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)
- How often should a message to staff be repeated?
- What information should not be shared with staff?
- 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.
