Business communication can also enhance a business’ brand, including its
products, through what is known as employee branding. But what exactly is employee branding?
Employee branding refers to employees’ behaviour that shapes the identity
of the brand. The employee basically
projects the brand by acting in specific way when dealing with current or
potential customers. This can be through good customer service and other work
behaviour that creates a specific perception of the business in the minds of
customers.
Effective business
communication can play a role in employee branding because employees are
empowered through how motivated they feel, how they understand their different
roles in the business and if they completely understand the mission and vision
of the business. If the business is committed to being a learning organization,
employees even take ownership of their roles and tasks in the business. A
learning organization generally provides more opportunities to employees to
achieve their different goal and thus inspire employees. Many of my previous posts deal with these
issues and you are welcome to refer back for more background information (if
you have not read these posts before).
As a business owner, you should understand that a brand also reflects the
personality and the culture of the business.
If employees are committed to the business, it will be evident in their
daily behaviour towards customers and
how they embrace the values of the business.
How can a business owner enhance employee branding? Employee branding can
be enhanced by:
- first of all having a good communication strategy in place. A customer service strategy should be part of the communication strategy;
- communicating the mission and vision and different values of the business to employees;
- informing employees about their roles in the business and also what role they play in the success of the business;
- recruiting talented employees;
- empowering employees through training programmes that will give them more skills;
- continuously providing employees with opportunities to grow;
- setting the example to employees and by being involved in the business; and
- marketing to your employees as internal customers
By investing more in your employees, also in terms of effective communication, they could become valuable brand ambassadors and advocates.