As an internal communications practitioner you are often invited to write, edit and review communications that either your team or stakeholders craft. According to me, reviewing communications that gest finally published is not only a big responsibility but also quite tricky. Here are some thoughts to consider while reviewing communications that you receive.
Think of the big picture: Getting a draft reviewed and out of the way can probably make you miss the larger picture. For example, how does this draft compare with the campaign launch poster? Does it hit the same messages? Are all the links embedded and pointing to the right resources? Will your audience ‘get’ the complete story? A lot of questions can go unanswered if the review isn’t seen in the right context.
Devote time for reviews: You know this well – your colleagues comes to you for a quick ‘run through’ of an e-learning course which has a ‘tight’ deadline. You want to help out but know that a swift glance can leave a lot of gaps. If you don’t look at it now it may never get on your already growing list of tasks. My tip is to dedicated a time and space for important reviews. Choose it according to your own understanding of when you can do justice.
Add value when you can: Every review is an opportunity to value-add to how communications is viewed. For example, if you are releasing a new policy you may want to think of publishing messages from colleagues who will be impacted by the changes, if any. Or, look at the language and check if it meets the guiding principles related to your company’s core values and purpose.
Make note of the learning: Avoid reinventing the wheel. Have a list of potential elements your team needs to consider for every draft that elicits attention. Keep it in your learning repository and refer every time you are invited to review. The simple stuff first – are the templates aligned to brand standards? Is the document formatted right? Are the fonts accurate? The more complex bits later – did the photograph resonate with the guidelines prescribed? Is everyone listed in the photograph also mentioned in the content below? Are all the channels consistently carrying the same messages? Have all your internal teams got coverage?
Enlist an extended team of ‘reviewers’: This practice has served me well. Identify a group of ‘reviewers’ who can help you spot elements which your eye might miss. I have gained immensely by sharing it with a small network of ‘internal friends’ who have made my reviews richer.
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