Seven Tips for Communicating During a Time of Change

 We’re nearly six months in to the COVID-19 pandemic. The novelty of working from home while parenting – and teaching – has long worn off. With life as we know it changing rapidly, it’s abundantly clear, businesses must adapt the way they communicate with employees, customers, and shareholders if they intend to survive for the long haul. If you’re struggling with how to connect during these uncertain times, follow these simple suggestions.

1.     Revamp your internal communications strategy: Put your employees first. These are uncertain times, and your team needs to hear from you. Company leadership must be at the forefront, and your employees should be hearing from you regularly. The health and wellness of your team is paramount. With teams largely working from home, now more than ever, it’s critical for your staff to hear from its leadership team on a regular basis. Be transparent about company news, and communicate consistently.

2.     Increase your communications frequency: While quarterly company town halls are a great way to share broad company updates, in these uncertain times it’s critical to maintain a steady flow of information from your executive suite to your employees. Ensure your staff feels as though they have direct access to the most up-to-date company information surrounding office status, closures, openings, access, etc. This can come in many forms – a weekly email, videos, via internal messaging and social channels, signage – and will make your employees feel connected. If you think you’re over communicating, you’re doing it right.

3.     Reconsider your messaging: Understand how your current messaging is relevant to today’s environment. Perhaps you need to sharpen your message, or even completely revamp it to better reflect your organization’s vision. Now is the time to ensure your message resonates with your audience and aligns with your values.

4.     Think global, but act local: Make certain your organization is working in concert with local/regional guidelines. What might work for team members or customers in one location may not work for others. Take advantage of key learnings from region to region and empower your team to create a communications tool-kit for employees to help them navigate everything from talking points to social media posts.

5.     Create content that reflects your changing customers: Consumers are now connecting on a more emotional level. Create engaging content built around your brand story to connect with your audience on a deeper level. Now is the time to remind your customers how your products or services can have a lasting and positive impact.

6.     Show empathy: Whether you’re communicating with employees or with an external audience, take extra care to be empathetic. You may be announcing office openings to employees who have lost loved ones or face health challenges and aren’t ready to come back to an office. You may be marketing to consumers who have lost employment or have faced other hardships the past several months. Remember point three above about your messaging…and make certain you’re showing care.

7.     Don’t be afraid to re-think it all: Now is the time to re-evaluate your entire communications strategy. Don’t be afraid to completely overhaul your plans. If your existing strategy does not align with new plans, take the time to adjust as necessary.

Are you ready to adjust your communications tactics and strategies? Hékaté Communications excels in designing customized communications to help organizations of all kinds meet their business goals. Visit us at www.thisishekate.com to learn how we can help.