When Comms Can't Help, You Can

Happy New Year! As we dive into a fresh chapter, many of us are gearing up to launch new initiatives. But what happens when corporate communications has little to no capacity to help?

Don’t worry-you’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. With the right tools and mindset, you can kick off a successful change management project, even without extensive comms support.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Start with the “Why”

Every successful change begins with a clear purpose. What’s the end goal, and why does it matter? Craft a simple, compelling message that anyone in your organisation can understand. This will serve as your North Star, guiding your efforts and helping other see the value of the change.

Quick Tip: Write your purpose statement in one sentence. Share it with a colleague or team member-if they don’t ‘get it’ right away, simplify further.

2. Build a Simple Roadmap

No need for fancy tools or endless meetings. Sketch out the basics:

• What needs to happen?
• Who needs to be involved?
• When should it happen?

A basic timeline with a few key milestones will provide clarity and keep things moving.

Pro Tip: Use free tools like Google Sheets, or Planner and it’s integration with Microsoft Teams.

3. Leverage Grassroots Communication

Without a corporate communication teams, look to your peers. Tap into informal networks, team meetings and even breakroom conversations to spread the word. People trust their colleagues, so empower those who are already excited about the change to share the message.

Action Step: Create a ‘quick facts’ document or a one-minute elevator pitch that anyone can use to explain the change.

4. Engage Your Leaders

Leaders don’t need to deliver hour-long speeches to make an impact. Even a simple shoutout in a team meeting or a personal email can build credibility and momentum.

5. Celebrate Progress

Change can be hard, but progress deserves recognition. Share wins-big or small-to keep the energy alive. A quick email, a Slack update, or even a sticky note on a shared board can make a difference.

Idea: Highlight a ‘Change Hero’ of the week-someone who’s gone above and beyond to support the initiative.

You’ve Got This!

Starting a change management project without much support might feel daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase creativity and leadership. By focusing on the essentials-purpose, planning and people-you can lay a strong foundation for success.

What challenges are you facing as you kick off your challenges are you facing as you kick off your change initiatives? Let me know-I’d love to address them in future posts!

Looking for more tools and tips? Stay tuned for next week’s edition: “Creating a Change Roadmap” where we’ll break down practical steps for keeping your project on track.

Here’s to a year of impactful change!

Empowering you to lead, even with resources are tight.