Anita Francis Elias

Acknowledge the Breakdown: "First, I would acknowledge the communication breakdown. Transparency is the first step in regaining trust." Assess Damage: "Investigate to understand the root causes by gathering feedback from all levels to identify what went wrong and assess the damage." Engage in Active Listening: "Hold meetings and focus groups to listen to employees' concerns and suggestions, ensuring their voices are heard." Develop a Clear Communication Plan: "With feedback in hand, develop a clear communication plan outlining steps to improve channels and set expectations." Promote Open Dialogue: "Foster a culture of open dialogue, encouraging team members to share thoughts and feedback freely."

Designing a comms plan that aligns with the company's goals involves understanding the core business vision, whether it's to increase sales, enhance brand visibility, or disrupt new markets. Deeper understanding of the target audience— their preferences, habits, and online presence— helps in selecting the best digital channels and content formats to capture their attention. Setting clear, measurable targets for digital efforts ensures alignment with objectives. The strategy should be tailored to resonate with the audience's preferences and online behavior. Lastly, plans should be designed to factor in continuous adjustments based on feedback and metrics, to keep the digital communications strategy adaptable, fluid and responsive.

To write an engaging thought leadership piece, you need to have a clear understanding of your audience and their interests. Using a conversational tone and avoiding jargon/technical terms can prove more useful in connecting with your target audience. Offering a fresh perspective or sharing your unique point of view to a topic matters. Don't let fear hold you back when you wish to challenge conventional thinking or offer a controversial opinion (as long as you can back it up with evidence). These considerations along with a strong visual can take your leadership article a long way ahead.

Balancing the need for change and stability in internal communications requires a thoughtful approach. From a personal point of view, I believe it is important to embrace change while also maintaining stability. To achieve this balance, I would prioritize open and transparent communication. Make space for having that much needed dialogue. By actively involving employees in the decision-making process and keeping them informed about upcoming changes, you can foster trust, generate stakeholder buy-in and reduce resistance.