Company Wide Communication

This section outlines how we share information across thomann.io. It covers the principles that guide our communication, how to prepare before sharing, and which channels to use depending on the type and urgency of information.

General Principles

Concrete and verified - Only share information when it is concrete and verified. Better to share less than to share incorrect information.

Only what is necessary - Communicate only what is necessary. Avoid sharing information that fuels speculation.

Honesty and transparency - Communicate with honesty and transparency. Stand by decisions made and present information truthfully. People recognize when the truth is being obscured and will lose trust as a result.

Structure for Preparation

Before communicating company-wide information, it's recommended to think through the following aspects and choose the Format and Channel accordingly:

Audience - Who is the audience?

Lifespan of the Information - How long is this Information relevant?

Timing - When is the right time to share it?

Format - Is there a need of a synchronous format? See bottom of the page.

Sources of Information

These are the places where you can pull Information from.

io-Handbook (information life cycle: long-term)

The Handbook provides foundational information that we share publicly—it serves as thomann.io's constitution. You'll find long-term company and organizational guidelines as well as universally applicable processes and principles in the handbook.

Notion (information life cycle: medium-term and beyond)

Notion serves as our medium to long-term knowledge base, capturing decisions, strategies, and reference materials such as handbooks for the career development process and onboarding etc.

Slack (information life cycle: short-term)

Slack is the right place for information relevant "this week". Information with a longer lifespan should be documented in Notion or the handbook, though you can link to it via Slack.

Communication Channels

We use these channels to share company-wide information.

When to communicate in a synchronous format

If you answer at least one of the following questions with “yes”, consider to pass on the information in a synchronous format like an ad hoc all-hands or, if not time critical, in an Assembly.

  • Does this information change what employees need to do immediately or very soon?
  • Is the news likely to cause strong emotional reaction (positive or negative)?
  • Do you need to provide context, empathy, and the opportunity for Q&A?