Add these 3 tools to your toolkit

Employee communication challenge? Tackle it fast

DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

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Have you ever jumped full force into a home improvement project, then find yourself wedged under the sink with no flashlight, or up on a ladder holding just a box of nails shouting, “Where’s that hammer?”

DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

If you’re into do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, you know how valuable a toolbox can be to stay organized and prepared.

2 © Davis & Company

DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

3 © Davis & Company

Internal communicators need toolkits too. Communicators often face the same situations over and over again. So rather than reinventing the wheel every time, create tools that:

• Provide what you need at your fingertips

• Organize resources in one place, so you don’t have to hunt for things

• Set stakeholders up for success

DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

4 © Davis & Company

Here are 3 essential internal communication tools for your kit:

2 Consistent

communication guidelines

3 Standard survey

questions

1 A communication

plan template

A communication plan template By creating a standard template, you can easily create a plan for any situation—from communicating change to building your annual program.

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DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

Your plan template should include the following components:

• Situation analysis—why you’re creating the plan and what problem you’re trying to solve

• Stakeholders/audience—individuals or groups you want to reach

• Objectives—outcomes your plan will achieve

• Strategies—approaches for achieving your objectives

• Tactics/timeline—specific actions you’ll take and specific dates for completing tasks

• Key messages—the story you need to tell

• Measurement—how metrics will be used to demonstrate effectiveness

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1 | A CO M M U N I C AT I O N P L A N T E M P L AT E

Consistent communication guidelines Guidelines improve the quality of your channels and help manage stakeholders who create content.

Web standards, story templates and other guidelines aren’t intended to impose rigid rules. Instead, they set expectations for how communication should occur.

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DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

Start your guidelines by establishing ground rules for the role of each communication vehicle:

• Email to communicate time-sensitive information

• Intranet articles to share detailed information

• Digital displays to feature upcoming events

• Posters to support key messages

• Video to present and illustrate programs

• Text messages to alert about emergencies

• Postcards to get employees’ attention

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2 | CO N S I ST E N T CO M M U N I C AT I O N G U I D E L I N E S

Standard survey questions Measuring your communication program is hard work. By creating a common set of questions, not only can you field a survey quickly, you can also measure consistently over time—so you can compare results and demonstrate progress.

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DIYCOMMUNICATION

TOOLS

Here are a few sample questions to consider adding to your list:

• [This channel] is a good use of my time

• The topics covered [in this channel] are relevant to my job/role

• The information was useful to me

• [This channel] is easy to understand

• [This channel] helps me understand the company’s priorities

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3 | STA N DA R D S U RV E Y Q U E ST I O N S

Add these tools to your toolkit and

be ready to plan, share information

and get feedback on your employee

communication program.

For more information, visit www.davisandco.com.

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