Essential persuasion tools for internal communication

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 2.0

I’m a little bit Pavlovian when it comes to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Every time I see it, I have an urgent need to share it with communicators. This is driven in part by the blank looks from managers, or worse still, communicators I have occasionally encountered when talking to them about engagement. Yet this is one of the fundamental ‘ways of knowing’ that informs our communication practice.

That’s why this post from the the clever content marketers, curators and link-baitering masters at Buffer caught my eye. They have curated 10 very useful theories of persuasion, including Maslow’s Hierarchy and the Reciprocity Norm. These are all useful for communicators.

I’d be interested to hear about what models you find most useful. Add your suggestions in the comments.

Social Media Influence: 10 Theories to Know For Greater Persuasion.

Communicating when a senior executive leaves the business

When an executive departs, communication is an essential part of managing the change. These 4 key tips from FTI Consulting will help set the right tone and maintain trust during the uncertainty.

What’s the best template for an effective internal communication plan?

ICYMI – What is the best template for an effective #comms plan?

jonathanchamp's avatarThe Shorter Comms Plan

Q “During a recent transformation, I was asked to assist in creating an internal communications plan. Does anyone have a template for an effective plan? External plans are quite plentiful; however, internal plans are hard to come by. Thank you for any assistance that you may be able to render.”

This recent request in the Organizational Change Practitioners LinkedIn group is one of the most common questions internal communicators face. (At the time of writing this, the WikiHow entry “How to create a communication plan” has had over 180,000 views.)

First, the bad news: There is no magic ‘template’ for internal and change communication planning. Sure, we know that a plan will have some common elements such as goals, timings, messages, tactics and responsibilities. But having worked with diverse organisations implementing many different changes, I’ve discovered there are some variables that make a single template hard to apply.

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4 Qualities for The Future of Storytelling

The Future of Storytelling Prize includes four criteria for successful entries. These are helpful guidelines for all creators, writers, producers, and makers of transmedia projects.

1. Interactivity: Quality of user experience

2. Story-Driven Content: Communicates a clear narrative

3. Emotional Resonance: Strikes an affective chord with the user

4. Design Execution: Innovative, original, and beautifully crafted

Full details of the prize here.