What do you do if your communication isn't influencing decision-making processes as a risk manager?

An ineffective risk communication strategy can leave your valuable insights unheard. To effectively communicate risk management, tailor your message to your audience's understanding, use clear language, and focus on the impact of risks. Quantify risks, highlight consequences, and present practical solutions. Use storytelling and visualization to make your message memorable. Strengthen relationships with decision-makers by building trust and credibility. Choose the right communication channel based on urgency and complexity. Demonstrate the value of risk management by tracking outcomes and presenting success stories.

Evaluate the impact of your current communication strategies on decision-making processes. Identify any gaps or shortcomings in how your messages are perceived and understood by stakeholders. Imagine you work in the IT department of a retail bank. You've identified a potential security risk in the bank's online banking platform, but your initial report, filled with technical jargon about encryption protocols, fails to grab the attention of the CTO. Before revamping your approach, take a step back. Analyze why your communication might be falling flat. Consider factors like the complexity of the message, the target audience's risk awareness, or the overall communication culture within the organization.

To put the Query in perspective "How to communicate to facilitate & influence decision making in the role of Risk Manager? 1. The Risk Context is key driver. Understand this before the meeting 2. The Forum viz., Risk Management Committee and its composition: Be clear about the Role and Contribution of the Risk Manager 3. Risk Patterns/ Evolvement/ Patterns: Understand these aspects and justify with facts & figures from Research findings 4. Prepare content in precise format with Optimal no. of Risk Terminologies 5. Prepare glossary of Terms and description with examples Present the points in logical flow, seek response from the Audience with pause in between. Leverage Queries & Responses for effectively driving the point and get buy in.

Jargon-filled technical reports might not be the most effective way to engage decision-makers. Tailor your communication style and content to resonate with your audience. Use clear, concise language, focus on the potential consequences of ignoring the risk, and quantify the impact whenever possible (e.g., financial losses, reputational damage). Revised Approach: Instead of technical jargon, explain the risk in simpler terms. Highlight the potential consequences of a cyberattack, such as customer data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. Quantify the impact whenever possible (e.g., potential fines from regulatory bodies). Identify any gaps or shortcomings in how your messages are perceived and understood by stakeholders.

Engage stakeholders in meaningful dialogue to better understand their perspectives, preferences, and decision-making criteria. Don't wait until a crisis hits to sound the alarm. Scenario: A construction company is planning a new high-rise building. The risk manager identifies potential delays due to unforeseen weather conditions. However, waiting until the rainy season hits to raise the issue might be too late. Revised Approach: Proactively brief project stakeholders (engineers, contractors) about historical weather patterns and the possibility of delays. Schedule regular meetings to discuss mitigation strategies like adjusting the construction timeline or having backup plans for material deliveries in case of bad weather.

Numbers speak volumes. Support your arguments with data-driven insights, historical trends, or industry benchmarks. Present risk scenarios with clear probability and impact assessments to provide a concrete understanding of consequences Scenario: A marketing manager for a new health supplement is excited about launching an aggressive social media campaign. The risk manager is concerned about potential false advertising claims, but initial warnings seem like an overreaction Revised Approach: Gather data on past lawsuits or penalties against supplement companies for unsubstantiated marketing claims. Present this data to the marketing manager, highlighting the potential financial and reputational risks associated with misleading advertising

Foster strong relationships with key decision-makers. This builds trust and credibility, making them more receptive to your risk assessments. Showcase past instances where your risk warnings helped the organization avoid potential pitfalls. This reinforces the value you bring to the table. Frame your risk communication within the context of the organization's overall goals and objectives. Demonstrate how mitigating risks can contribute to achieving strategic objectives. If you continue to face resistance, consider seeking support from senior management or risk management champions within the organization. They can help advocate for your recommendations and influence decision-making processes.

As risk manager you can present logic and reason why something is to be done or not, or how is to be done. Rest is on "political" decision-makers.