The document provides tips for overcoming common employee communication challenges. It discusses how to 1) create an achievable communication plan by defining objectives, strategies, tactics and key messages. 2) Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations using good design principles like shapes, reduced text, color and images. 3) Control employee "buzz" after a big change by identifying advocates, collecting questions, leveraging social media and sharing success stories. 4) Make intranet content easier to find through obvious navigation, clear headlines and links, a top links section and search function. 5) Encourage participation in voluntary benefits through promotions, employee stories and cafeteria placemats. 6) Enliven town hall Q&As by allocating more time for

1. Conquer tough
employee communication challenges

2. Engaging employees
can be tough. After all,
people are so busy and
distracted these days.
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3. But you don’t have to let the obstacles get you
down—with these 6 suggestions for overcoming
even the toughest challenges.
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4. You’ll learn how to:
Create an
achievable
communication
plan
Build
intriguing
PowerPoint
presentations
Control
employee “buzz”
after announcing
a big change
Make content
easier to find on
your intranet
Encourage
employees to
participate in
voluntary benefits
Evade that
uncomfortable
silence during
town hall Q&As
1 2 3 4 5 6
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5. 1Create an achievable
communication plan
4

6. Answer the question:
Where are we now?
Create a situation analysis to set
content and get everyone
on the same page
Create an achievable communication plan
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7. Define key
audiences
Be as specific as possible
to describe important
segments
Create an achievable communication plan
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8. Set objectives
Your objectives should be
specific, actionable and
measurable to help you express
what success looks like
Create an achievable communication plan
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9. Develop strategies
This is the “how” of your
plan, which outlines your
approach for reaching
your objectives
Create an achievable communication plan
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10. Describe tactics
When proposing something
new, make sure you
provide plenty of details so
stakeholders can understand
what you mean.
Create an achievable communication plan
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11. Create key messages
Targeted messages ensure that
everyone gets consistent and
focused information
Create an achievable communication plan
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12. Include a timeline
Mapping out how and when
your program works helps
create a complete picture
Create an achievable communication plan
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13. 2Build intriguing PowerPoint
presentations
12

14. Utilize good design
When it comes to presentations,
PowerPoint is usually the “weapon
of choice.” You need to utilize good
design to tell your story instead of
being defeated by text.
Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations
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15. Use shapes
Call out the most
important point in
the slide
Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations
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16. Reduce the copy
Boldface key words
and phrases
Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations
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COPY
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17. Add color
Emphasize important
information
Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations
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18. Include icons
Add interest and help
the audience understand
key concepts
Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations
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19. Use a photo
Photos help convey
meaning
Build intriguing PowerPoint presentations
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20. 3Control employee “buzz” after
announcing a big change
19

21. You can crush the
gossip head-on
Treat “buzz” as an opportunity
for listening to concerns,
addressing issues and providing
accurate information as it
becomes available.
Control employee “buzz” after announcing a big change
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22. Identify change
advocates
Advocates are selected from
across the enterprise to become
knowledgeable about the change,
and to share that knowledge
with those in their part of the
organization
Control employee “buzz” after announcing a big change
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23. Collect questions and
concerns
Compile the questions asked at face-
to-face sessions and online. Ask
leaders and managers what they’re
hearing. Look for opportunities to
craft communication to respond to
employees’ questions and concerns
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Control employee “buzz” after announcing a big change
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24. Leverage social media
Use company social media to
stimulate discussion by encouraging
employees to ask questions and
involving a leader or subject matter
expert to address them
Control employee “buzz” after announcing a big change
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25. Share success stories
Good news has a positive effect
on buzz. The best examples are
real employees telling their
own stories.
Control employee “buzz” after announcing a big change
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26. 4Make content easier to
find on your intranet
25

27. Make navigation
obvious
Put your navigation bar
across the top of your
microsite or down the
left side
Make content easier to find on your intranet
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28. Improve headlines
and links
Make sure headlines and link
names are short, simple and
descriptive, so people know
what they’re clicking
Make content easier to find on your intranet
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29. Create a “top links”
section
Post “popular” links in a clearly
visible section on your landing
page so employees can find
them right away
Make content easier to find on your intranet
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30. Leave breadcrumbs
Ask your IT team to set up
breadcrumbs horizontally
across the top of your
microsite, below title bars
or headers
Make content easier to find on your intranet
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31. Make your search
function prominent
Make sure your search box is
at the top of each page of your
microsite, so it’s easy to spot
Make content easier to find on your intranet
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32. 5Encourage employees to
participate in voluntary benefits
How do you raise awareness and increase participation?
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33. Encourage employees to participate in voluntary benefits
Create a promo card that:
• Markets the program
• Provides discounts
• Links to an online source
• Gives a daily reminder
of great program
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10%
New program
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34. Encourage employees to
share their success stories
This could be done via a video
or special newsletter
Encourage employees to participate in voluntary benefits
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35. Create placemats
for the cafeteria
This out-of-the-box solution
could include listing items
from the voluntary program
like a menu
Encourage employees to participate in voluntary benefits
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36. 6Evade that uncomfortable
silence during town hall QAs
Can you change town halls to encourage participation?
35

37. Evade that uncomfortable silence during town hall QAs
Put participation into
your agenda
One-third for presentations and
two-thirds for activities
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38. Cover one topic
in depth
Instead of a barrage
of multiple topics
Evade that uncomfortable silence during town hall QAs
37
topictopic topic
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39. Break employees out
into small groups
It helps if the room is set up
as small tables instead of a
concert hall
Evade that uncomfortable silence during town hall QAs
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40. Encourage speakers
to mix it up
They could use bullet points to
reference and also inflect their
own voice into the presentation
Evade that uncomfortable silence during town hall QAs
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41. Invite employees to
share information
It’s best when they bring
info that shows off their
knowledge
Evade that uncomfortable silence during town hall QAs
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42. Onward to victory!
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