What is it?
A communication plan supports project delivery by ensuring the right information is with the right people at the right time.
A communication plan includes:
- objective – what you want to achieve – eg awareness, attitude change, action, etc
- audience – the stakeholders the communication is for
- message – the key points you want the audience to hear
- channel – the platforms you will use – eg email, social media, meeting
- timeline – when the activity will take place, including frequency
- responsible – the person who will carry out the activities
- evaluation – how you will measure the communications success – eg number of likes or reposts on social media
When should it be used?
You may find it helpful to create a communication plan as soon as a change project has been identified. You may wish to involve your organisation’s communications team to ensure that planned activity can be supported and is in line with organisational messaging.
As the project hits key milestones, you may wish to communicate with your stakeholders around progress and next steps. For example, once a change has been implemented you will wish to share this with people who use services, and their families and carers.
A communication plan is a “live” document, and you should review and update it throughout the project to ensure all stakeholders are kept up to date.
What are the benefits of using it/why use this tool?
A communication plan helps to support your change project by:
- supporting project goals – ensuring communication is aligned with project objectives to support project success
- enhancing stakeholder engagement – keeping everyone informed and involved to support buy in and encourage active participation
- fostering collaboration and culture – supporting open communication to help to build trust and a more collaborative environment
- supports decision-making – ensures timely, accurate information is available for informed choices
- reducing ambiguity – provides clear guidelines, frequency, and methods for communication, preventing misinterpretations