
3 Ways to Leverage Messaging in Your Next Corporate Meeting
By: Mark Winter
This post originally appeared on Dbusiness.com.
Corporate annual meetings are a great opportunity for executives to share important messages that are part of their overall communications strategy. All too often, companies look at these meetings as solely an opportunity to update their employees about goals, numbers and the fiscal focus for the year ahead, while communications is left in the dust. That unfortunate, shortsighted approach creates a visible missed opportunity that will leave a gaping hole in the internal communications program for the year ahead.
Here are some simple tips for executives to think about before the next corporate meeting:
- Think beyond the numbers: When addressing revenue goals, it is pertinent to think beyond the head-spinning facts and figures. Executives should tie these numerical details into the big picture of what these outlined numbers mean to employees and how the entire team can best digest and remember this message. Crafting an inspiring message to complement the numbers can go a long way. Look to your communications professional or team to help you create key messages that are meaningful to your organization—and most importantly include your overall company messages for the year ahead.
- Repetition is your friend: Throughout an annual meeting, finding creative ways to reiterate themes and key messages is an effective strategy. Whether it’s a humorous gimmick to break up the meeting or ensuring that each executive in some method shares the defined messages in his/her speech is a simple and great way to ensure everyone clearly understands the important messages.
- Create systems for follow through: Following an annual meeting, define metrics to ensure employees have truly understood the outlined messages. But, don’t stop there. Keep the consistent flow of messaging present in each meeting, event and internal communication piece to keep the momentum going.
In short, annual meetings are a great opportunity to share insight and rally employees to come together for the common benefit of the company. When leveraged appropriately, they can also be a key yearly tactic for your internal communications strategy. Companies that don’t let the enthusiasm—and the continuous communication—fall off the radar are ones that understand the value of employee communication and creating thriving corporate cultures.
Do you agree? If you’re part of the communications team, how have you leveraged annual meetings to have execs share important information internally?