Best practice of the week: 5.3.2 Staff Communications

The large shift to remote work has put a premium on quality communications. One way to protect against costly misunderstandings is to execute a simple, well-designed communications plan that delivers clear messages through the right channels.

THE CENTER’S BEST PRACTICE OF THE WEEK: 5.3.2 Staff communications

Definition: “Getting important facts and opinions heard up and down the organization.”

Practice Summary

Communications plan features

  • Business situation: especially any shift in priorities, new products or services
  • Objectives – role of communication
  • Who (sends and receives), what (message), when (frequency), how (channel)

Message content

  • Who – made the decision, is in charge, is affected
  • What – is to be done
  • How – will it be implemented, and with what information
  • Where – locations affected
  • When

Channels

  • Meetings – for complicated ideas and input
  • Face-to-face – personal connection and persuasion
  • Video – instructional, maybe through story telling
  • E-mail – more directive

3 Good Questions (discuss in a management meeting)

  1. How often should a message to staff be repeated?
  2. What information should not be shared with staff?
  3. How can listening to the entire staff be made easier?

The most important skill of a leader is communications. Now’s your chance to prove you’ve got great ideas and the confidence to back them up.