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Develop a Communication Plan

Develop a communication plan to cover the following actions in your planning cycle:

• announcing the learning project and recruiting participants in the organizational needs assessment (ONA)
• promoting programs and activities that the ONA recommends
• recruiting program participants
• informing employees about the status of programs, changes to come, and success stories from evaluations
• communicating with supervisors or team leaders about the program
• announcing the evaluations, recruiting participants, and communicating the results
• reporting regularly to labour and management executives about development and implementation plans, evaluations, financial status, and future plans.

You can review a step-by-step process to help you develop a communication plan in CAMA’s A Guide for Planning and Conducting an Organizational Needs Assessment for Municipal Workplace Literacy Programs.

How can the support of supervisors or team leaders help?

Supervisors or leaders of a group, division, or team are crucial for the success of a program, especially if the program is offered on full or partial work time. When a group is short-staffed or working through a busy period, supervisors may refuse to let people go to class. They may encourage overtime work rather than release people for education.

Gain the support of supervisors or team leaders early in the planning stage so that they are aware of program goals and become vocal supporters of learning. Try scheduling a special meeting with them after the ONA to review goals, scheduling, and ways to assist learners. Meet them for ongoing evaluation comments and again for the final evaluation.

For example, supervisors or team leaders can assist learners in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program by

• encouraging program participants to speak English and read information in English
• starting conversations in English and continuing as long as possible
• recognizing the participants’ progress in using English and praising them
• explaining important written information when necessary
• suggesting topics or issues for the course
• keeping track of participants’ progress.