Making Employee Townhall work

Organizations communicate with the employee through different modes of communication, including intranet, newsletter, message dashboards, soft boards, common mailer and Town halls. All these modes have its own unique impact on the employee. Hence, they are chosen based on the result to be created. Executive communication has the maximum impact on the employees. This is done through CEO’s letter, Hotline, Podcast, etc. Greatest effect is created by the Town hall as it allows direct interaction between the CEO and the employees. This event is organized to address many employees at a single point of time. Ideally they are arranged based on durations and event based to communicate any particular message .
Types of Town hall
Durations based: Quarterly town halls are arranged to communicate with the employees. Leaders share the business results, current scenario within the company and make announcements. This is a mass meeting to ensure that the voices are heard both ways.
Event based: During an organizational change these efforts are made to address the common concern. Employee fears and concerns are noted by the line HR and managers. This is provided as a feedback to the head of the organization, who in turns address all these concern with the facts and its implication during the townhall.
Challenges: The challenges in arranging these sessions lie in planning and implementing them.
Planning: Often detailed plans for the program are launched yet last minute faux pas kills it all. Covering the gaps and identifying the probable last minute slump, needs to be mitigated right in the beginning of planning, for the session. Though an equipment-rehearsal at the venue is essential, yet keeping a buffer for every requirement is the key.
Speaker: The speaker selection is primary. Generally the speaker is organizational head, such a CEO or a Managing Director, who leads the business. But the twist comes in when the top leader is not completely comfortable addressing the session attended by such a large number of employees. Sometimes convincing them is a hard task. In such a situation connecting the leader with one of the best communicator to preside the session would be the solution.
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