Your team is divided on press messages. How do you ensure everyone speaks with one voice?

1 Align Goals

The first step in unifying your team's press messages is to ensure everyone understands and agrees on the overarching goals and objectives. This common ground serves as the foundation for all communications. Gather your team and openly discuss the key messages that reflect your brand's mission and vision. Once these are established, it becomes easier to develop a consistent narrative that all team members can confidently articulate.

2 Craft Guidelines

Once your team is aligned on the goals, creating a set of guidelines for press communications is vital. These should include the tone, style, and key points that need to be emphasized in every message. This ensures that regardless of who is speaking or writing, the content remains consistent. Regularly review and update these guidelines to accommodate any changes in strategy or messaging.

3 Train Rigorously

Training is essential to ensure that every team member can deliver the agreed-upon messages with clarity and confidence. Conduct workshops and simulation exercises that allow team members to practice delivering press messages. Provide constructive feedback so they can refine their delivery. This practice will help minimize discrepancies and ensure that when faced with the press, your team speaks with one voice.

4 Monitor Feedback

It's important to monitor the feedback from your audience to gauge the effectiveness of your press messages. If there is confusion or mixed reactions, it may indicate that your team's messages are not aligned. Use this feedback to identify any inconsistencies and address them promptly. This loop of communication is critical in maintaining a unified PR strategy.

5 Foster Openness

Encourage a culture of openness within your team where members feel comfortable sharing their opinions and concerns about press messages. This can prevent misunderstandings and ensure that any division is addressed before it affects your public communications. Regular meetings where team members can discuss and align their thoughts on current and upcoming press messages can be very beneficial.

6 Centralize Control

To avoid mixed messages, consider centralizing control over the final approval of press communications. Designate a spokesperson or a small team responsible for overseeing all outgoing messages to ensure they adhere to the established guidelines. This reduces the risk of off-message communications and reinforces a cohesive brand narrative.