Hoping that your law enforcement agency will connect with residents and somehow build trust is not a strategy. Hopeful thinking is not strategic. Leaders and communicators need to apply strategic thinking to their communication efforts. This article explores some ways to elevate your connectivity with audiences.
The Art of Strategic Communication is about having a plan. It’s about being purposeful and intentional with communication. Strategy ensures that you are messaging to a wide array of audiences – residents, visitors, business owners, and other stakeholders that interact with your agency. Being strategic is about developing unique messaging with diverse audiences as well. Strategic leaders and communication advisors forecast where to be. In other words, it’s about being at the right place at the right time. Strategy looks well beyond numerical values on social media. Knowing what to measure and how to measure separates strategic leaders from managers.
Strategic communication builds a loyal following of public safety advocates. Leaders who commit the organization to training on communication are looking at the importance of getting messaging right. Conducting tabletops, networking with peers, attending conferences, creating communication plans, and developing crisis plans are what strategic leaders and communication advisors do. Public Information Officers and public affairs personnel become strategic communication advisors when they adopt these principles.
At the end of the day, strategic communication is about being relevant, current, and timely with your storytelling. It’s about communicating what matters. Our strategic communication guidebook encapsulates all the tools, strategies, channels, and guiding plan to accomplish the organizational goals and objectives. Embracing a strategic approach to communication reinforces why we exist – our mission, vision, and values.
This is where mastering The Art of Strategic Communication transcends modern day law enforcement, thereby elevating trust and community buy-in.