From water cooler conversations to team talks, the conversations employees engage in contribute to creating the company culture.

From bullies in the boardroom to supervisors on staff, employees learn how to communicate in the workplace. It all starts at the top. The leader sets the tone and contributes to the culture’s communication style. While working in the government communications department, I noticed a pattern contributing to a communication disconnect within the organization. 

I decided to continue my education in communication and earn my master’s degree. I wrote my thesis on Bullies in the Workplace. While earning my degree, I researched and conducted communications audits and quickly realized their value. 

 A communication audit comprehensively assesses an organization’s communication practices, strategies, and channels. It aims to identify strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities to enhance communication effectiveness and efficiency. It involves evaluating how well an organization communicates internally and externally, ensuring alignment with business goals and brand image. Conducting a communications audit can provide valuable insights and help organizations enhance their messaging strategies. 

Let’s explore the critical aspects of a communication audit:

A company’s communication should flow freely across all lines and departments when necessary, creating an open and honest culture.

Here are just 7 reasons why you might consider commissioning a communications strategist to conduct a communications audit:

1.    Assessing Consistency: Communication audits involve assessing how well you maintain brand communications with all stakeholders. 

2.    Identifying Gaps: Audits reveal gaps in your current internal and external communications. 

3.    Evaluating Effectiveness: An audit allows you to analyze the most effective strategies and tactics. 

4. Employee Engagement: Regular audits ensure that internal communication aligns with business goals, enhances employee engagement, and fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration.

5.    Crafting Consistent Messaging: An audit outlines a roadmap for crafting straightforward, consistent messaging that resonates with employees. 

6.    Improving Content: By evaluating your internal content, you can determine whether it supports your company’s strategies and business goals.

7.    Strategic Decision-Making: Audits help build strategic thinking and communication management skills. 

Remember, just like financial or performance audits, communication audits are relevant to organizations of every size and should be conducted regularly to contribute to overall success.

Vanessa Denha Garmo is the founder of Epiphany Communications: Coaching & Coaching where she serves as a Leadership Development Coach, Communications Strategist and Content Creator. She is a certified life and leadership coach as well as a certified Strengths Coach and a facilitator with the Achieving Balanced Well-Being program. She works with clients on developing leadership skills, building teams, communications techniques and growth mindset, She hosts the weekday radio program Epiphany on Ave Maria Radio.