Your internal communications are falling flat. How can you create a strategic plan to improve them?

The first thing you need to do is determine what "falling flat" means. Does it mean a lack of engagement in a program that the team is promoting? Are people not taking action when they need to do something? Are your comms causing confusion? Once you determine what's happening - you need to set goals around what you're trying to fix and create your new strategy.

To revamp lackluster internal communications, a strategic plan is imperative. Begin by assessing existing methods, channels, and feedback systems. Define clear objectives and KPIs to guide targeted strategies such as diversifying channels, refining messaging, and providing training. Establish a timeline and assign responsibilities for implementation, ensuring accountability. Regular evaluation based on feedback and metrics will refine the plan, fostering improved communication aligned with organizational goals.

If comms is falling flat you need to review and revise. Of course, the more diverse your target audience is, the more likely you are to hear complaints. But if you're failing across the board it's a signal that something in your delivery is not optimal

To create a successful internal communication plan, follow these initial steps: 1. Analyze the current situation:Conduct internal audits and surveys to understand existing communication flows 2. clear objectives: Define SMART goals aligned with the company 3. target audiences: Segment employees into groups based on department, and needs. 4. key messages:Craft clear, coherent messages that reflect company values 5. communication channels: Select appropriate channels for each audience. 6. Plan actions: Create a detailed communication calendar and assign responsibilities. 7. tools and resources: Ensure necessary technology and training are in place. 8. Monitor and evaluate: Establish KPIs to measure effectiveness

Getting accurate people data can be surprisingly hard. Often it is locked away in HR systems making it hard for a communicator to access it. Talking to a colleague there about how you might access that can be a way to be able to segment audiences which is required for both sending out comms, but also critically important for analysing impact.

It is very easy for messages to get buried in jargon and wordiness. to ensure this happens, review your audience, determine what they need to know and what they need to do and make sure that that message is loud and clear. If a change is happening, they need to know what is changing, why it's changing and how it directly impacts them.