsha W. Beckett

The book focuses on communication as an effective leadership tool. It helps establish a leadership communication strategy, raise communication skills to a higher level, and build strong relationships among staff. All of this contributes to creating a company culture with a positive atmosphere.

The book is recommended reading not only for communication professionals, but for everyone who holds a leadership position. After all, a leader who communicates well is listened to by their subordinates, can motivate them properly and positively shape workplace behaviour. The reader can learn from it the basics of refined and effective communication.

Bonus: Engaged employees through an internal communication strategy 

Since we are aware of how important internal communication is for the running of a company, we too have put together a short e-book on the topic. The aim of the e-book is to provide support for strategically planning the conversations within a company, and to help make it more effective. CLICK HERE for the e-book!

I hope the books help you too to develop your internal communication and to create a company culture with such a pleasant atmosphere that talented, good workers are also happy to stay.