The best temperature for porridge is – as Goldilocks will confirm – not too hot, and not too cold.
And the best number of times to communicate a message – as Goldilocks will also confirm – is
- not too often – or it becomes boring and loses impact, but also …
- not too little – or it gets forgotten/missed (how often do we see somebody press “send” on an email and think “Excellent. Communication complete”?)
So, what’s the right number of times to communicate a message?
Well, it depends – on your audience, the subject, its importance, its complexity, other priorities, their personality, your personality, etc.
But here are two useful guidelines …
#1 Communicate important messages more than once
You’ll never cause long-term change with one short-term thing.
So we need ‘more than one’ communication.
For example, I’m helping some of my customers to revisit their ‘Our new vision’ communication that they delivered a few weeks/months ago – to help them remind people of the main messages, to help embed change.
#2 People need reminders, to help them remember
People might forget what you said. So help them remember.
Send them regular reminders. Change meeting agendas to include your key topic as a new agenda item (‘progress with X?’), empower their managers to guide them, put posters on the canteen wall … whatever it takes.
Action Point
What’s the most important communication you’ve delivered this year?
Did it work at the time?
Is it still working now?
If it’s working, reward and recognise improved performance. Build, expand, etc.
If it isn’t, it’s time to give them a gentle reminder – or two, three, four…
(Quick note: I’ll leave you alone during August. Have a wonderful month. I hope you get some time away. You’ll get your next Tip early-September. Until then…)