How do you create a communication strategy for a global team?

Conforme mi experiencia, el definir metas y objetivos es conocer a tu público, es saber cómo les vas a hablar, cuál es el mejor medio, qué mensaje será el adecuado y lo más importante, cómo vas a medir la comunicación para mejorar constantemente.

Identify the locations, time zones, cultural backgrounds, and languages spoken by team members. Clearly outline the objectives of your communication strategy, such as improving collaboration, ensuring timely information flow, or enhancing team engagement.

Creating a comms strategy for a global team has a few key steps: Assess Needs: Evaluate communication needs for your team, considering time zones, cultural differences & language barriers. Set Clear Objectives: Define the goals of your communication strategy, such as improving collaboration and ensuring transparency. Choose Tools: Select varied communication tools that support asynchronous and synchronous communication, like Slack/MS Teams. Establish Protocols: Create guidelines for regular meetings and feedback, ensuring everyone knows the expected communication channels and etiquette. Train and Adapt: Provide training on chosen tools and encourage feedback to continually refine the strategy to better suit the team’s evolving needs.

Creating a communication strategy for a global team requires careful planning and cultural sensitivity. Here’s how:Understand Cultural Differences: Research and respect the cultural norms and communication styles of your team members.This fosters inclusivity and avoids misunderstandings.Set Clear Objectives: Define the goals of your communication strategy. Clear objectives ensure everyone understands the purpose and expected outcomes.Leverage Technology: Utilize tools like Slack, Zoom,and Microsoft Teams to facilitate seamless communication. Ensure everyone is trained on these platforms.Standardize Processes: Implement consistent communication protocols, such as regular check-ins, updates, and feedback loops. Consistency builds reliability.

There is beauty in diversity, and in our non-homogenized world, you cannot deploy a one-size-fits-all strategy. You need to take a tailored approach you your strategy - see it through the lens of language and cultural differences, amongst others. Keep the essence of your strategy at heart but tweak the delivery and action of that strategy to suit the requirements and expectations of your audiences and stakeholders.

Understanding the various stakeholders involved in your communication efforts is crucial for crafting messages that resonate and achieve your objectives effectively. Stakeholder analysis helps identify potential allies or champions who can support your communication efforts and mitigate resistance or opposition from stakeholders who may be less receptive. By actively engaging with stakeholders throughout the communication process, you can build trust, credibility, fostering stronger relationships and facilitating the achievement of your objectives.

Select tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana for real-time communication and project management. Use platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings. Utilize tools such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or SharePoint for sharing and collaborating on documents. Ensure a reliable email system for formal communication.

Having a holistic approach to any of your communication campaigns is paramount. You not only need to establish what you want to say (messages), who you want to say it to (audiences) and how you will say it (channels and content) but that you are on top of all of those. As a narrative gatekeeper, you must ensure you know what exactly is said to whom and how to ensure consistency and coherence.

Establish Clear Communication Protocols Set regular meeting times that accommodate different time zones, and rotate meeting times if necessary to be fair to all team members. Define expected response times for different types of communication (e.g., immediate for instant messages, within 24 hours for emails). Agree on a common working language for official communications, while being sensitive to language barriers and providing translation support if needed.