The COMMS Plan

The COMMS Plan is a five-step approach to asking the right powerful questions to develop a communication plan that will create outcomes, not noise.

Using a process rather than a template allows for a transparent common, approach to addressing the requirements of effective communication planning.

Why is the COMMS Plan approach powerfully different?

Complexity is the new normal for almost all organisations. Engagement is down, change is constant. Effective communication remains a critical and sometimes elusive tool in getting things done well.

There is no magic ‘template’ for communication planning, but following a consistent planning process ensures clear, targeted messages that get the outcomes required.

Having worked with diverse organisations implementing many different changes, we have identified some fundamental elements that help connect communication activity with the business outcomes you need to achieve.

Recognised by the IABC as powerful tool, it has been featured as a tool in Catalyst and in two IABC webinars.

How do I apply the COMMS Plan?

The COMMS plan involves applying five sets of questions to any communication – or business – challenge.

It has evolved through its use in planning, process improvement, coaching, strategic communication and workshops.

With a focus on outcomes and measurement built into every stage of the approach, the COMMS plan works with the communication planning method used by IABC for evaluating Gold Quills, with change methodologies such as PROSCI, and with coaching models. Rather than being template-driven, it is a process that focusses on answering the essential questions that go into effective, award-winning measurable communication plans.

Audiences and Measurement are included through each of the five stages of the process.

Who is the COMMS Plan for?

Anyone.

The COMMS Plan is simple enough to be adopted by project teams, leaders, managers or communication professionals to ensure a better outcome for their business activity by getting the communication right.

Change activity managed with the COMMS plan creates a true line-of-sight for employees – a key driver of employee engagement.

For HR and Communication teams, the Shorter COMMS Plan provides a straightforward toolset to cut through the clutter and become a valuable framework for alignment.

  • Executive Teams use the COMMS Plan to translate strategy into outcomes providing clarity and consistency throughout the process.
  • Business Leaders can apply the approach to build alignment
  • Strategic partners can apply this as a consistent tool for defining and delivering outcomes
  • Subject matter experts (such as copywriters) can place tactics and activities in a consistent frame
  • Emerging communication professionals can incorporate this approach into their foundation skills toolkit.

When can you use the COMMS method?

As it aligns with the Global Standard for communication professional development, the COMMS Plan can be applied whenever some form of communication is required:

  • a team meeting
  • a coaching discussion
  • announcements and releases
  • social media planning
  • project communication
  • product or service updates
  • restructures or other change projects
  • business planning
  • strategic planning

For communication professionals, the consistent approach means the focus is on outcomes, whether for a whole strategy or for a specific tactic.

Using the COMMS plan to build consistency within an organisation

As the COMMS plan is simple and scalable, it’s simple and effective to embed it as a common approach within an organisation. This takes the mystery out of the communication planning process. Most importantly by ‘showing how it’s done’, the conversation moves from what tactic will be used, to what outcome is needed. This is a key driver of ensuring communication is strategic.

By helping partners across an organisation communicate more effectively, communication professionals and teams can deliver greater outcomes.

Workshops using the COMMS approach

There are three core COMMS approach workshops available, or we can develop bespoke workshops using the approach.

To discuss bringing COMMS Plan workshops to your organisation please get in touch.

Feedback on the Shorter COMMS Plan

“I loved this simple yet powerful approach for Capability Building. I have just started my venture on the L&D field and this has helped me to work on many aspects that I overlooked earlier.” Webinar participant

“Fantastic webinar! I love the simplicity of the 5-Step COMMS system. It is a great tool for educating business leaders about the communications process.” Webinar participant

Happeo featured the method in an article on effective manager communication.

All Things IC included the method in a roundup of tools for manager communication.

Alive With Ideas produced a roundup of planning methods and tools for helping organisations communicate more effectively, including the COMMS framework.

MediaWise Communications adapted the model, changing Methods to ‘Manage’ and ‘Support’ to Strategy Review

The 2015 Government Communication Australia Conference round-up from Comms Go Digital included the COMMS Plan as a tool.

Meanwhile, the original How to Create A Communication Plan I created for WikiHow reached over 600000 views before it was taken over by a large US communications consultancy that restructured it and pointed all the links to their business. I only tell who in my workshops.