Your communication plan: It's kind of a big deal

The pilot recites the checklist, "Altimeter – set. Engine idle – checked. Flaps – checked. Fuel gauges – checked..." This simple procedure assures that things will go as planned and issues are identified early.

Like the checklist, a communication plan assures the path ahead is free of preventable issues and all involved are confident and prepared when turbulence hits... and it will always hit.

Here are five reasons why a plan is a big deal for you and your community.

1. Consistent information wherever they need it.

Imagine if everyone was informed with the same information regardless of where they accessed it. A communication plan will ensure that information is consistent across mediums avoiding pitfalls and confusion.

TIP: Do not use Instagram or Facebook for timely information. Their marketing algorithm doesn't list messages chronologically which could create confusion.

2. Build Trust
Trust is like a secret ingredient that makes communities resilient and brings everyone together. A transparent communication plan can build trust by informing who will be informed with what content on what schedule.

TIP: Send your communication plan to your community and publish it in a publicly accessible place for all to see.

3. Managing through Crisis
All agencies and organizations face crises. That's where your communication plan is a superhero. A good plan will be a guide for staff and set expectations for your community. If something fails or things don't go as planned, the community should reflect on the plan to understand what what wrong, not any one individual. Learn from these experiences and adjust your plan to be better next time.

TIP: Keep the plan public and easy to access to allow for modifications. Review those changes at your community and team meetings.

4. Rally the Community

Who doesn't like to know about the great news happening in your community? It boosts your brand, and morale, and builds resiliency. Your communication plan helps spread the word about the amazing events and strong work that is happening. Families and residents can feel proud when they know about their achievements. Everyone's in the loop and feeling pumped!

5. Sharing Cool Ideas
Everyone has cool ideas, and your communication plan is like a suggestion box. It helps you listen to residents, students, teachers, and parents. Filtering the most appropriate ideas that align with your goals and promote those. A wonderful side effect is the encouragement others feel to share their ideas. An additional benefit is that publishing your community's voice avoids the dark, unproductive comments lurking in social media.

TIP: Make it easy to capture "Good News" from the team and community. A simple comment form or prompt in a footer can drive great content and accolades.

A communication plan isn't just a task or a document you file away. It's your pre-flight checklist to manage through crisis, rally your community and build trusting relationships. Reach us to get help building your communication plan to elevate your community engagement.