Sell your vision to your boss first, the rest will follow.

To be successful when running a communications office you must sell your office’s vision. Having a relationship with your “higher-ups” is crucial to implementing your plan for the office. It is crucial to effectively communicate your vision to your superiors to align goals and drive success within the office. Here are five ways to effectively sell your vision to your superiors:

1. Create Clear Vision

Create a clear and compelling vision statement that highlights the goals and objectives you want to achieve. This statement should be concise, yet powerful, and should clearly articulate the benefits and outcomes of implementing your vision. Starting with a 6-month plan can assist you in keeping track of your progress.

2. Use Data

Use data and evidence to support your vision. Presenting facts, figures, and case studies can help demonstrate your proposed initiatives’ potential impact and benefits, making it easier for your superiors to understand and support your vision. Do not reinvent the wheel your superiors are looking at their competitors. Find out what they like and dislike about peer offices and use that information to structure your plan.

3. Develop Plan

Develop a comprehensive communication plan that outlines how you will communicate your vision to various stakeholders within the office. This plan should include a mix of communication channels, such as meetings, presentations, emails, and reports, to ensure that your message reaches everyone effectively.

4. Communicate

Engage in open and transparent communication with your superiors. Encourage feedback, questions, and discussions to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands the vision you are presenting. This two-way communication can help build trust and alignment among team members.

5. Lead by Example

Lead by example and demonstrate your commitment to the vision through your actions and decisions. Show your superiors that you are dedicated to making the vision a reality and that you are willing to put in the work to achieve success.

Selling your vision is important to the success of the office because it helps create a shared sense of purpose and direction among team members. When everyone is aligned with a common vision, they are more motivated, engaged, and productive, leading to increased collaboration and better outcomes for the organization.

For government communicators looking to improve their skills in selling their vision, I recommend checking out the following online resources:

1. The Communicators community was established in recognition that communication is an essential function for government activities at all organizational levels. Visit their website at Digital.gov.

2. Capio provides training, resources, and networking to strengthen and engage communities and advance public sector communications. Visit their website at Capio.org.

Obtaining buy-in is important to achieving your goals for the office and the organization because it ensures that everyone is working towards the same objectives and is committed to making the vision a reality. When team members are on board and supportive of the vision, they are more likely to contribute their ideas, skills, and efforts toward achieving success.

Thomas Y. Lynch

The "CommBo"

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