Communicating with Confidence: How To Collaborate Effectively with IT

Caitlin Kirwan explores how to communicate with IT to cultivate this key relationship for internal communicators.

There’s no denying that the internal communications profession has changed profoundly over the last decade. The digitization of workplaces and the normalization of hybrid working have changed the role of internal comms, and we’re now more reliant on digital workplace tools than ever before.

And while it’s still important to develop a well-rounded strategy that incorporates both online and offline channels, research has found that 93% of organizations are moving toward a more digital-first approach for things like remote worker engagement and information management.

The evolution of our profession is being reflected across industry job boards, with a growing number of technical IC roles that focus on things like digital workplace and intranet or employee experience platform (EXP) management. As these types of roles join in-house teams and ‘digital literacy’ becomes a baseline skill for existing IC professionals, the need to have a strong working relationship with our colleagues in IT is more important than ever before.

So, in this second blog post within our Communicating with Confidence mini-series, I’ll explore some of the best ways that you can collaborate effectively with the IT function to keep up with the demands of the modern workplace.

Why collaboration is key

As our profession continues to evolve, we’re inevitably going to increase our reliance on internal platforms and software. ‘Digital employee experience’ has already become synonymous with ‘employee experience’, and the expectation for high-quality workplace tech is growing at a rapid pace.  

As IC professionals, we’re now leaning more into the business of technology… whether we realize it or not.  

And where previous interactions with our colleagues in the IT department might have been limited to quarterly check-ins or ad-hoc update calls, we now need to collaborate much more closely. Having a joined-up approach with IT pays great dividends, including a more engaging and seamless experience for employees, and better integrations between platforms that were previously seen as ‘IC owned’ or ‘IT owned’.

On top of that, a more harmonious working relationship between the two functions can improve understanding and alignment, break down barriers, and increase IT’s willingness to support with things like EXP updates or online events.

And if you’re still not convinced, it’s worth briefly pausing to reflect on the direction of travel for internal communication and employee engagement professionals. We’re naturally evolving to become more tech-focused, with many teams already inviting in specialist expertise. Your internal IT function has a wealth of experience in managing internal platforms and effectively integrating technology, so it feels like a no-brainer to ramp up the collaboration.  

It’s a win-win.   

Tried-and-tested ways to cultivate a strong working relationship with IT

What does it actually take to ‘communicate with confidence’ with the IT team, and build a seamless working relationship that benefits everyone?

It takes an openness to learn new things, a bit of time, and a willingness to invite your colleagues into the realm of IC.

Here are three tried-and-tested ways to get you moving in the right direction!     

1. Build an understanding of IT’s world

While it might sound obvious, our colleagues in the IT department have more on their plates than the digital workplace tools and channels that we work with every day.

Most IT departments have three main areas of responsibility, according to Indeed – the organization’s technological systems, maintenance of its digital and technological infrastructure, and ensuring that all systems integrate effectively. They also manage critical things like cybersecurity, data storage, and ongoing maintenance of hardware. So it’s important to be genuinely respectful of your IT colleagues’ time and to try to build an understanding of their world.

Knowing what the IT team is – and isn’t – responsible for can be incredibly helpful when you’re considering outsourcing opportunities. 

2. Keep lines of communication open

I mentioned earlier in this blog post that your quarterly IT update or ad-hoc check-in call may no longer be enough.

Our reliance on digital workplace tools and technologies means that it’s important to keep lines of communication open with colleagues in IT. Don’t wait for something to go wrong – establish a regular cadence to touch base and try to cultivate the kind of relationship where you can easily share quick updates with each other.

Be sure to involve IT in the big decisions about your internal tech.

If you’re not sure about how well a new intranet or EXP feature will integrate with a business-critical platform… ask IT. If you’re planning a company-wide digital event that requires everyone to log into a platform at the exact same time… run it by IT. And if you think something might have gone awry with distribution lists or an overnight update… you guessed it – speak to IT.

3. Invest in the right technology

One of the most tangible ways to cultivate a more positive working relationship with your colleagues in IT is to invest in the right technology. Or perhaps I should say not to invest in the wrong technology. Selecting a provider of a new intranet or EXP is a big decision, and we’ve already established that one of IT’s core responsibilities is to ensure that all internal systems integrate effectively.

It should probably go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway (just in case): You need to work incredibly closely with your IT colleagues when selecting a new intranet or EXP provider.

The right employee experience technology will supercharge your tech stack and allow for seamless integration with your other internal tools. But the wrong technology will cause endless headaches that reach far wider than just the IC and IT functions. Every organization has a unique set of requirements, so what works for one business might be totally different from another.

What should be music to both IC and IT’s ears is that the Workvivo platform offers robust integration capabilities that allow for seamless connection with a wide range of essential business tools and platforms.  

Having invested time and energy in your relationship with colleagues in IT makes the decision-making process far more collaborative and efficient.  

One of the most important things to remember is the importance of cultivating a positive working relationship with your IT department before you need to ask for support with something. I hope that the tips in this blog post help you to increase collaboration and efficiency!