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Communication Strategy to Influence Change
Communication Strategy to Influence Change
A communication strategy sets the direction that guides an intervention to achieve the desired change. It allows partners and stakeholders to provide input and agree on the best way forward alongside having a map that can be referred to at the various stages of the intervention implementation. The participation of all stakeholders involved in the change process is essential to ensure a common understanding of the change’s contents, obtain feedback, and obtain a commitment to the change process. Without an effective communication plan, the change initiative may not go beyond the inception stage. This paper will identify and recommend effective communication strategies and illustrate how they support change across institutions.
Communication Strategies Used to Influence and Manage Change
An effective communication strategy keeps all stakeholders motivated and on-board during the change process (Smith, 2017). The following are fundamental communication principles that would positively impact change at St, Catherine College. First of all, ensure everyone understands your message of change by being honest, specific, and relatable in your language. Only communicate the relevant information concisely and with no ambiguity. Secondly, validate your instincts regarding the desired change with data. For instance, if you feel that your team isn’t engaged in the change process, you can walk around and talk to your colleagues to establish why they are hesitant regarding the change. That way, you will be able to go back to the drawing board and make amends as per the data collected.
Thirdly, having a feedback mechanism helps while rolling out the change initiative. This entails incorporating the input of team members in decision-making. Ideally, change targets, internal and external stakeholders, and they should be given a chance to contribute to the desired change. It is crucial to make sure the concerned department necessitating change within an institution owns the stakeholders’ feedback. The fourth strategy to use to influence change is by taking a proactive approach. Prepare to handle anything that comes up in the future, whether positive and negative. Have a consultative discussion with team members and discuss what everyone perceives may negatively impact the change process. Afterward, move to a positive action bearing in mind that the negative impact may be persistent. Finally, technology can be leveraged to create a behavioral adjustment that aligns with the desired change.
Using Communication Strategies to Build Collaborations
Effective partnering cannot take place without the support of a good communication strategy. This means that collaborating teams will have to set out roles and responsibilities to ensure clarity of each one’s contribution to the process. In the College of St. Catherine’s case, the health care department relies on collaborations with local hospitals and community-based clinics for graduate student internships. There will be a need to put a communication system in place that ensures the college and clinics adhere to their duties and manage disputes in case they arise.
How Institutional Culture Influences Effectiveness of Communication Strategy
Institutional culture and internal belief systems affect what people chose to say and what to withhold. Psychologically safe workplace cultures encourage communication, while institutions with bureaucratic structures lead to withholding of information. Moreover, leaders who are open-minded and interested in their subordinates’ ideas encourage opening up, but hostile bosses discourage communication (Kelly & MacDonald, 2019). In this regard, communication strategies such as encouraging feedback, being honest and relatable can encourage institutional employees to feel free in giving ideas that necessitate and enforce change.
Implementing Communication Strategies for Student Retention and Success
Effective communication helps create and promote a safe space for learning where students can learn and succeed. Communication has been proven to foster relationships that positively impact students’ class participation, engagement, and ultimately academic success. Poor communication is a key contributor to lack of student motivation, poor performance, and school dropout. Active listening and engaging students go a long way to devising ways of creating a safe learning environment.
References
Kelly, S., & MacDonald, P. (2019). A look at leadership styles and workplace solidarity communication. International Journal of Business Communication, 56(3), 432-448.
Smith, A. R. (2017). Communication Strategies Used During Organizational Change in a Health Care Organization.