I would argue that not only is planning possible in a time of constant change, it is in fact indispensable in a context of turbulence and transformation. In a world of rapid shifts and constant pressures to respond to emerging issues, you want to ensure that you are equipped to react thoughtfully, on target, on […]
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In the often buzzword intensive field of change management, the terms “capacity building” and “capability building” are often used interchangeably. That is unfortunate, because a more careful treatment of the terms can actually lead to some useful breakthroughs for organizations working through change. Let’s take a closer look. In the context of transformation, “capacity building” […]
Communications leaders can learn a lot about functional governance from colleagues in finance, a department that structurally and culturally tends to do this well. When you think about it, the function within an organization is an established, recognized centre of expertise. Finance sets up policies and guidelines that apply not only to its employees, but […]
By its very nature, change happens in the terrain of ambiguity. “What” the change is, and “why” we’re doing it are often unclear, or more frequently, are subject to multiple interpretations. This sets the stage for a weak foundation upon which to build change communications or change management interventions. In my experience working with several […]
One of the most powerful ways of creating a truly communicative and engaged culture is to focus on the idea of community. As Canadian management authority Henry Mintzberg reminds us, “Organizations are communities of human beings, not collections of human resources.” There is a natural tendency for employees to gravitate toward each other and form […]
Everyone wants a communications team that embraces evaluation, but the reality is that such a model is the exception, rather than the rule. Evaluation doesn’t just involve specific activities – it requires intentionally setting up a supportive culture. Here are some suggestions: Build psychological safety: If we want to get serious about evaluating, it has […]
A useful parallel for thinking about the value of strategic planning for communications is to consider the world of construction. If an organization wants to commission a building project, it would be irresponsible for the tradespeople to just start digging holes or stacking bricks randomly or putting in pipes here and there. Yet the cold […]
A simple but highly effective way to remain focused on strategic value is to be attentive to doing the right things and doing them right. Step 1 – Do the Right Things: Check in with yourself and your colleagues making sure that the tasks you’re working on are actually the ones that are most strategic […]
The word “strategic” is one of the most over-used and poorly understood terms in organizations today. Everyone wants to hire a “strategic” contributor and it’s become shorthand for complaining about a task that’s not up to par (as in “Well, the blog post is fine but it’s really not strategic”). The first thing about stepping […]
As a change agent, you play a vital role in contributing to effective change execution. Given that working with change is high in both opportunity and risk, it’s important to be very precise in defining and executing your role. Setting You Up for Success One of the most constructive and positive steps you can take […]
One of the easiest ways you can immediately enhance your strategic value as a communicator is to make a shift in the way you think about your function. Communicators generally are in the business of producing “stuff” – their focus is on the very real day-to-day challenges of writing press releases, developing key messages or […]
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