Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Communicating Effectively II

Communicate the details of the plan clearly to your team.

Effective communication involves keeping your team in the loop and staying on track. Some steps in the process include:
  • Determine what information each individual or group will need to know.
  • Decide when they will need to know it.
  • Choose the most effective means to communicate that information
  • Choose the right person to deliver the information.
  • Record these details in a communication plan.
  • Communicate the details of the plan clearly to your team.

Some signs that you may be off track include:

  • Thinking that you don't need a communication plan because you'll know what to do at the time
  • Giving mixed messages about the reasons behind the change
  • Adopting a "one size fits all" model of communicating

Staying on track with effective communication is best accomplished by:

  • Planning how you will communicate different types of information to each party in advance
  • Being consistent in the facts you give to different groups
  • Changing your communication style to match the needs of the audience

ACTION POINT: Plan to communicate effectively and be both consistent and flexible.

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