When you and the board have agreed to make a change, and exit proceedings are put in motion, it can be a tense time with the added pressure of keeping things secret until they are ready to be made public and the need to move at speed.
We often act as that trusted 3rd party with no links to any employees that can start work on the necessary comms (over weekends if need be) as soon as we sign your NDA. Allowing you to focus on the 'other stuff'.
01: Engage
The Press Release is often the first thing to be drafted and forms the basis for the internal and client comms that follow.
On our first call with you we'll gather the high level context and only what we need to know. What change is taking place? is it amicable? is there a replacement? What could the reaction be? What should be the key messages? What are the boards' wishes? What obligations do we have (i.e. listed firms, regulated etc)?
02: Kick-Off
We believe that editing a draft is far easier, and more productive, than a blank sheet of paper. So, without talking with any other internal employees, we'll analyse previous company press releases, combine with our knowledge of what's happening and slip in some best practice.
We understand that there are multiple parties to have sign off, all with different opinions and views so we aim to make things as easy as possible.
03: Draft Press Release
After we have drafted the press release, we'll automatically draft some internal comms too from the perspective of the relevant internal leader. We'll also pull together dummy FAQ's that senior leaders in the organisation can use to help handle any questions they get from colleagues.
We're helpful like that.
04: Internal Comms
Yep, you guessed it. We'll also draft the communications that could go to clients and partners letting them know of the changes and what it means for them (if appropriate).
We can also draft social media posts and do an FAQ for client facing colleagues too.
05: Client Comms
The press release, internal comms and client comms will all be drafted in alignment with each other and ready for feedback.
When we're all happy, our main point of contact can circulate to the powers that be (board members, legal, HR etc) as one, single, document (called a 'Comms Pack') and as, and when, they see fit.
All drafts of the Comms Pack are version controlled and include a draft 'timeline of events that detail a view on the date and time of each element of the comms plan.
When finalised, we can brief the company's internal teams or rostered agencies when deemed appropriate to support its execution.
06: Comms Pack
OUR SERVICES
I can only thank the team for what they managed to deliver from Saturday lunch time to Monday morning. We had confidence that the comms side of things were in safe hands and that we were prepared for the week ahead.
Mr S
CEO of European HQ'd Listed company
We needed to keep things confidential and you allowed us to do that. Our internal team appreciated what you'd been through and were able to deliver them when we brief them. Thank you!
Mrs M
Chairman of large PE backed professional services firm
It was a sensitive change to make and I and the board would like to thank you for your responsiveness, professionalism and guidance. Everything went as well as it could, which is a relief.
Mr D
CEO of VC backed Fintech