THE PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO...

Why do so many managers struggle with employee communication?

Could it be that organizations aren't equipping managers with the vital communication know-how they need to communicate effectively? Or does your company already have a toolkit...which just collects dust?

This new Melcrum practitioner guide on Developing a communication toolkit for managers, by manager communication expert Andy Szpekman, tackles these issues head on. Providing you with an extensive array of tips, tools and templates to create a toolkit designed to improve manager communication.

Whether you’re creating a toolkit from scratch or enhancing an existing one, this report provides you with the materials you need to produce a useful and engaging toolkit, which will make your managers better communicators.

What's the business case for investing in manager communication?

Order with our special launch offer and you'll take away:

• A step-by-step guide on practical elecments you can include in a communication toolkit
  
• Exclusive case studies on toolkits in action so you get a behind-the-scenes look at how leading organizations are maximizing their manager communication skills

• Practical templates, tips, guides, models and roadmaps from leading organizations' toolkits you can use immediately
• Expert analysis from Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Roger D'Aprix, Bill Quirke, Ben Edwards (IBM) and Jacqui Hitt
• Ammunition you can use to convince your managers of the importance of effective communication and ensure their buy-in

You'll also receive exclusive case studies on how toolkits are being used successfully at:

This guide takes you through three important elements of the ultimate practical toolkit, covering planning, leading and engaging employees:

Planning:

• Easy-to-use 5-step change communication model to ensure managers deliver a successful change communication campaign
• A communication plan template to help managers present communication strategy and tactics

Case studies:

• Agilent: The Quick Communication Model, which helps you decide what to communicate and the best ways to do it
• Inverness Medical: Communication Support Roadmap, for determining what to communicate, to whom, when, where, how and why
  AstraZeneca: Eight-step effective communication approach, which provides managers with an interactive online communication-planning tool

A guide to gathering feedback:

• Using focus groups to assess an audience's mindset before communicating
• Pilot testing a draft communication
• How to survey employees after a communication event

Selecting the right channel:

• How to choose the right channel to deliver your message
• Examples of what each channel does best

Using blogs, podcasts and wikis:

Insight into how new social media tools can help managers share ideas and enhance team collaboration.

Expert advice:

• Shel Holtz shares his insight into how to write a blog
  
• Neville Hobson suggests possible uses for podcasts

Case studies

• Notiva: Using blogs for project management
• BBC: Collaborating with wikis. Get an exclusive look at how wikis are being used to spur integration and collaboration at the BBC
• IBM's: 5-steps to getting started with podcasting

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Leading

Conducting team briefings:

Expert advice:

• Bill Quirke shares his insights into how to make team briefings more effective

Case studies:

• Bank of America: Manager huddles' which can be used to convey key messages to shift workers
• Vodafone: Team briefing standards to ensure consistency

Running meetings:

• Ten simple steps to boost the effectiveness of team meetings

Expert advice:

• Jacqui Hitt provides an exercise to help managers boost their listening skills

Making presentations:

• Tips to ensure presentations run smoothly, with a list of dos and don'ts

Delivering bad news:

• Seven simple but effective things managers can do to increase acceptance of a tough message

Expert advice:

• Betsy Pasley offers tips on how to share bad news with employees
  

Case study:

• Wachovia: Preparing managers to communicate about job losses
  

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Engaging employees

Changing attitudes and behaviors:

• How to move employees from attitude to behavior change, by reinforcing messages consistently

Providing feedback and coaching:

• How managers can offer effective employee feedback
• Tips for managers on providing useful coaching

Recognizing and rewarding results:

Expert advice:

• Advice for managers on the dos and don’ts of making recognition effective

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Successful toolkits in action – what's happening in your industry?

Packed with exclusive case studies to show communicators how leading companies are using manager communication toolkits, this chapter highlights the five golden rules to help ensure your toolkit will be practical and useful:

Rule 1: Incorporating your toolkit into a broader set of guidelines, training and resources

Case studies:

• Thomson Financial: Communication resources for managers
• Siemens: Managers' intranet site
  

Rule 2: Making your toolkit available online

Case studies:

• Ericsson: Online manager communication toolkit
  

Rule 3: Using briefing packs to prepare managers to convey important information

Case studies:

• CSG Systems: Briefing packs
• Siemens: Tailored toolkits
• Agilent: Strategy toolkits
  

Rule 4: Getting managers on board by addressing their concerns

Case studies:

• Westpac Bank: Linking improved communication to financial rewards

Rule 5: Test your toolkit on managers

• Provincial Health Services Authority: Addressing manager concerns

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Examples of resources you'll receive when you order this report:

"...communicators must shift their roles from practitioners to strategic advisers and skills coaches. Start by providing learning tools that enhance the competencies and knowledge of managers at all levels."
Linda Dulye, President of L.M. Duyle & Co., writing in the February/March 2004 issue of Strategic Communication Management