Podcast: How to do an Internal Comms audit?

Jonathan Davies

25 mins read

Table of Contents

As you probably got from the title, today we're talking about doing Internal Comms audits. Before we start, we're just going to give you a little spoiler...audits are not as scary as they sound.

Today we're joined by Internal Comms consultant Helen Deverell, who's here to take that scary bit away and tell us everything we need to know on Internal Comms audits.

Watch or listen to the episode right here, or simply scroll down for the full transcript.

The Internal Communication Podcast - Episode 26 from Happeo on Vimeo

Why having an Internal Comms audit?

Helen Deverell: Internal communication audit is really an opportunity to get a sense of how Internal Communications is currently working and how it could work better – so what's going well and what isn't. It really gives you that baseline and lots of valuable insight into Internal Communications within your organization that you can then use to inform strategy and your activities going forward. I think it's really essential that companies do them.

What are the different types of audits?

Helen Deverell: I've done Internal Comms audits, which looks at the whole Internal Comms as a function and all its channels. Then I've also done a channel audit, which brings in the wider Internal Comms. I'm working on a tech audit right now, which means looking at the technology that Internal Comms is currently using and what opportunities they can explore.

Internal Comms audits aren't scary

Helen Deverell: The word audit can make people nervous and slightly defensive. It's ultimately a measurement that shows everything. I think it's really important that I always describe it as leaving your ego at the door. It's not a criticism but rather an opportunity to understand how things are working. If there are issues that aren't going well, it's not necessarily the Internal Comms team not performing properly.

How to perform an Internal Comms audit?

Helen Deverell: You should set objectives for your audit. What is it you're trying to find out? Being quite clear and targeted is essential. Don’t just go into an audit saying, "Let's see what we find." Set clear objectives which will guide you on what questions to ask and what you’re trying to achieve.

Working with the outcomes

Helen Deverell: I structure my recommendations in three stages. First, the quick wins that can be implemented immediately. Second, medium-term goals which might take a bit more time. Lastly, long-term goals that involve more fundamental changes. Common themes often include a lack of understanding of why things are happening in the organization.

Jonathan Davies: Thank you for having me. I really enjoyed our conversation.