Innovative ways to communicate
I have been tasked with sharing a new corporate strategy to my 200+ staff and I'm looking for innovative ways of going about it.
My staff work different shifts, and do not have access to computers (so email is out!). The subject matter is not one that the Team Leaders fell happy in trying to disseminate as parts of it are quite complicated. We are committed to paper reduction therefore a copy for each of them is also out of the question. Things on noticeboards hardly ever get read, and then only by a small minority.
Any suggestions on how I can get the message across to this large and dispersed cohort?
Thank you in anticipation.
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This would seem a tricky issue: How to get information to employees who work different shifts and don't like to read the noticeboard.
You could go with the traditional approach of inviting the different shifts to brief meetings, however I get the feeling that you are trying to avoid the traditional approach.
There could be a means of bribery available on how to get them to look at the noticeboard. If there is a small budget available, try buying an item for each employee (chocolate bar, postcard) - something that stands out and gets them asking "Why am I getting this all of a sudden". Then link this distribution to a poster on the noticeboard "Liked your milky way?" (this needs to be big and bright) and then you can be blatant in continuing "Good, I am glad you liked it. Please read on to find out why you received it". At the end a cheeky "What does a milky way have to do with this notice? Nothing - but it got you reading it :-) " should top it off.
This approach won't get all the workforce reading the notice, but only if half of the employees read it, word-of-mouth should ensure the information gets to the rest. People talk about different approaches as they stick out.
Hmm, tricky one. I would say firstly that it should be in story form as that's a great way of getting ideas across. Making it topical could be useful as well. What kind of company do you work for?
You could try filming some discussions with representatives from each of the different groups about the strategy, then putting this onto DVD. I'm not an expert in this field, but there are some very reasonable video companies that can do this for you.You could then, either send everyone a copy, and/or have small groups watch it together.
Have a format with something like you (or one of your managers) giving informal explanations of the key points of the strategy, then inviting the reps (1-4?) to give their views, ask questions etc.
This would have the added benefit of your managers becoming thoroughly familiar with the strategy, and with the issues raised!