How communicators can maximize vaccine mandate messaging

Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2021 as part of our year-end countdown.

DeNesha Tellis, CEO of The Tellis Group and a Ragan Consulting Group affiliate consultant specializing in executive and leadership communications, explains the essential role that department managers play in rolling out corporate messaging around the Biden administration’s mandate.

1. Communications teams at companies across the country are developing plans and messaging about the new mandates. What role do department or business unit managers play in spreading the word?

Communications leaders should consider the Biden Administration’s mandate as they would any significant change that occurs inside an organization, and apply the same foundational change management principles and strategies that you typically rely on.

Those would include: ensuring employees understand the change that is occurring, helping them understand the organization’s role and their personal role in compliance, and providing a feedback loop so the organization can continue to address concerns and provide new information as the situation evolves.

Although communications leaders often develop their plans in partnership with the C-Suite, managers are often the best-suited for cascading the message.