Creating a clear communication plan can help you effectively collaborate with your team, client, and stakeholders. Like other tools that you\u2019ll use for the duration of a project, this plan will set straightforward guidelines that everyone will follow to stay on the same page as they work on meeting goals.<\/p>\n
This plan outlines the methods that will be used to share information (think: meetings, emails, phone calls, status reports, discussion boards, etc.). And it also covers when information will be shared, who will be sharing it, and who will be receiving it. Plus, it gives everyone the opportunity to provide critical feedback that can help ensure a project\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
You can only reap the benefits of a communication plan if you create one that actually works, so learning what goes into it is the first step. Then, because every project is different, you\u2019ll need to adjust this plan to suit the size, timeline, budget, and goals of every project you manage. And don\u2019t be afraid of making changes to your communication plan while moving through a project if you find that something isn\u2019t working or could be improved.<\/p>\n
1. Determine Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n First, think about what you want your project communication plan to achieve.<\/p>\n For example, you might want to get input from your team on a regular basis so you don\u2019t have to remind them, or you might need to find a way to efficiently communicate with a lot of different people because you\u2019re working on a large project.<\/p>\n Consider the topics that you want to cover in meetings and reports. And determine how often you want your team to communicate important information with one another, as you certainly don\u2019t want people to get bogged down by too many emails and phone calls.<\/p>\n The ultimate question here is: for the particular team and stakeholders of your project, and for the project\u2019s specific requirements, what are the best ways to share information?<\/p>\n 2. Set the Schedule<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you know the type, and frequency, of communication that your project needs, it\u2019s time to set the schedule that everyone on your team will follow.<\/p>\n For example, you might want to communicate with your team members by using project reports emailed on a weekly basis, but your stakeholders might require that you meet in person at least monthly to discuss the status of the project.<\/p>\n This schedule gives everyone the chance to work with their individual timelines, while remembering that they need to set aside time for sharing and gathering information too. Plus, with a set schedule, everyone will know when a status update is coming, so they\u2019ll know to prepare.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t come up with a schedule on your own, ask your team what they would prefer. And if you\u2019ve worked together in the past, you can take that experience into consideration to figure out what will work best. The key is to find the right balance so that everyone is aware of what\u2019s going on in the project without feeling overwhelmed by too many messages and meetings.<\/p>\n It might be helpful to make a chart that outlines the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Know Your Audience and Their Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n Your plan should include the names of those involved in your communications, such as key stakeholders and clients, as well as your team, vendors, and other departments.<\/p>\n For every member of your audience, determine what information they need to provide, as well as what information they need to be given. And, of course, you want to always consider the best methods of communication for the different groups of people in your audience (your stakeholders might prefer a different communication method than your team members).<\/p>\n As an example, you might need to share status updates, schedules, and deadlines with vendors. When it comes to your team, on the other hand, you might need to share assignments and status updates, as well as discuss risks and issues that are encountered along the way, solutions for those problems, and changes to workflows. And, for stakeholders, you might need to dive into topics like budget updates, risk management, requests for changes, and status updates.<\/p>\n Now that you know how to create a project communication plan, you\u2019re ready to make one and put it into action. With the help of this handy tool, you might notice that your projects begin to run a lot more smoothly because people will always have the info they need when they need it. Just remember to analyze your plan along the way to see what\u2019s working and what can be refined, and gather feedback from your audience to make improvements to this plan so it can work for everyone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Creating a clear communication plan can help you effectively collaborate with your team, client, and stakeholders. Like other tools that you\u2019ll use for the duration of a project, this plan will set straightforward guidelines that everyone will follow to stay on the same page as they work on meeting goals. What\u2019s a Project Communication Plan? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,35,37],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-7477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership","category-project-management","category-view-all-posts","tag-project-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Put Your Communication Plan into Action<\/h2>\n