How can you prioritize messages during culture change?

1 Identify your key messages

The first step to prioritize messages during culture change is to identify your key messages. These are the core ideas that you want to convey to your audience, such as the vision, values, benefits, and expectations of the new culture. Your key messages should be aligned with your culture change strategy and objectives, and they should be simple, clear, and consistent. You can use a message map or a message matrix to organize your key messages and their supporting points.

2 Segment your audience

The second step to prioritize messages during culture change is to segment your audience. This means dividing your audience into groups based on their characteristics, needs, interests, and preferences. For example, you can segment your audience by role, function, location, or level of involvement in the culture change process. By segmenting your audience, you can tailor your messages to their specific concerns, questions, and motivations. You can also use different channels, formats, and tones to reach them more effectively.

3 Assess the urgency and impact of your messages

The third step to prioritize messages during culture change is to assess the urgency and impact of your messages. This means evaluating how time-sensitive and how important your messages are for your audience and your culture change outcomes. For example, you can use a priority matrix or a grid to rank your messages according to their urgency and impact. By assessing the urgency and impact of your messages, you can determine which messages to communicate first, how often, and how prominently.

4 Balance the frequency and quality of your messages

The fourth step to prioritize messages during culture change is to balance the frequency and quality of your messages. This means finding the optimal amount and level of detail of your messages for your audience and your culture change goals. For example, you can use a communication plan or a calendar to schedule your messages and track their progress. By balancing the frequency and quality of your messages, you can avoid overwhelming or underinforming your audience, and maintain their engagement and trust.

5 Solicit and incorporate feedback

The fifth step to prioritize messages during culture change is to solicit and incorporate feedback. This means asking for and listening to your audience's opinions, questions, and suggestions about your messages and your culture change process. For example, you can use surveys, polls, interviews, or focus groups to collect feedback from your audience. By soliciting and incorporating feedback, you can measure the effectiveness of your messages, identify any gaps or issues, and adjust or improve your messages accordingly.

6 Review and revise your messages

The sixth step to prioritize messages during culture change is to review and revise your messages. This means checking and updating your messages regularly to ensure they are accurate, relevant, and consistent with your culture change vision and values. For example, you can use a message audit or a checklist to review your messages and their alignment with your culture change strategy and objectives. By reviewing and revising your messages, you can ensure they are clear, compelling, and credible for your audience and your culture change outcomes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?