What to Include in an Internal Communications Plan

 

Developing an effective company strategy is often dependent on a few key areas that are necessary for long-term growth. One of these areas is an internal communications approach that can connect the individual work that employees and teams do with the broader strategy execution of an organization.

While this is an essential process for any business, it can often be a second thought for executives, especially when they have already put a lot of work into developing the company strategy itself.

However, for companies that don’t get this process right, there are significant risks. Strategy that isn’t aligned to an internal communications plan is unlikely to achieve meaningful change in an organization, and can also fail to engage with employees.

So what should companies focus on when planning an internal communications plan for their strategy?

The first thing to focus on is the specific strategy challenges that your company is facing. The planning for your internal communications should be constructed around the end result – which for strategy is likely to be the effective implementation of your projects.

Once your internal communications strategy has the right orientation, it should be populated with steps to achieve this goal. Identifying key stakeholders within your organization, such as middle management, will be essential for developing a strong outcome to your plan, especially at this stage.

It is also valuable to consider the differences within your organization. Certain branches of your organization may need a unique approach to their communications, especially if you don’t want your communications to fall into organizational silos.

Finally, think about ways for your internal communications to be formalized in a way that will add ongoing benefits for your company. Using strategy mapping software, for example, can create an ongoing framework which will guide all of your ongoing communications with staff.

Developing an internal communications plan that can complement the individual initiatives of your business is an easy way to ensure the ongoing success of your company strategy.