
Post date:
09 September 2019Category:
Change ManagementTips to Effectively Communicate the Change
- Communicating change can be uncomfortable, and there is no one perfect way to communicate the change. Think about the people you are presenting to – try and adapt your style to meet the needs of your audience.
- Think about what is specifically changing. Ensure the message aligns with your organisation’s strategy. Try not to have too much jargon as this tends to cloud the message.
- As you start developing the communication think about the outcome you want to achieve. What are the changes? – what actions do you want your audience to take away with them? Be specific about timeframes and next steps.
- Ensure there is a sign-off process with your media and communications teams, so they are aware of the communications from a media perspective and how people within your organisation may respond.
- Once you have shared the information with your team, ensure the communication channels are kept open. As and when you have updates – share the information.
- Use a variety of communication pathways and channels.
- Ensure your team have multiple opportunities to share concerns, ask questions, and offer ideas, and following up with answers and updates.
- Remember people have different communication needs – if you are writing communications its good to include a summary upfront for those that are happy to just read a summary and then further detail for those wanting more detail
- Be as authentic as possible, the more you are able to be open and authentic with people, the more comfortable and trusting they will be about the messages you are giving them
- FINALLY, remember the WIIFM – keep your communications targeted to the user reading them focusing on what they need to know and how it's impacting them