Five decades after the Carnation Revolution, Portugal celebrates democracy and its foundational values of freedom and participation. However, while democracy flourishes in the public sphere, it is important to reflect on whether our companies embrace this spirit of openness and collaboration. In a constantly changing world, where new forms of work become the norm and artificial intelligence emerges (as a powerful ally), internal communication plays a crucial role in building fairer and more equitable organizations.
Just as Portuguese democracy broke down the walls of dictatorship, companies need to transcend the silos and hierarchies that hinder the free flow of ideas and the participation of all employees. Through open and transparent communication channels, interactive digital platforms, and inclusive online forums, organizations can create safe spaces where everyone feels heard, valued, and involved.
Solutions based on artificial intelligence can be seen as levers for organizational democracy, facilitating real-time access to useful and credible information for all employees, creating a fairer and more equitable environment. Virtual assistants capable of understanding needs and proposing personalized responses, supported by modern, transversal, integrated, and secure platforms, facilitate data access, promote knowledge exchange, and democratize decision-making processes.
For example, an effective onboarding system that welcomes and integrates new employees from day one is fundamental to building a democratic organizational culture. Efficient knowledge management through collaborative solutions and communities of practice ensures that everyone has access to the necessary information to perform their tasks optimally. Institutional content, when communicated clearly, personally, accessibly, and attractively, contributes to transparency and employee engagement, in a context where traditional hierarchical structures give way to more flexible and collaborative models.
Additionally, internal communication must proactively combat misinformation, providing reliable information sources, promoting fact-checking (based on data), and encouraging open and transparent dialogue. Toxic environments of distrust and low productivity (often promoted by the fringes and based on the spread of fake news, propaganda, rumors, and intrigues within organizations) are thus easily minimized, with a direct and very positive impact on company results.
Moreover, the active participation of employees in the strategic dimension of the organization, through surveys and polls, online forums, and open and participative meetings, is essential for building a true and healthy organizational democracy.
More than a mere ideal, organizational democracy is a necessity for private companies and public entities to be truly competitive and innovative on a global scale, wishing to thrive in increasingly complex, fast-paced, and interconnected contexts, benefiting employees, customers, shareholders, and society. It is up to all of us (and each of us) to continue building April.
This article is translated and was originally published at Human Resources/Sapo on May 27, 2024.