As a leader, it’s important to understand the goals and vision of your company. It’s arguably even more important to convey that information to your employees, who play a huge role in turning those goals and vision into reality.
Strong lines of communication ensure everyone is on the same page, leading to greater growth for your business. To help you do this, we asked Young Entrepreneur Council members the following question:
Q. What is your preferred method for communicating company goals and vision with your employees?
1. In-office lunch meetings
We have a small team, so I like to communicate company values and goals in the office in a conference room or during an in-office lunch hour. For those who work remotely, we conference them into all meetings in real time. —Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
2. Weekly team meetings
Weekly meetings are one of the most effective ways to communicate company goals and touch base with your employees on their projects. We hold weekly meetings for each of our teams where we discuss updates, open the floor up for questions, and communicate our weekly, monthly and quarterly goals. —Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
3. Weekly newsletter plus a team meeting
My preferred method for communicating company goals and vision with my employees is sending a weekly newsletter with remarks and holding one 30-minute meeting a week. I also believe it’s highly important for leaders to show great attitude and enthusiasm as they communicate company vision and goals as this will create a positive vibe among employees. —Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME
4. Slack announcements
We use Slack as our main communication portal. We have several channels for different teams and purposes. We share important updates and communicate our goals and visions on the general Slack channel that everyone is subscribed to. These announcements are also backed by changes to the website and mentioned in weekly meetings. —Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
5. Sharing customer and team stories
I often share stories of customer success or examples of how our team went above and beyond for our customers. These real-life stories demonstrate our company motto, “People First,” in action. Sharing these stories with our team reminds them of our company goals and vision and how we can put those goals and visions into action every day. —Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
6. Company culture
I believe people learn better from experience and immersion. Just like it’s possible to learn a foreign language by spending some time in the country, it’s possible to pass the values on through company culture. We start thinking about it at the recruitment stage and only hire people who already have a lot in common with the team, get the general vibe, and share similar work ethics. —Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS
7. Internal company hub
Our company uses an online hub where we keep all of our employee information, processes, mission statements, etc. New employees use the hub as their main resource to get in tune with their work schedules, tasks, projects, and more. On top of that, we also post our values and mission statement on the hub so employees have direct access to it 24/7. This seems to be an effective method. —Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
8. Team retreats
Team retreats are my favorite place to have everyone together and give an overview of where we started, where we’ve gotten, and where we’re going. I like to start the event with this, as it tends to bring people together and get them excited to spend time with each other, and of course afterwards, to get back to work and work towards these goals. —Karl Kangur, Above House
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9. Workshops
Regular workshops that revolve around the core values and long-term vision have a positive, ongoing impact on the organization. Real-time, live (or Zoom) engagement is more personal than a policy pinned on your site. Day-to-day problems can shift the perspective in the wrong direction, which is why recurring workshops around the business values can void any hesitations across the organization. —Mario Peshev, DevriX
10. Short videos
I like to use videos to explain goals and vision because it’s the preferred method for our employees, so they pay attention more. That means they take in what’s being shared rather than get distracted and miss what they need to know. —Serenity Gibbons, NAACP
11. Town hall meetings
I like the town hall format for sharing this type of information because everyone knows they have the floor to ask questions and get clarity around anything they don’t understand. I also get real-time feedback on what I’m saying so I can see where everyone’s mind is at. —Peter Daisyme, Hostt
12. A mission statement document
I have a mission statement document that I share with all employees. This document outlines my company’s origin story, notable accomplishments, and provides a road map for the future. I frequently update this document as well, so I encourage employees to periodically revisit it, even if they’ve read it before. —Bryce Welker, Accounting Institute of Success
13. Email series
We like to share a stream of emails that cover different aspects of goals and vision. That way, it’s digestible and helps everyone reflect on each aspect separately. Email also allows them to return and reread at their convenience. —Angela Ruth, Calendar
14. Quarterly presentations, monthly updates, and weekly meetings
Weekly meetings are used at the department level to have a two-way discussion about the goals of a particular department. Monthly company-wide updates allow departments to communicate to all stakeholders the progress that department has made toward that goal. Quarterly presentations coming from the C-suite ensure everyone gets management’s interpretation of the progress made on those goals. —Jeff Keenan, LeadsRx
15. Multi-layer communications
Everyone learns and retains information differently, so be prepared to communicate information to your employees in various methods. Begin with group meetings to share any updates, goals, or changes to the organization. From here, send out written communication that outlines what was shared. Having visual, audible, and written communication covers most bases to meet everyone’s needs. —Jared Weitz, United Capital Source Inc.