Whether you're providing communications tools for managers as online resources or printed materials, manager toolkits can increase your success at creating employee buy-in for major change, leadership vision or company initiatives.
In Tribe's research with non-desk employees, 60% said their direct supervisors are their preferred channel of communication. But desk workers also want their managers to keep them in the loop, even if they're more likely to receive some communication directly from corporate.
Here are five reasons to invest time and money into providing effective manager toolkits:
The toolkit may be intended to educate employees, but when managers engage with those tools to communicate to their teams, they're also learning about that topic. If, for instance, they're using a toolkit to communicate the business reasons for some major change, managers maybe more likely to understand and support that change themselves.
Most managers are not trained communicators, so we need to make communicating with their teams as easy as possible for them. Some topics may only need talking points and FAQs, but others might require more. When managers have the tools they need and feel confident in their use, the likelihood is greater that they'll actually share the message.
One complaint we heard from employees in the Tribe survey mentioned above is that each manager interprets the message through their own lens. That means employees in different parts of the company may receive a slightly different message, depending on their manager. A communications toolkit helps ensure a consistent message throughout the organization.
By offering some tools that work in stand-up situations and others that are more effective in sit-down meetings, you give managers the flexibility to communicate in different work environments. Meet managers where they are - literally - whether that's a staff meeting in a conference room or a pre-shift huddle in a noisy warehouse.
Some managers are comfortable speaking to a group, some prefer one-onone meetings, and still others would rather share a video, send an email or post a flyer. Provide a range of tools that work for different communication styles and you'll increase the number of managers who will deliver those communications to their teams.
