Courageous Development Resources

Organizational Communication: Communication Planning

 

Six Steps to Getting a Communication Plan Wired!

 

 

 

1. Identify Your Target Audiences:  Targets are the various audiences who will be the recipients of the messages you create.  They can be managers, field workers, customers, vendors, etc. A single executive message often has to be crafted in multiple ways to satisfy the different needs of various audiences.
   
   
2. Define Your Key Messages:  Key messages are defined as what you want recipients to go away thinking or doing differently.  Generally, key messages stem from strategic goals and/or major company changes.
   
   
3. Decide on the Best Channel/Vehicle:  Selection of the best channel depends on the size of the audience, the nature of the info to be shared, and the vehicles that the audience has historically responded to.
   
   
4. Determine the Message Sender:  The sender should be seen as reliable, credible, and believable by the target audiences. They should be people who can inspire action, and who have enough content knowledge to answer questions accurately.
   
   
5. Pinpoint the Right Time:  As the saying goes, timing is everything.  Messages delivered well in advance of a major change can give people time to absorb the changes, and may preempt question, alleviate concerns, and minimize confusion.
   
   
6. Determine the Feedback Mechanism:  Good communication has a “feedback loop” to ensure that messages are received and acted upon.