How many times have you heard this comment in relation to project management and - let’s be candid here - business management in general?
Countless times, I’m willing to bet, and there is a reason for it: effective business communication is a direct input to effective business management, team productivity with, arguably, a positive impact to the bottom line.
Here is why, as a project manager you should, first and foremost, be interested in crafting a meaningful communications plan.
Putting some thoughts and structure around your communications plan allows your team to understand:
- what kind of data they have to gather
- how to prepare the information
- when the information will be needed
- how the information will be delivered
- who the audience is
- the technology needed to support it.
Complex projects require complex views into the project data.
Planning to structure the reports based on audience and getting input on these reports from
key stakeholder groups in your project can help get buy-in in your project.
Large projects may require an integrated implementation and communication plan.
In this cases, support from specialized communications departments within your company may be available – always consult with them as they can provide you with valuable tips and templates.
Enter the time you think may be needed to plan for the communications plan in your schedule and work estimates.
And, as we draw near to the end of this post - reader, beware – we’ve barely scratched the surface of communications planning here.
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