I remember when I first started my career. Two of us handled all of the communications for the organization. We touched everything that happened. We knew what was going on. It was exciting and fun and challenging. The company doubled, then tripled in size, and departments expanded. Growth is good! But you started to feel less and less connected; less ‘in the loop’. That spontaneous exchange of information just wasn’t enough or even possible anymore – as a team or as an organization.
Regular communication can make a huge difference in how aligned and educated your employees are, how well they execute on strategies, and how they feel about their work and the organization. Every growing business reaches a tipping point… when communication can no longer be ad hoc or left to chance.
”The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place” – George Bernard Shaw
As a communications consultant, I recommend 3 tactics to help growing businesses become more effective through formalized communications:
Establish a calendar – insert key events, activities. Include how and when you will communicate around those events – maybe it’s a quarterly email update from the CEO, or a video when a new program is launched. With everything on one page you can make sure there’s a regular cadence of communication and that you’re reaching all of your key stakeholders.
Build in regular touchpoints – it could be a weekly stand-up meeting with your team for 10 minutes every Monday, or a town hall for all employees twice a year. Make sure the content is compelling and the agenda is tight.
Create a communication plan for major changes (eg. new product or program rollouts, reorganizations) – Different stakeholders will need different information at different times. Make sure communication is part of the bigger project plan. Outline your key objectives, key audiences and key messages. Change can be difficult, so give your teams the information they need to understand “why” and “what’s next”.
Communications can get lost in the shuffle of day-to-day execution, particularly for growing organizations. By formalizing communication, you make sure it happens. Effective communication keeps people aligned, educated and engaged, which in the end positively impacts operations and the overall business.
If you need help creating a communications strategy, executing a plan, or reviewing your current communications, reach out any time: diane@keycomms.ca
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