Timing is Everything

Planned change. Unplanned change. Personnel change. Remedial change. Transformational change. We go through change All.The.Time. It is an inevitable part of life, and we must learn to lead through the transitions if we expect to be successful. This skill is part of Change Management.

When an organization is designing a large project that will drive desired or, perhaps, necessary change, one of the most important requirements is a thorough communication plan. Communication done well drives a great culture and employee engagement. Communication done poorly, at a minimum, causes retention to suffer.

Sharing the right message at the right time and on the right medium is the key, and it isn’t as difficult as some may believe.

Consider the following:

Timing of Messages: According to Daniel Pink’s book When[1], people cycle through three periods at various times during the typical day: peak, trough, and recovery. These cycles not only highlight the best times for certain tasks to be accomplished, but also prime time for receiving messages (which, perhaps surprisingly, is not early in the morning for most people).
Organizational Timing: Be mindful of your organization's ecosystem, so your message is not lost in the noise of other work-related emails, meetings, etc. Spacing out your messaging will allow it to be successfully received by those who need it most.

Keeping communication at the forefront of all project planning, including and especially, during times of change, will drive engagement and buy-in throughout the organization.

The organization where I served as GVP-HR was planning a new branding initiative, and I was charged with collaborating with the consultants on internal communications. Together we designed and implemented a thorough and engaging strategy, which not only got our employees excited about the changes but led many of them to become ambassadors for the initiative – a huge assist in both hiring and retaining excellent candidates and employees. The success of the framework gave our organizational leadership the confidence to repeat the process in launching other strategic initiatives, including new technology launches and safety programs. The improved communication strategy – the right message at the right time on the right medium – helped develop and change our culture from a surface relationship that masked suspicion and wariness to an actual, real relationship based in trust and transparency.

You can do the same. Any organization that lacks transparency, also lacks trust from its employees. Learn how to better engage your executive leadership team to communicate well – at the right time, with the same message, throughout all platforms and departments.

I offer an executive coaching program that includes individual coaching, monthly peer group meetings, and a ton of resources to help you better develop your executive presence, emotional intelligence, and humility to drive greater success in your organization.

How are you driving the change needed in your organization? Are you ready to realign your mindset, behaviors, and habits?

Take the first step. Your first peer meeting is complimentary – come as my guest, stay as a member.

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P.S. Book a Complimentary Strategy Session so we can get you moving in the right direction; click on my Complimentary Strategy Session calendar link here and let’s book a time together so you can get started today!

P.P.S. With over three decades of professional experience in corporate operations and executive human resources, I am a proven results-driven leader. My expertise includes strategy, change management, talent management and organizational development, employee relations, and executive and leadership coaching. I am a highly effective communicator and team leader with demonstrated ability to build long-term relationships across internal and external customer environments built with integrity, confidence, authenticity, and trust.

[1] When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Daniel H. Pink. Riverhead, ISBN 978-0-7352-1062-2