Expanding to other markets and want to bring a consistent form to internal communication that aligns employees? Keen to create a simple and effective method of effective communication, which brings all leaders on the same page?
Rather than start from scratch, it helps to know what will make the new market or location integrate better into the current ways of working. The goals of such engagements need to be discussed ahead of your integration.
– Research: Learn more about the cultural nuances of the workplace in the new location. Understand their sensitivities and challenges in communication. Speak or visit the place to get a sense of the on-ground reality. Look up research insights that can provide you direction on you can progress with building a framework.
– Principles: to begin, think of the principles of engagement. Is it going to be about standardization, inclusion, or accessibility? Determine that alongside teams who work in communication as well as leaders. Knowing what is in scope helps – will it focus on local well-being of staff or the community initiatives or the culture of the place? The role of the communication blueprint can provide guide rails.
– Framework: Consider the factors that will ensure a successful integration – is it about reliability or clarity of communication? Is it related to local language? Will it be viewed as an extension of the current setup? Think of the possibilities and how the engagement will work. Is it about listening, engaging, and taking the support of the local team to be the eyes and ears on the ground? Or, would you prefer that you have a dedicated contact locally to manage engagements.
– Governance: Having a strong governance can reduce inefficiencies in the team. Build in opportunities to re-use and re-engage existing systems rather than start from scratch. Review what will be the hub and spoke model. The goal is to improve efficiencies, drive effectiveness and increase agility.
– Implementation: Have a deployment plan that includes how teams will get involved, what modes of channels will they have to communicate, and in what ways can there be a forum for engagement. It needs to factor in culture and local nuances. Identify ways to involve managers and staff. Last but not least, consider approaches to measure the impact of communication.
Building a blueprint and putting it to work takes a lot more than outlining the scope. What works in one geography may not pass muster in another. Therefore, having a clear strategy can bring your blueprint to life.
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