Predictions become possibilities

For many  years, at this point in proceedings, we at Sweet Comms drew up a list of ever-so-insightful  predictions for the year ahead. Last year, we stepped back from this and reviewed the many differing statements made by mystics in our industry.  

This year, it’s hard to imagine anyone making any assertions with the same level of confidence. 

None of us could have predicted how 2020 would unfold, nor the changes it would bring to our lives. As we look ahead, it is clear we will still be living in the circumstances created by COVID-19 for some time to come. It will therefore take someone braver than me to forecast how the world of work will look in another 12, no doubt challenging, months.

Predictions are, at best, becoming possibilities laced with context and caveats.

However, one thing I will state with some conviction is that internal communication will play an even stronger role in our workplaces during 2021.

This year has brought out the best in our industry, as practitioners have helped our organisations keep inspiring and supporting colleagues despite all the challenges involved. Sharing clear and crucial information, building open dialogue with diverse audiences, helping teams adjust to new ways of working, enabling individuals to find and access support: communicators have played a crucial role in every area. All while working through rapidly-changing events and keeping people aligned and contributing to common purpose and goals.

As a result, internal communication has played a major role in effective employee engagement and helped the wheels of our organisations keep turning, despite all the obstacles in the way.

So that, I suppose, it’s a prediction for 2021. It’s not earth-shattering in its insight, because internal communication has proved its worth throughout this crisis. But I think we’ll see our industry take another step forward and make even more of a difference for the organisations and people we serve.