Assessing the state of communication at your company means gathering SWOT data vital to improving communication. An overall communications assessment should be conducted, at minimum, on an annual basis. Smaller or shorter communication assessments, often referred to as pulse checks, may occur for specific projects or topics on an as needed basis.
Whether you are conducting an annual overall communications assessment or a pulse check, you are also increasing the visibility of- or internally marketing the internal communications function.
Assessment activities include:
1. Review (structure, roles/responsibilities)
2. Audit (engagement survey data, messages, channels)
3. Observation (meetings, events, water cooler talk)
4. Interviews (leadership and non-leadership)
5. Focus Groups (functional, mgmt and non-mgmt)
6. Surveys
7. Research (benchmarking, industry data)
So, when is the last time you conducted an assessment? Get in the game and benefit by:
1. Developing a broader network and elevating the importance of the function.
2. Gaining an understanding of the communication history and of the current environment or situation.
3. Comparing your organization to others.
4. Being able to conduct a gap analysis.
5. Identifying improvements and/or areas where you are falling below standards.
Julie Baron, COMMUNICATION WORKS
Attend Julie’s webinar replay: How to Conduct a Complete Communications Assessment
