4 ways to create an e-newsletter managers will read

How Ohio State makes it easy for Medical Center leaders to get the job-related information they need

As communicators we often struggle with how to get our rank-and-file employees to read or listen to the messages put forth from those in the corporate offices.

But an equally daunting challenge can arise when we need to get those designated as leaders and mangers to take in information they need to do their jobs and to communicate that news to others who look to them for guidance.

To overcome that challenge at Ohio State University Medical Center, communications staff created a simple and effective weekly e-newsletter, Leadership This Week. Here’s how it works:

1. Keep it short. When managers open Leadership This Week, they find top-center text that says: “Estimated reading time.” This is typically two to three minutes or less, and the e-newsletter is true to its word.

2. Prioritize content. To help leaders decide what to read, the newsletter is prioritized into the following sections: Action Required, Share with Staff and For Your Information. Think of it as need to know, should know, and may want to know categories.