5 simple questions for communicating change

Tasked with communicating change? Tell your audience why, what, if then and WIIFM. It’s as simple as 1-2-3-4-5.

1.  Why change?

2.  What do you want me to do?

3.  What happens if I do (or don’t) change?

4.  If I change, what tools and support do I get?

5.  WIIFM (What’s in it for me)?

Preparing position papers for your group

Prepare a position paper on each of your group's top issues. Position papers clarify the group's position on issues, fostering clarity and understanding. Position papers are especially useful for new members coming on board who must get up to speed on your group's activities.

• Background

o   Examples

o   Actions taken

• Sierra’s philosophy, policy statement on the issue

Develop a notebook or file for issues management

• Prepare a folder containing all of the position papers and make sure that all members of the Conservation Committee and ExCom have copies.

• Deliver position papers in person to ExCom and receive their feedback to make any necessary policy changes or action steps.

Update issues list as needed

Use the issues file whenever an issue goes "live" for Sierra Club

• When an issue goes "live" for Sierra through some event or interest from the media, use the position paper as background to write message statements that you and others can use when talking with the media, supporters, volunteers, commissioners and other constituencies. Include talking points that support your message.

Punctuation saves lives

Punctuation marks are like road signs, telling us when to stop, start and slow down. My favorite example illustrates the lifesaving ability of the simple comma:
Let's eat Grandma.
Let's eat, Grandma.

Old-school or 21st century – period

If you’re old-school, you may hit the space bar twice after a period and before the next sentence. Once is enough. Here’s why one period is all you need after a sentence.

How we read online

Here’s an eye-tracking map from the Yahoo Style Guide showing how people read online.

We be stylin’

Following a style guide makes life easier. You don’t have to think about the details. Once you accept the usage of “website” as one word, lower case, that’s it. You don’t have to ponder Web site or Website each time you use the term. You know to spell out numbers one through nine and to use numerals for 10 and above. You don’t have to stop and think about it. And so on and so on. I am a life-long adherent to the Associated Press Style Guide; however, because writing for the Web calls for a different style, I follow the Yahoo Style Guide.

Make it reader-friendly

• Avoid long sentences and long paragraphs. Write in concise chunks.
• Write your article, then cut it in half.
• Never use a 50-cent word when a five-cent word will do.
• Avoid acronyms unless universally known. Not everyone’s an insider.
• Go easy on the verbs and adverbs. They add to story length and sabotage the goal of concise writing.
• Write in the active voice. 
• To learn the difference between active and passive voices, check out Grammar Girl at http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/active-voice-versus-passive-voice.aspx