IABC study finds face-to-face conversations still strong
Face-to-face, direct communication is the most common form of employee communication used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to recent research commissioned by the IABC Research Foundation and the Gevity Institute.
Highlights of the study
In-person practices: According to the study, small businesses may rely more heavily than larger businesses on face-to-face communication practices because of their small populations and employees’ proximity to one another. Face-to-face conversations were the most commonly used practice (87%), followed by open-door policies (81%), management meetings (79%), staff meetings (77%), management by walking around (66%) and employee forums (42%). (See detailed chart on current use of in-person practices)
Electronic practices: In the organisations surveyed, electronic and print practices were used to supplement and reinforce the messages of face-to-face communication exchanges. Email is currently the most commonly used electronic communication practice (78%) followed by portable devices such as cellphones or laptops (75%) and a company website (74%). Interestingly, employee blogs were the least common of all the practices reviewed in the study, used by less than 10% of respondents. Furthermore, the majority of SMEs surveyed (76%) had no plans to use employee blogs in the future. (See detailed chart on current use of print practices)
Print practices: The majority of respondents currently use traditional printed employee manuals and handbooks (61%). Forty-one percent used open book management and 36% used printed newspapers and magazines to communicate with their employees. The least-used print vehicles were anonymous suggestion systems (22%) and letters mailed to employees’ homes (22%). (See detailed chart on current use of electronic practices)
Visit the IABC Knowledge Centre to order online or call +1 415.544.4700 or 800.776.4222. The executive summary of The Human Element, with accompanying charts, is available free of charge at the IABC News Centre.