What are some innovative approaches to strategic communication models?

1 Co-creation model

One innovative approach to strategic communication models is the co-creation model, which involves engaging your stakeholders in the design and implementation of your communication strategy. Co-creation can help you build trust, empathy, and mutual understanding with your audience, as well as generate new ideas and solutions. Co-creation can take many forms, such as workshops, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or online platforms. The key is to involve your stakeholders in every stage of the communication process, from defining the problem and the goals, to creating and testing the messages and the channels, to evaluating the outcomes and the feedback.

2 Agile model

Another innovative approach to strategic communication models is the agile model, which is inspired by the software development methodology that emphasizes flexibility, iteration, and feedback. Agile communication models can help you respond to changing needs, expectations, and opportunities in your communication environment, as well as test and improve your communication products and services. Agile communication models can follow different frameworks, such as Scrum, Kanban, or Lean. The common elements are to break down your communication project into small and manageable tasks, to work in short and frequent cycles, to review and adjust your progress and priorities regularly, and to collect and incorporate feedback from your audience and your team.

3 Design thinking model

A third innovative approach to strategic communication models is the design thinking model, which is a human-centered and creative problem-solving process that can help you generate innovative and effective communication solutions. Design thinking can help you understand your audience's needs, preferences, and challenges, as well as explore and prototype different communication options and scenarios. Design thinking can follow different steps, such as empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. The main principles are to adopt a curious and empathetic mindset, to frame your communication problem as a challenge or a question, to generate and select diverse and original ideas, to create and refine low-fidelity prototypes, and to test and improve your communication solutions with your audience.

4 Network model

A fourth innovative approach to strategic communication models is the network model, which recognizes the complex and interconnected nature of communication systems and actors. Network models can help you map and analyze your communication network, identify and leverage your key influencers and connectors, and monitor and optimize your network performance. Network models can use different tools and techniques, such as network analysis, network visualization, network metrics, or network interventions. The main benefits are to increase your communication reach, relevance, and resonance, as well as to foster collaboration, learning, and innovation within your network.

5 Storytelling model

A fifth innovative approach to strategic communication models is the storytelling model, which uses the power of stories to engage, persuade, and inspire your audience. Storytelling models can help you craft and deliver compelling and memorable communication messages that appeal to your audience's emotions, values, and aspirations. Storytelling models can follow different structures, such as the hero's journey, the three-act structure, or the inverted pyramid. The main elements are to have a clear and relevant theme, to create a relatable and authentic character, to build a captivating and coherent plot, to use vivid and sensory language, and to end with a strong and clear call to action.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?