Communication Plan Template
Download a Communication Plan Template for
Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Sheets
Use this communication plan template to develop a clear and organized plan for disseminating information throughout your organization. Enter important details, such as stakeholders, deliverables, priority, delivery method, and frequency of communication. You can use this template in its current form, or you can adapt it to suit your specific needs. A good communication plan streamlines your workflow and reduces redundant or unnecessary communication while ensuring the efficient distribution of all vital details to every interested party.
For additional information on communication plans, including more templates and professional advice, check out this comprehensive guide to project communication plans.
Strategic Communication Plan Template
Download a Strategic Communication Plan Template for
Excel | Adobe PDF | Google Sheets
Use this strategic communication plan template for a complete and detailed look at your organization’s communication needs. This template helps you develop a strategic plan that takes into consideration your mission, executive strategy, situational analysis, stakeholders, key messages, and more. This tool gives you the ability to create a customized plan that encompasses all your needs.
Check out these free communication templates for more options and information about communication plans.
Business Communication Plan Template
Download a Business Communication Plan Template for
Excel | Adobe PDF | Google Sheets
A business communication plan is crucial for setting and meeting organizational goals. Use this template to align your business plan and mission statement with your communication plan. Fill in all the crucial details concerning your business and mission to create a fully formed communication plan that streamlines and strengthens the connection between your business, clients, and stakeholders.
To learn more about creating your own communication plan, visit this highly informative page of free communication strategy templates, examples, and expert tips.
What Is a Communication Plan Template?
A communication plan template is a tool for organizing and planning a communication strategy for a project or program. The template format can range from a simple chart to a multistep plan. Adapt the template to meet your organization’s needs.
A communication plan is essential for creating and implementing a predictable, reliable, and timely system of communication within your organization. Use a communication plan template to ensure that you’re accounting for all stakeholders and disseminating key information in a timely and constructive manner.
What Should a Communication Plan Include?
A communication plan should include goals and objectives; stakeholders and audiences; key messages; and a timeline for the dissemination of important communication. As your plan evolves, you can add details, such as multistep solutions or changes of task ownership.
The nature of your plan’s content depends partially on the type and size of your organization. Still, most communication plans share a basic framework. To learn more, check out the key elements of a communication plan.
How to Write a Strategic Communication Plan
When writing a strategic communication plan, first decide on your goals. Next, consider what you need to communicate and to whom. Then write and obtain approval for your message. Finally, create a schedule and share your message with the team.
Your plan will vary, depending on your specific circumstances, but expect to follow these steps:
- Establish Your Communication Needs
Figure out what you require in order to communicate important messages within your organization: What types of technology do you need to share information? With whom do you need to share information? What is the appropriate tone for sharing information? By answering these questions, you gain a firm grasp of what you need before you move on to the next step. - Decide on Your Communication Goals
Determine what you want to say, to whom you want to say it, and how and why you want to say it. Write down the answers to these questions. Stay focused on your communication goals by making sure that you don’t include redundant or unnecessary information. Follow these steps to create the basis of your written plan. - Develop a Communication Schedule
Establish the time frame of your project. Is it a short- or long-term project? An ongoing project requires consistent, recurring updates; a short-term project requires only a few updates (e.g., at the outset of the project, at the midway point, and at the conclusion). Once you determine the frequency of your communication, then you can pinpoint the timing of your updates based on the nature of your content. Deliver a recap or a low-priority message at or near the end of the week; share an important message early in the week or at a team meeting. Follow these steps to develop a precise communication schedule. - Consolidate Information into One Document
Adapt one of the templates on this page to meet your needs. Once you’ve done so, make sure the entire team has access to the document. That way, you can ensure that everyone is working in lockstep.
How to Use Communication Plan Templates
As communication plans evolve, you can easily adapt by using a template. Pick an editable template that meets your needs. Complete the relevant fields with your specific information. As clients or stakeholders change, so should your communication plan.
Use the following step-by-step instructions to get the most out of the templates on this page:
- Download the communication plan template in Microsoft Word.
- Save the template to your drive using a meaningful and unique title (e.g., “Marketing Department Communication Plan”).
- Gather the following information to populate the plan:
- Stakeholders
- Deliverables for each stakeholder
- Frequency of communication
- Preferred delivery method
- Priority
- Team or owner of each project
- Fill in the corresponding fields in your template.
- Review and adjust your plan as necessary.
- Share your plan with key stakeholders.
- Revisit and adapt your plan as necessary using your downloaded template.
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