Creative, engaging. Not everyone has Use to support briefing access. session. Show real people talking. Can be expensive. Use to talk ‘real people’ Video about their experiences. Makes people and Can be seen as ‘glossy’. places accessible. Talking heads alone are People take in more rarely engaging. information visually. Visible and may catch May not be read. Put a display until date eye when on posters. people’s Usually no owner and they’re otherwise too out of date. Put them in places busy. where there is ‘dwell Lose their impact – Noticeboards Good for instructions lifts, coffee time’ – become ‘wallpaper’. and information. machine. Use to support comms through other channels, e.g. email, intranet. Good for reaching Could annoy people if Make sure you have remote workers. overused, especially if mobile contact details to personal mobiles. for your management Good for crisis team in case of crisis. communications. People need mobile phones to receive. Can be used to direct Texts people to further information. Can update managers on news when not in the office. Opportunity to reach Can be one way or Involve staff in setting ‘tell’ mass audience sessions. the agenda. ‘broadcast’ Agenda set by centre, Involve staff in event, as Opportunity to see and not audience. hosts or facilitators. hear from senior team. Events Can be expensive. Use interactive voting Flexible. technology. Time consuming. Can include Q&A and break-out sessions. Can build team spirit. Gives opportunity to Dismissive response to Use a text message to raise and discuss real questions can close alert remote workers to issues. down dialogue the voicemail. Open, two-way, Line managers feel Ask people to think of Open forum face dialogue. disempowered. questions in advance to help ensure real debate. Helps leaders Managers can feel they understand how things have all the don’t really are. answers. Helps people feel heard. Shows leaders are Can become Include work ‘royal listening and want to so leaders shadowing/call listening. visits’ don’t see the real issues. see real issues. Include a staff Site visits Keeps leaders in touch. Time-consuming. forum/Q&A session. Promotes dialogue. Give leaders a good brief before the visit.
Video Creative, engaging. Show real people talking. Makes people and places accessible. People take in more information visually. Not everyone has access. Can be expensive. Can be seen as ‘glossy’. Talking heads alone are rarely engaging. Use to support briefing session. Use ‘real people’ to talk about their experiences. Noticeboards Visible and may catch people’s eye when they’re otherwise too busy. Good for instructions and information. May not be read. Usually no owner and out of date. Lose their impact – become ‘wallpaper’. Put a display until date on posters. Put them in places where there is ‘dwell time’ – lifts, coffee machine. Use to support comms through other channels, e.g. email, intranet. Texts Good for reaching remote workers. Good for crisis communications. Can be used to direct people to further information. Can update managers on news when not in the office. Could annoy people if overused, especially if to personal mobiles. People need mobile phones to receive. Make sure you have mobile contact details for your management team in case of crisis. Events Opportunity to reach mass audience Opportunity to see and hear from senior team. Flexible. Can include Q&A and break-out sessions. Can build team spirit. Can be one way ‘tell’ or ‘broadcast’ sessions. Agenda set by centre, not audience. Can be expensive. Time consuming. Involve staff in setting the agenda. Involve staff in event, as hosts or facilitators. Use interactive voting technology. Open forum Gives opportunity to raise and discuss real issues. Open, two-way, dialogue. Helps leaders understand how things really are. Helps people feel heard. Dismissive response to questions can close down dialogue Line managers feel disempowered. Managers can feel they don’t have all the answers. Use a text message to alert remote workers to the voicemail. Ask people to think of questions in advance to help ensure real debate. Site visits Shows leaders are listening and want to see the real issues. Keeps leaders in touch. Promotes dialogue. Can become ‘royal visits’ so leaders don’t see real issues. Time-consuming. Include work shadowing/call listening. Include a staff forum/Q&A session. Give leaders a good brief before the visit. face