I’m a big believer in planning, at least when it comes to communications and business. However, I’m also notorious for jumping in and asking questions later. Go figure!
When you’re creative or a dreamer, it’s more fun to jump right into writing than it is to spend time planning your communication. But planning is important!
“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
When you have a message to deliver, a communication plan will help ensure you deliver your message to the right people in the right way at the right time. Planning helps you organize your thoughts and consider the potential impact of what you have to say, positive and negative.
A plan gets everyone on the same page
When you spend time articulating your objectives, you create an end goal that’s clear, not just for you, but also for others working on the project. Objectives ensure everyone is working to achieve the same outcome. With everyone on the same page, you’re better positioned to share ownership of each step along the way, lifting the load. This makes getting the project done much easier.
A plan recognizes a varied audience
Take the time to consider your audience. We all react to messages in different ways. Considering each audience and how different individuals or groups will react, shows you recognize their unique needs and demonstrates you care. You’ll be able to tailor your messages based on unique anticipated reactions and desired outcomes.
While you’re pinning down your audience, also consider how different audiences want to receive information. Do they like to read, do they need a lot of detail, or are they more visual thinkers and a graphic will be more effective?
Once you’ve thought through your audiences and their needs, you’ll be able to create strategies and tactics to align with their needs.
A plan helps you stay focused on the message
Have you ever caught yourself rambling in your writing? You start off very focused on what you want to say and then digress to another topic? This can happen easily, when you have a lot of information to share. Too much information can be a blessing or a woe.
Spend some time identifying the 2 or 3 key messages your communication is designed to deliver. You’ll be able to refer back to your plan if you find yourself off track.
As you write your communication, ask yourself if the content you’re adding is relevant to the key messages you want to deliver. How does it support your message and if you remove it, will it be missed or create confusion? Remember, your communication will be best received if it’s clear and concise. People will know why you’re communicating and what is expected of them.
A plan keeps you on track
Timelines are so important. They’ll help you stay on track and hit your deadline with ease. You’ll want to include target dates for key milestones in the project. For example, if you’ve included a video as one of your tactics, include the dates when you need to complete the shoot and final editing in your plan.
When you’re creating your timeline, don’t forget to consider other events happening at the same time that might impact completing your project or the effectiveness of your message.
In a nutshell, time spent on a communication plan is time well spent. It keeps everyone focused on the same end goal, keeps the project on track and most of all, gets your message to the right people, the right way, at the right time!
For more reading on Communication planning, see my post: Rainy day thoughts. Now get out there and plan!
Writing for you. 