Internal Communications Policy Template

What you’ll find in this internal communications policy template

In this internal communications policy template, we cover:

• Purpose: Clearly outline your organization’s internal communications goals and how the information in the policy supports those goals. We define internal communications in the template as all “official” communication channels, including all-hands meetings, announcements, memos, intranet updates, software tools, and systems. Don’t forget to specify who must follow the policy.
• Tone and style guidelines: Having a set of tone and style guidelines for your internal communications is a great way to maintain consistency across communicators. It’s important to remember that the more specific you are, the easier these guidelines will be to follow; however, there will (and should!) be some variation in voice. 
• Communication channels: Outline your organization’s communication channels, their purpose, and the frequency of messaging delivered through each channel. We provided a list of common channels in the template, but make it your own! 
• Shared expectations: Clear guidelines around what employees can expect from the organization and what your organization expects from employees are helpful to make sure everyone is on the same page. What can team members expect from an internal comms perspective? What can managers expect from an internal comms perspective? (Set managers up for success by preparing them with the information they need to deliver comms effectively.) What does your organization expect from employees from an internal comms perspective? 
• Messaging review process: In your internal communications policy, specify your organization’s review processes. Smaller teams may not have a detailed review process, and that’s okay! Consider whether messages must be reviewed and approved before distribution, like all staff emails.
• Changelog: Finally, include a basic changelog to keep track of policy changes over time.