Planit uses a simple but robust eight step process to promote the consistent formulation of quality internal communication plans.

Eight step planning process

Eight step process

• Step 1: Objectives

• Step 2: Audiences

• Step 3: Change

• Step 4: Messages

Planit takes an industry best practise approach to communications planning and integrates it with elements of best practice in BP such as the Stakeholder Engagement Approach that is widely taught to internal communications and engagement practitioners.

•Step 5: Channels

•Step 6: Activities

•Step 7: Measures

•Step 8: Finalise

Step 1: Objectives

The first step in any good communications plan is to understand clearly what you are trying to achieve. The Objectives step is where you outline the business objective and communication purpose, including the evaluation of risks involved.

Step 2: Audiences

The key audiences are the various groups of people or stakeholders that you want to influence and which your communication plan will target.

Step 3: Change

The changes step enables you to map the current and desired mindset and behaviour of each of the target audiences you have identified.

Step 4: Messages

The messages step is where you design the key messages that need to reach your target audiences. You do this by considering the desired outcome for each audience and what that audience needs to know.

Step 5: Channels

A channel is a delivery mechanism for getting key messages to target audiences. This step is where appropriate channels are selected.

Step 6: Activities

The activities is where you consider exactly what it is that needs to happen to deliver the key messages through the identified channels to the target audiences in order to produce the desired changes and contribute to your communications purpose.

Step 7: Measures

The measures step is where you record how you will measure success in achieving the desired outcomes for each of your target audiences and what measures you aim to achieve.

Step 8: Finalise

The finalise step is where you are prompted to identify the key stakeholders for the plan, select the status of the plan and consider any next steps and any additional budget required.